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Asked by anon-233852 to Liam, Karolina, Jack, Debbie on 21 Nov 2019.
Question: why do people panic about tests
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Jack Joyce answered on 21 Nov 2019:
Tests can have big implications for our lives — and there’s a pressure to do well, usually from our parents, our friends, and mostly ourselves!
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At the time it can seem like failing a test will mean that you’re not very good, or that you won’t get the career you want, or you won’t get into university etc. etc. which can some times be true — but it’s often difficult to see the bigger picture (especially when you’re so focused on the test!) that the test is only a tiny part of your life.
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Panicking is not necessarily a bad thing — it can keep us focused, and ‘force’ us to revise/study for that test, so long as you remember that the result doesn’t reflect on you as a person, just that you’re perhaps not so good at doing tests on this subject (I’m terrible at exams, but I’m great at coursework!).
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Debbie Kinsey answered on 21 Nov 2019: last edited 21 Nov 2019 2:02 pm
I’d say what Jack said – sometimes people panic because of what they think the test will mean for the future or what they think the result will say about who they are as a person or how “clever” they are. (And usually tests don’t say as much about us as we worry they do).
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In tests, anxiety can end up being a bit of a cycle. Being anxious can sometimes impact your memory so you have that feeling where your mind just goes blank. Then you get more anxious, which makes it even harder to remember, then you get more anxious, and so on. And then that can mean the next time you have a test you start off feeling more anxious than the last time.
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Like Jack said, sometimes anxiety about tests can be a helpful thing because it makes you focus. But if it starts being so much that it starts having a negative effect on your life, it’s a good idea to talk to someone and make some changes to help you feel less anxious and stressed. -
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