Posted 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Tips to do your best on exams and reduce test anxiety
As the end of the semester approaches, it’s time to share what you’ve learned. You want to do the best you can on exam day, but sometimes test anxiety or a lack of test strategy can get in the way.
How to take a test
- Preview the test to pace yourself. Look over each page of the test generally to get an idea of what is ahead, so you can pace yourself.
- Read the test directions carefully. Don’t skim. Directions contain important information and some may even save you time and energy such as, “You only need to complete two of the five problems.” If you don’t understand a set of instructions, ask for clarification.
- If you are stumped on a question, move on. Try coming back to it after answering others. This will help ensure that you are able to get to all sections of the test.
- Multiple choice strategy: If it is a multiple-choice question, look at the question first and try to think how you would answer it without looking at the choices. Test writers try to make all the answers plausible. Instructors are assessing if you know why one choice is the most correct. Having an idea of the answer ahead of time can help to clarify and not confuse.
- Resist the temptation to change previous answers. Often instructors use related content in more than one question. You should absolutely use those context clues. But if you are confident in a previous answer, do not change it unless you have realized additional information. Students often over-think and change a correct answer to an incorrect one.
How to reduce test anxiety
- Be prepared. It is no different than setting foot on stage for a solo recital, the more prepared you are, the more confident you will be and the more successful you will be. Learn the ten essential study skills to retain information and stay focused.
- Breathe. If you are feeling tense and breathing shallow, you are depriving your brain of oxygen when it needs it the most.
- Arrive early and write. Before taking the test, pull out a piece of paper and pencil and write down any anxiety or fears you have. University of Chicago researchers found that students who were asked to write about their fears prior to a test did significantly better than a group who did not.
- Think positively. Negative thinking fosters and exaggerates anxiety. A bit of nervousness helps us focus; too much is counterproductive. Think of worry as a snowball; it is harmless unless you lose control. A snowball going downhill picks up mass and speed. If you do not have ways to intervene, the snowball, like anxiety, can become unstoppable. During a test if you feel you are reaching a point where your nerves are interfering, put your pencil down, close your eyes and take a couple deep breaths. Have a positive word or phrase such as “success,” or “I know this,” to help get yourself re-centered. This brief intervention can pay dividends for the rest of the exam.
How to cram for a test if you must
- Decide what to learn. Use this rule of thumb: Spend 25% of your time learning new material and 75% of your time drilling yourself.
- Relate information to something else you know. Think of your brain as a giant pegboard and “hook” new information to learned information.
- Recite, recite, recite. This is the test for knowing the information forwards and backwards.
- Relax. Crammed material is not learned as well as well-reviewed material. Use relaxation techniques to minimize the chances of freezing up on the exam.
Tips from Charlene Holler, a retired academic skills specialist at UWL.
Looking for more?
See the Tutoring & Learning Center study skills webpage.
If mental health symptoms are interfering with your academics, contact the UWL Counseling & Testing Center.
More academic resources are also available to anyone with a uwlax.edu email on the self-help platform YOU@UWL.
Murphy Library is here for you during finals week
Refreshments
Murphy Library and Dining Services are providing free drinks and snacks in the library near Murphy's Mug on the following days:
- 3 p.m. Saturday, May 10 - Free coffee, lemonade, and cookies
- 3 p.m. Sunday, May 11 - Free coffee and lemonade
Note: Everything is first-come, first-served. Cookies are only available on Saturday.
More study space
We're opening room 121 on the ground level of the library as study space. Additionally, phase one of our basement is now open and offers more study space.
Extended hours
- Saturday, May 10: 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.
- Sunday, May 11: 11 a.m. - 1 a.m.
- Monday-Thursday, May 12 - May 15: 7:30 a.m. - 1 a.m.
- Friday, May 16: 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Research help
Research help is available in person at the Research Help Desk through May 9 during our hours or by phone, email, chat, or appointment.
From May 10-16, research help is available by email or appointment.
You can also find library resources for different subjects, courses, or other topics by using our library guides.
De-stress resources: Taking a break to do something else besides study is a great relaxer.
- Leisure reading: Check out a variety of popular ebooks and audiobooks on the Libby app by OverDrive - learn more. If traditional physical books are more your vibe, make sure to check out our Leisure Reading Collection located by Murphy's Mug in the library.
- Coloring: Coloring supplies are available at the Circulation Help Desk!
- Board games: A selection of games, such as Chess, Mancala, and more, are also available at the Circulation Help Desk!
Cite your sources
Writing up your bibliography can be tricky, but librarians have put together a Citing Sources guide full of tips and resources to help you create your citations.