In a 2022 survey of 54,000 undergraduate college students, 77% reported experiencing moderate to severe psychological distress according to the New York Institute of Technology.  

“Many students experience various levels of test anxiety. These students often experience academic pressure and sometimes have an overwhelming courseload,” said Emily Becker, a counselor at Eastern Illinois University counseling clinic.  

Becker said that students typically exhibit unrealistic expectations of themselves and have a fear of failure. She explains how there is often a disconnect between what students believe they should be achieving and what is attainable. These fears can sometimes stem from concerns about maintaining scholarship and securing internships and job opportunities or can be from social pressures they have regarding academic performance in school.  

Students experience exam anxiety all the time, worrying about what they need to get done to prepare for a test.  

“I spend some time worrying about the next exam. I end up pacing a lot while my heart is racing, and my mind is on overdrive,” said Autumn Cohan, a senior biology and pre-vet track major.  

Cohan experiences test anxiety much like other students on campus and deals with it in similar ways. She says that planning in advance and not procrastinating is what usually helps relieve test anxiety. Students must balance both their personal and school lives during the semester.  

“I miss when Eastern had mental health days. It really helped me because it gave a break from the stress of schoolwork for a bit,” Cohan said.  

She also wishes that test anxiety is normalized, that everyone goes through it with different symptoms. To Cohan, there is no need to be hard on yourself since everyone gets nervous before a test. Having mental health days on campus would help students manage their nerves during the semester  

Like Cohan, Annie Toberman, a senior biology major, has similar advice.  

“Study in advance so that way you don’t cram everything in at the last minute. That usually helps me,” Toberman said.  

Toberman has a more physical reaction compared to Cohan. Her test anxiety can get so debilitating that it can cause her to throw up.  

According to the very well mind website, nausea is a common physical symptom of test anxiety. Other symptoms include sweating, shaking, rapid heartbeat, dry mouth, and fainting.  

The website went on to say that milder cases tend to give people a case of butterflies in their stomach.  

But junior biology major Katie Clatfelter had a different perspective on test anxiety.  

“I find test anxiety to be a good motivator. It can be good to some extent,” Clatfelter said.  

Clatfelter experiences test anxiety because she takes no breaks. She will study until she must go to bed which is how she relieves her test anxiety. Because her test anxiety makes her feel like she must get everything done before a test, it makes her work harder right before an exam to study and prepare.  

Becker gives specific examples on how students can work towards relieving test anxiety. She said that students should prepare well and build their confidence with test-taking. Preparing well can include developing good study habits, managing time, and organizing study material into smaller tasks over a longer period to avoid cramming and becoming overwhelmed.  

“Approaching the exam with confidence could include challenging negative self-talk and acknowledging personal strengths. Getting sufficient sleep and eating prior to the exam may relieve some of the anxiety, it is important that basic needs are met. General coping strategies for anxiety can be helpful as well, like grounding techniques and relaxation skills,” Becker said  

The New York Institute of Technology also had some study advice on their website for students struggling with test anxiety.  

The institute recommends that students should use the course provided study guide to make a personal customized guide by wording each item on the guide into a question. Definitions, examples, and other information should then be added to answer the question being asked on the study guide. Essay questions should have prepared brief outlines of the main points.  

Students should start studying days before the test, memorizing all the questions and notes on their customized study guide.  

And immediately before the test, students should get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and engage in positive self-talk and relaxation exercises, even giving themselves plenty of time to get to class for their test so they do not arrive in a hurried state.  

If you or someone you know is struggling with test anxiety, you can visit the EIU counseling clinic on the first floor in the human services building on campus or call 217-581-3413.  

Michelle Doty can be reached at 581-2812 or at mrdoty@eiu.edu.