Most students have had an experience when they look down at the test in front of them and cannot remember anything they studied; this could be blamed on test anxiety.

“I usually cram as much information as I can right before the test,” freshman Abby Fleitman said. “I definitely feel more anxious if I do not study before a major test.”

Dr. D’Arcy Lyness, a writer for kidshealth.org, describes test anxiety as a form of performance anxiety. This specific anxiety strain is the sensation people get when they feel pressure to do well, such as singing a solo or presenting a speech.

“With my busy schedule, I study for tests for an hour if I’m lucky,” freshman Veronica Gornick said. “During the test, if I cannot remember the answers, I can feel my stomach drop.

“Cognitive and behavioral symptoms of test anxiety can include fidgeting or outright avoidance of testing situations. Many people with test anxiety report “blanking out” answers to the test, even though they thoroughly studied the information and were sure that they know the answers to the questions,” Kendra Cherry, author of Everything Psychology Book,said.

Symptoms of test anxiety may include shaking, rapid heartbeat, sweating, blanking out, and nausea.

Not remembering the information during a test and any of the other symptoms are not the only problems students have to deal with; teens may feel like they are racing to see who can finish the test first.

“I don’t like being the last one to finish a test,” freshman Jillian Soranno said. “Therefore, I rush and panic; it usually causes me to fail the test. I just don’t want to hold everyone up from using their phones or working on other things after we are all finished.”

To do your best on a test, specialists recommend that you take your time and try not to rush. If you start to rush, take a deep breathe and concentrate on what you are doing, not your peers.

Specialists also say that one of the biggest mistakes students make is staying up all night studying for a test instead of trying to get a good night’s sleep. It is important for your brain to get renewed and refreshed through sleep.

Using these tips to overcome test anxiety has been proven to help students stay calmer and more composed during test situations.