Self-paced courses
Hi!
I hope things are going well for everyone!
I have been struggling a lot with test anxiety during full PTs and was wondering if anyone has tips for overcoming test anxiety. When I start a full PT, my heart would beat really fast, and I felt like the time was chasing me. This made me to perform poorly during the timed sections, and during BR, I was able to perform almost 10+ points.
I have had some people recommend me to receive accommodation but since I have never requested for it even for SAT or any tests during undergrad and grad school, I'm not sure if I would even be eligible for it.
I would truly recommend some tips to over come test anxiety!
Thank you all in advance!
6
17 comments
Hello,
I know this is a slightly older post, but I am writing this anyway hoping it can still help!
All of the comments below have shared great insights, and as I tell you also, being anxious about this whole thing is completely natural.
Speaking of PTs, in my case, I used to be emotionally reacting to my PT score whenever I get it after completion. When I scored terribly, I felt terrible throughout the day. However, I realized that this was not helping me at all. It was too much mentally to let my emotions go wild every single time I take a PT. Therefore, I know it isn't easy, but I highly recommend viewing your wrong answers as absolute gold; they are opportunities to fix your mistakes and refine your method. If you had seen that exact question on the real exam, you would have lost the point, so how wonderful is it to catch it in practice instead? In short, view your full PTs not as a prediction of your real exam but as a chance to figure out what you need to study. Changing your mentality like that may help you with reducing pressure before starting your PT.
Second, this applies to both PT and the real exam; when you complete a section and feel like you ruined it badly, it is okay to acknowledge that feeling, but don't get caught up there. You have to move on from it instantly. For instance, after Section 1, you might think, 'That was crazy; I definitely missed 15 questions.' Do not let that affect other sections. You may succeed if you perform well on the rest of the test. Tell yourself: 'Okay, I might have done terribly on that section, but here we go.'
I hope this helps, and good luck!
@SerinJ Hi, thank you so much for your advice! I think it is important to change my mindset and view it as an opportunity to grow rather than feeling terrible after PTs or sections. Will try to do so!
All of the previous advice looks really helpful. I would just add one thing. The test got a whole lot less stressful for me when I set manageable expectations. When I was trying to complete every question with lots of certainty, it was always a big race against the clock. This makes you feel like every second wasted is a punch to the gut, and as soon as you start losing time, the panic spirals. If you have more lenient expectations for where you're at - answering every question with at least 80% certainty, being okay with occasionally not answering the most difficult one or two questions, etc - it feels like less of an anxiety-inducing time crunch. Ironically, this usually leads to me finishing the section in less time than I would be if I were striving for perfection. Basically, create an approach to the test with enough time cushion that panic doesn't set in as soon as you hit a small snag.
@AriVilker1 Thank you for your advice! I was able to relate a lot since I always try to answer every question with 100% certainty and that messed up my time management. Thanks again!
hi! replying more to the accommodations part of your post--I have dealt w crippling anxiety surrounding test taking since I was a wee lil gal. It grew and grew because similar to you, my heart would begin to beat out of my chest and then I would overthink every last choice I made even if I had studied and given my all, I was always the last to finish my tests in school. I would sit there and go in circles stressing over the time and all it did was make my anxiety worse! I had never received accommodations either but after a very difficult undergrad experience, I figured law school would be even more rigorous and I just couldn't imagine putting myself through that again. I finally spoke with a psychiatrist and come to find out my anxiety was linked to more than I had ever realized--I have raging ADHD! not saying this is your reality haha but just wanting to encourage you to receive the help you may need. there's no shame in needing help and there's no reward for struggling. a lesson I learned the hard way!!! good luck to you. may we all end up where we are supposed to be <3
@olivepikle13 Thank you so much! Is it okay if I ask you if you were able to get accommodation from LSAC? If so, how does the process look like?
Listen to the Huberman Lab podcast episode “Master Stress.” This was instrumental for me.
@chlo$ Thank you! I'll check it out!
First of all, I want to emphasize that this is a really common problem, and it's definitely something that you can overcome! I want to share some useful techniques that you can use both during the test and before:
Box Breathing (4-4-4-4 Technique)
How to do it: Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds. Repeat for 1–3 minutes.
Why it works: It helps regulate your breath, slows down the heart rate, and refocuses your mind.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation
How to do it: Starting from your toes, tense and relax each muscle group in your body, moving upwards to your head. Hold the tension for a few seconds and then release.
