Factors Affecting Testing

FACTOR ONE: Panic.

• Panic is irrational, self-made, and self-defeating.
• It can block one’s memory, concentration, and even physical ability to speak and write. 
• Panic may be created by concentrating on irrational and/or negative thoughts.
• Panic can be controlled by concentrating on rational thoughts about your preparation.
• Prevent panic in the first place by being well-prepared and being realistic about possible outcomes.
• Put the test-taking situation.  Relax and do your best.

FACTOR TWO: Carelessness, major of poor test performance. 

Common careless mistakes include:

• Reading the question wrong.
• Missing key words.
• Reading only the first few words in a question.
• Assuming what is wanted without carefully reading instructions and questions.
• Copying a wrong number from the board or worksheet.

The most effective methods to combat carelessness:

• Reread the question before answering.
• Proofread your paper when you think you are finished. 
• Never to turn in a test paper before you have checked it.

FACTOR THREE: Failure To Focus on Question.

Thinking is hard work at any time; especially hard during the pressure of examinations. Examination logic requires that you:

• Think good thoughts about yourself.
• Concentrate upon the questions and answers.
• Search for memory cues to information that you have studied.
• Use thinking skills for analysis, judgment, and interpretation.
  

FACTOR FOUR: Excessive Anxiety.

An optimum amount of test anxiety can facilitate test performance by increasing alertness and motivation. Excessive anxiety can result in poor concentration, carelessness, a feeling of restlessness, and poor test performance. Everyone who experiences uncomfortable anxiety at test time should follow these suggestions:

1. Do not schedule stressful situations just before exams.
2. Think calm and relaxing thoughts about yourself, and talk to friends who make you feel good about yourself.
3. Avoid people who irritate you, and avoid last minute quiz sessions.
4. Arrive at the room only a few minutes early, and think about what you know about the subject rather than what you do not know.

FACTOR FIVE: Cramming.

• Cramming is the effort to master an abundance of new material in a relatively short period of time.
• Cramming is useless, because information learned in a period of less than twenty-four hours without practice is difficult for most of us to recall. 
• The most effective technique for long-term recall is  distribute practice over a period of time.

FACTOR SIX: Faulty Diet.

• A faulty diet which does not maintain a proper level of blood sugar for you can adversely affect your test performance.
• Eating sugar alone, such as candy bars, will not give you a proper level of sugar in the blood.
• A balance of foods is needed to release sugar in digestion slowly. 
• You may want to get some information on foods from the library or a nutritionist.

FACTOR SEVEN: Lack of Proper Exercise.

• Exercise has beneficial effects for studying and taking exams because it improves the circulation of the blood. 
• Health, endurance, and nutrition all depend upon circulatory fitness. 
• Lack of exercise may lead to fatigue and irritability.

FACTOR EIGHT: Lack of motivation toward success on tests.

• Many students are not motivated because they do not relate test performance to their goals and values.
• Motivation is based upon needs, values, and goals.
• The long term goals may be to obtain your degree, get a good job or go to grad school.
• A short-term goals may be performing well on the next test, getting a certain grade to boost your GPA, having a cumulative GPA that will get you into grad school.
• One method for establishing motivation to do well on exams is to determine how the results will support into your long-term goals.
• Be sure that your goals are based on your true values and not on what another considers important.
• The assistance of a professional counselor would help you establish your true goals.

FACTOR NINE: Lack of Sleep.

• Lack of sleep causes thinking and memory to be somewhat disorganized and impaired. 
• Results in poor performance mentally or physically on exams. 
• Produces visual attention fatigue, and impairment in acquisition of new information.
• An uninterrupted constant rhythm of activity/sleep according to your own individual needs is one means to insure an alert mind and body for an exam.