Have you ever felt stressed and worried when sitting for any exam? If so, you might have experienced what is called math anxiety. People who experience feelings of stress when facing math-related situations may undergo what is called “math anxiety”. Don’t panic! Test anxiety is pretty normal psychology for any contestant, especially for those who take one of the hard and big tests like A Level Maths examination because almost every person might face mental problems –  anxiety, worry or self-doubt –  on a regular basis.

However, test anxiety becomes a critical problem when it affects exam performance. In other words, the test anxiety might make your scores not reflect your true abilities. Thus, “How to overcome test anxiety when taking A Level Maths papers ?” have become the most concerning questions for any test taker and hot searches on the Internet recently. 

Mathematics is an essential skill that people not only use throughout their lives but also learn at school and university. Therefore, many people who are extremely interested in Maths study to pass A Level Maths exam in order to apply for higher mathematics programs. A-Level exams are traditionally taken by 17-18 year-olds after a two-year course at a sixth form or college. If you pass the A-Level (Advanced Level) Maths exam, you will take a qualification of further mathematics education taken in the UK and occasionally other countries as well.

It seems that the A-Level Maths is a one-way ticket to more educational or career opportunities, therefore, most people become a little bit nervous and jittery on test day because they might be afraid that they cannot pass the test with an expected score. In this article, let’s dig into the test anxiety when taking A Level Maths papers to find out helpful tips for test anxiety to manage it successfully before and during the stressful A-Level Maths test. 

 

1. What is Test Anxiety? 

 

Test anxiety is a psychological disorder in which people experience anxiety in testing circumstances, which hurts their learning and performance on tests. It is also referred to as a particular form of performance anxiety. When there is pressure and good performance is important, people frequently experience so much anxiety that they are unable to give it their all.

 

2.What are symptoms of test anxiety? 

A-level Maths test anxiety
Symptoms of test anxiety when taking A-Level Maths

 

Numerous international studies have found that millions of students experience test anxiety. Don’t believe you’re the only one battling because it’s really common. Here are a few examples of test anxiety symptoms:

 

2.1 Physical symptoms

 

  • Rapid heartbeat 
  • Profuse sweating
  • Feeling sick to your stomach
  • Constant thirst
  • Clenching muscles
  • Shaking 
  • Dry mouth
  • Fainting
  • Diarrhea

 

2.2. Emotional Symptoms

 

  • Rage
  • Feeling unable to help yourself
  • Depression
  • Low self-esteem
  • Anger
  • Feeling of hopelessness

2.3. Mental symptoms

 

  • Negativity
  • Insecurity
  • Embarrassment
  • Not staying focused
  • Disappointment in yourself
  • Nervousness

 

3. Who’s likely to have Test Anxiety? 

 

3.1. Those strive for perfection

 

The fear of mistakes, poor performance, and results makes perfectionists more likely to struggle with test anxiety. By doing this, they increase the pressure they are under to stay away from unpleasant surprises.

 

3.2. Those aren’t well-prepared but care about performing well

 

You will worry about performing poorly if you are aware of your lack of preparation. For a variety of reasons, including inadequate study time, difficulty of the exam, or simply feeling exhausted from inadequate sleep the night before, people may feel unprepared for tests.

 

4. What causes test anxiety? 

 

Many individuals assume that test anxiety is very ordinary and that they don’t need to reduce it, but some people are searching for techniques to reduce test anxiety because it genuinely affects their ability to perform well.

It is best to comprehend the causes of exam anxiety before trying to discover a cure. Here are a few potential reasons for anxiety:

 

4.1. You fear failure

 

Though it can spur you on to study hard and plan ahead, the fear of failure can also leave you feeling anxious and agitated. On top of that, if you pay greater attention to your exam results, the pressure you create on yourself may result in very bad test anxiety.

 

4.2. You have a dismal testing history 

 

When you fail an exam, you lose confidence and become apprehensive, which can result in more anxiety and a bad attitude each time you have to take another test.

 

4.3. You’re not prepared

 

You can feel more anxious if you didn’t study or didn’t study well enough. Even when some feel worn out from over-preparing, other applicants think it is insufficient.

 

5. How to combat test anxiety when taking A-Level Maths papers?

 

There are techniques to reduce test anxiety. Read on and heed our advice below:

 

5.1. Prior to the exam

 

  • Get a good night’s rest the night before your A-Level Maths exam: As you are aware, getting enough sleep will increase your energy and productivity. If you don’t get enough sleep, you’ll feel weary, drowsy, and sluggish the following day. You might not be able to concentrate on your big test and recall everything you have learned while studying for the A-Level Maths if your brain is weary.
  • Eat a sufficient amount of a nutritious breakfast: Eat a nutritious breakfast the morning before your test. To avoid feeling sleepy and lethargic later in the day, you should avoid eating too much or unhealthy food.
  • Remain optimistic: Avoid thinking negatively and remind yourself that you can succeed because you worked hard to study for the test. Believe in your ability to succeed and that you can.
  • Ensure you are ready: The confidence that results from extensive, quality study is the finest tool for overcoming test-day anxiety. Ensure you are ready: The best defense against test-day anxiety is thorough planning. To equip yourself with the relevant knowledge, let’s take our A-Level Maths practice test.

 

5.2. During the test

 

  • Work on your deep breathing: When you read questions you can’t answer and feel anxious afterwards? Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and count to five while putting your pencil away. Take some time to unwind!
  • Be certain in your test preparation: Nothing, not even test anxiety, can compare to thorough preparation. Take heart from the idea that you did your best to prepare for the A-Level Maths exam while you sit in your testing facility. Don’t freak out if you run into queries that are challenging for you to answer. Simply move on to the subsequent questions and return to it once you have time left. When other test-takers begin turning in their papers, don’t freak out. There is no prize for coming in first. If you have time, let’s carefully read your paper and check your answers.

In conclusion, we hope that those who struggle with test anxiety may find this article helpful. You may overcome any anxiety you may have when taking the A-Level Maths test by giving it your all, being confident, and being well-prepared. Don’t forget to take A-Level Math Practice Tests to familiarize yourself with the test format.