Why it works: It helps release physical tension that accumulates during stressful moments, allowing the body to feel more relaxed.
Visualization
How to do it: Close your eyes and visualize a peaceful place—perhaps a beach, a forest, or a quiet room. Focus on the details like sounds, smells, and sensations in that place.
Why it works: Positive imagery distracts from stress and creates a sense of calm.
Grounding Through the 5-4-3-2-1 Method
How to do it: Acknowledge 5 things you can see, 4 things you can feel, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste.
Why it works: It brings attention to the present moment and shifts focus away from anxious thoughts.
Mindful Breathing
How to do it: Sit or stand in a relaxed position and focus on your breath. Pay attention to the rise and fall of your chest or belly. If your mind wanders, gently bring it back to your breath.
Why it works: This simple technique helps you stay present, reducing mental clutter and stress.
Positive Affirmations
How to do it: Silently or quietly repeat positive phrases such as “I am calm,” “I am prepared,” or “I trust myself.” Repeat these for 1–2 minutes.
Why it works: Positive affirmations help shift your mindset away from negative, anxious thoughts and reinforce self-confidence.
Finger Breathing
How to do it: Slowly trace each finger on one hand with the index finger of the other hand. Breathe in as you trace up and breathe out as you trace down.
Why it works: It’s a small, focused action that pairs breathing with tactile sensation, helping to ground you in the present moment.
Stretching (Seated Version)
How to do it: While seated, roll your shoulders forward and backward, tilt your neck from side to side, or clasp your hands behind your back and stretch your chest. You can also extend your legs forward under the desk and flex your toes to relieve tension.
Why it works: Stretching releases physical tension, improves circulation, and helps refresh your body and mind even while staying seated.
Hydration and Slow Sips
How to do it: Drink water slowly, focusing on the sensation of the cool water as you sip. Avoid gulping.
Why it works: Staying hydrated helps you stay sharp, while the act of sipping slowly promotes a calm, mindful experience.
None of these are quick fixes, and take practice just like any other part of the test. But consistently integrate these techniques into your practice, and you'll begin to see a shift in your mindset. You can also start off with shorter timed drills (e.g. a first 10 LR questions drill), if a whole PT feels too overwhelming at first.
@LowriThomas Thank you so much for these advices! I truly appreciate your time for writing them now! I should practice doing them during timed sections!
Not a direct tip and too late for this upcoming test date, but if it helps, I had never gotten accommodations for any exam in my life, throughout high school and college, SATs, normal exams, assignments, nothing. I only ever saw someone for my mental health this past year, so I had never been diagnosed before or had anyone who could help me with the paperwork for it. Despite this and a whole bunch of other factors (I had already taken the LSAT once without accoms, my medical provider wasn't a full doctor and is a PA instead), LSAC approved my accommodations extremely fast! It's never too late to get them, and your mental health and wellbeing are important and not something you have to just "get over"! Best of luck to you during the exam!!! Take some deep breaths. I have found that putting an answer down that I was 50% confident over and flagging the question to move on helped me pace myself time wise instead of trying to answer with 100% certainty while still being fast. Long exams are as much about our mental states as our preparation, so just switching my mindset to "do a first pass and then come back when I know I've at least answered everything so nothing is blank" is something that helps me overcome test anxiety a lot.
@maydayings Thank you so much! I might consider doing that for the October one. I don't know if I did the right thing, but after my PT on Sunday (got 150 from it) I decided to withdraw from the June test:( I regret a little bit on withdrawing and feel bad about it because it's expensive...
@maydayings thank you for this GOLDEN nugget, will be doing this moving forward!!!
I use to get the same thing, and still do sometimes. What helps me honestly, is closing my eyes, taking a few deep breaths and getting back to it. I do not stare at the clock, mores so just glance after I have finished a certain number of questions (5, 15, 20) to determine if I need to pick up my pace or if I am doing okay on time. If im not, I usually start to panic but will again close my eyes and take a few deep breaths.
Hope this helps, happy studying :)
@cass.chan I think that is a good strategy! I should decide on a time frame on when to check the clock and pace myself. I'll try to take deep breaths! Thank you so much!
@j_w180 I always try to be done with at least 15 questions by the 20 minute mark!
@cass.chan Will try that too! Thank you!