What is exam anxiety?
Exam anxiety is an intense state of anxiety that follows from the meanings a person attaches to an exam, the image they form of it in their mind, the conclusions they draw about the situation afterwards and the weight they give to what the result will bring. It prevents them from using what they have already learned during the exam and lowers their performance. It can begin when preparation starts, or appear only as the exam approaches.
Signs
Restlessness, worry, unease, distress, fear of failure, reluctance to study, nausea, a racing heart, trembling, dry mouth, inner tension, sweating, disturbed sleep and abdominal pain are common physical complaints; so are impaired attention and concentration, reduced self-confidence and feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness. Being unable to convey what has been learned, not taking in what is read, difficulty organising thoughts, focusing on the exam itself rather than on its content, weakened mental abilities, low energy and physical complaints are the main effects of exam anxiety.
The approach
Because exam anxiety involves unrealistic expectations and interpretations it is misleading, and it leaves the student unable to govern their own behaviour without noticing it. Often it affects not only the student but the family as well. In sessions with the student and the family, the way the exam is viewed is reconsidered, so that preparation and the exam itself can be lived through more productively.