Last entry we talked about bad luck being your downfall in an exam. While I think that is a problem, I tend to believe that we make our own luck. My next two entries will be dealing with things that we do, that some people look at as “bad luck” but really are just our own lack of preparation or belief in our own potential. The first is nerves.
I have taken around 30 Microsoft exams. I have studied for and passed most of them the first time. Guess what? I still get nervous taking each new one. I know some people that are lucky and go into an exam and could basically care less. To them it is just another thing they do and if they pass, great. If they don’t, oh well, they will just take it again. I don’t think that is how it works for most of us.
Most of us have a healthy dose of nerves and the accompanying shot of adrenaline helps us to think clearly and much more quickly than normal. That is a great thing. The problem is there is a third category. There are people that can be paralyzed by their nervousness. For some reason, sitting in front of that monitor with that clock ticking is a very tough time. I have a friend and a relative, both of whom have never done well with standardized exams. I think it makes them flashback to grammar school and they just feel helpless.
If you are one of these people, do not give up. You can pass too. What you need to do is take a lot of practice tests. Try to take them under conditions as close to the real exam as possible. The more you “rehearse” the better you will do the day of the “big game”. More importantly, when you are actually there taking the exam. I want you to constantly remind yourself how well you did on the practice tests, how much you know about the subject, how it is just a test. Keep telling yourself all of these things. The more you do, the better you will feel about yourself. Keep breathing deeply to help lower your stress levels. If you find yourself getting nervous before you even go in to take the exam, jog around the block…it will help to burn up some of the fight or flight response. As a matter of fact, try to sign up to take tests at a time when the testing center is empty and tell the “proctor” that you get a little nervous and you may pace a bit. They are very understanding. This way if you find your self losing it, you can just get up and try to pace it away. For anyone who has never seen someone get this nervous…trust me, it happens to the best of us. You can do it.
Anyone ever feel this way?
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