Self-study
Hi, I am taking my first LSAT this week. I have studied a lot and I know I am prepared, but I still have really bad testing anxiety and the anticipation of testing day is making me worried that I may start freaking out during the test. My heart beats extremely fast when I am nervous and I am scared that will happen and I will panic.
Does anyone have any tips to overcome this anxiety?
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2 comments
Hey Karin!
This is very real, and I can very much relate. Apologies if I'm repeating something you've already heard/have thought of, but this is what helped me!
Minimizing unknowns. If you're taking your test remote, set your room up how it'll be for your test, and study there. If you're taking it in person and visiting the testing center beforehand is feasible, pop by and figure out roughly where you might have to park. Plan out what you're going to do on testing day: when are you going to wake up? What are you going to do for breakfast or other meals? Are you going to do the crossword? You don't' have to pack your schedule, but minimizing the amount of time you have to sit in silence freaking out is ideal, even if it's something like, "after breakfast, I'm going to mindlessly scroll for 20 minutes."
Practice sitting down and feeling your feet on the floor. Some people like focusing on their breathing, but I feel like that freaks me out, personally. What do the soles of your shoes feel like? Are you wearing cushy socks? Feel how solid the ground is. If you feel your heart during the test, take a second to repeat the process. Your heartbeat may be going crazy, but there's an entire planet underneath you that (lovingly) does not care how well you do on the LSAT.
This might seem counterintuitive, so take it with a grain of salt, but I've found it's an incredibly common experience that over the course of at least the first few questions, people feel like they've forgotten everything, and it's going terribly. That they thought they were well-prepared, but they were wrong. While that's very valid, it's rarely accurate. Like you said, you know you've done the work. You know you're prepared. So when and if that feeling comes, know that it has no basis in reality. You're doing better than you think. For me, when I expect that feeling to come, then if it does actually arise, I can say, "ah, yes. Here you are. Welcome. Please take a seat here in the back part of my brain." Trying to tell yourself not to be anxious can (as I'm sure you are well aware of) be a Sisyphean task. So let it in!
This is the June test. I'm not sure what your timeline is, but even if you want to get your apps in the second they open, you still have the August test. If that's viable for you, sometimes it can help to pretend (or actually think) that this is your dress rehearsal. Your main goal for this test is just to see what it's like, and pressure test whatever testing strategies you have. Absolute worst case scenario is that you sit down again in August. But a June test? Low stakes.
I hope that helps!
Hi!
My name is Asma, and I'm a tutor here at 7Sage.
What you're feeling is totally normal, especially before your first official LSAT! I remember feeling the same way. Something that really helped me was reminding myself that feeling anxious doesn't mean I'm not ready.
If you notice your heart racing during the test, try not to see that as a sign that something is wrong. Just notice it, take a slow breath, and gently bring your attention back to the question in front of you. Remember, your goal isn't to feel perfectly calm. It's to use the skills you've practiced so much.
At this point, trust all the work you've put in. The official LSAT is just like the practice tests you've already taken. You've got this! Wishing you the best of luck this week.
Best,
Asma