The pressure of preparing for the ASWB exam can trigger test anxiety for many individuals, leading to decreased motivation and decreased performance.
In this blog post, we will explore 5 key strategies that have been proven to help individuals overcome test anxiety and excel in their ASWB exam preparation.
These strategies can help you manage your stress levels, increase your confidence, and ultimately achieve success on test day! So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the thought of the ASWB exam, read on to discover ways to overcome test anxiety and boost your performance.
5 Strategies to Overcome Your Anxiety Preparing for ASWB Exam
1. Practice Mindfulness and Habit Stacking
Habit stacking is defined as the process of “stacking” or adding things to your already-enforced routine. By adding these new behaviors to your existing daily habits, you capitalize on the connectedness of behavior.
Habit stacking also utilizes the power of the subconscious mind. Most of our habits are subconscious behaviors (we’re able to perform them without conscious thought). Take brushing your teeth, for example. This is largely something you do without actively “thinking” about the process.
By habit stacking, you can reduce your anxiety by attaching studying to the things you’re already doing! Learn more about habit stacking here: How To Use Habit Stacking And Mindfulness To Support Your ASWB Studying.
2. Avoid Cognitive Overload!
“Cognitive load” relates to the amount of information that your working memory can hold at one time. Since working memory has a limited capacity, the most effective instructional methods avoid overloading it with activities that don’t directly contribute to learning.
You can avoid cognitive overload by:
- Understanding your learning style
- Focusing on one topic at a time
- Reading the question slowly and identifying key information
- Eliminating Distractions
- Avoiding Multitasking
Learn more about how you can avoid cognitive overload here: Avoid Cognitive Overload On The ASWB Exam.
3. Have a Strategy for Breaking Down Questions
Do you have a strategy for approaching questions on your Bachelors, Masters, or Clinical ASWB exam? Having a strategy that you’re confident utilizing can reduce your stress by providing you with a “playbook” to approach exam questions you may never have seen before.
We recommend using the 5 W’s, a straightforward approach that helps you break down questions by understanding the Who, What, Where, When, and Why! