Emotional versus logical 8 pps

really high in sugar, such as donuts. A sugar high turns

into a sugar low after an hour or so. Cereal and toast,

or anything with complex carbohydrates is a good

choice. Eat only moderate amounts. You don’t want to

take a test feeling stuffed! Your body will channel its

energy to your digestive system instead of your brain.

Pack a high-energy snack to take with you. You

may have a break sometime during the test when you

can grab a quick snack. Bananas are great. They have

a moderate amount of sugar and plenty of brain

nutrients, such as potassium. Most proctors won’t

allow you to eat a snack while you’re testing, but a

peppermint shouldn’t pose a problem. Peppermints

are like smelling salts for your brain. If you lose your

concentration or suffer from a momentary mental

block, a peppermint can get you back on track. Don’t

forget the earlier advice about relaxing and taking a

few deep breaths.

Leave early enough so you have plenty of time to

get to the test center. Allow a few minutes for unex￾pected traffic. When you arrive, locate the restroom and

use it. Few things interfere with concentration as much

as a full bladder. Then find your seat and make sure it’s

comfortable. If it isn’t, tell the proctor and ask to move

to something more suitable.

Now relax and think positively! Before you know

it, the test will be over, and you’ll walk away knowing

you’ve done as well as you can.

Combating Test Anxiety

Okay—you know what the test will be on. You’ve

reviewed the subjects and practiced the skills on which

you will be tested. So why do you still have that sinking

feeling in your stomach? Why are your palms sweaty

and your hands shaking?

Even the brightest, most well-prepared test takers

sometimes suffer bouts of test anxiety. But don’t worry;

you can overcome it. Here are some specific strategies

to help you.

Take the Test One Question at

a Time

Focus all your attention on the one question you’re

answering. Avoid thoughts about questions you’ve

already read or concerns about what’s coming next.

Concentrate your thinking where it will do the most

good—on the question you’re answering now.

Develop a Positive Attitude

Keep reminding yourself that you’re prepared. In fact, if

you’ve read this book or any other in the LearningEx￾press Skill Builders series, you’re probably better pre￾pared than most other test takers. Remember, it’s only a

test, and you will do your best. That’s all anyone can ask

of you. If that nagging drill sergeant voice inside your

head starts sending negative messages, combat them

with positive ones of your own. Tell yourself:

■ “I’m doing just fine.”

■ “I’ve prepared for this test.”

■ “I know exactly what to do.”

■ “I know I can get the score I’m shooting for.”

You get the idea. Remember to drown out nega￾tive messages with positive ones of your own.

If You Lose Your Concentration

Don’t worry about it! It’s normal. During a long test, it

happens to everyone. When your mind is stressed or

overexerted, it takes a break whether you want it to or

not. It’s easy to get your concentration back if you sim￾ply acknowledge the fact that you’ve lost it and take a

quick break. You brain needs very little time (seconds,

really) to rest.

Put your pencil down and close your eyes. Take a

deep breath, hold it for a moment, and let it out slowly.

Listen to the sound of your breathing as you repeat this

two more times. The few seconds this takes is really all

the time your brain needs to relax and refocus. This

exercise also helps you control your heart rate, so you

can keep anxiety at bay.

–APPENDIX A: PREPARING FOR A STANDARDIZED TEST–

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