Got yet another AP AB Calculus test grade I’m not satisfied with(the last one before spring break), despite getting a tutor, doing the extra review problems, and drawing up a formula sheet. I’m not even angry at this point, just apathetic about it.
Chronic test anxiety is fear run amuk. Figure out what scares you such as forgetting formulas, math errors, working too slowly, lowering GPA, failing the class and so on. Your first task is recognizing your fears and force yourself to stop ruminating about it. The very best way to fail is focusing on failure. Ever been too tired to do something? Well you are so go to bed. For example, once I discovered I had insufficient fingers and toes to balance the checkbook. In the morning, no problem. Finally, what is the worst thing that could happen…mostly something very disappointing but you would survive. Truly! Overall, then, remove you and your fears from the learning and testing equation. Learning this math is only one of the things you have to learn now. Remember first grade. You had to learn how to read with decoding and comprehensioin, spell, compute, print and so on accurately and quickly. Now that was a challenge!