These following strategies can help you control extreme test taking anxiety:
Develop good study habits. One of the most effective ways to handle test taking anxiety is through proper preparation. Besides preparing you for the questions on a test, studying will also build your confidence. And as your confidence increases, your test anxiety will decrease.
Be prepared. If you’re completely prepared for a test to the point of being familiar with any question that could be asked, anxiety will dramatically decrease. There is little reason to experience anxiety for a test you’ve prepared for. If you’re studying a subject or concept that is difficult for you to understand, start early in the semester working with your professor, teacher’s aid or a tutor to get the help you need.
Don’t cram! Cramming for an exam the night before is a major cause of test anxiety. Students who take their time to regularly study for an exam throughout the term will experience less anxiety than those who decide to study a day or even hours prior to one. If you’re studying a difficult subject (ie. chemistry, biology, math, etc.) it’s imperative that you start studying early on in the semester, as you’re likely to come across concepts, topics, and subjects that require outside help. Cramming can leave you not only pressed for time but unable to get the help you in time.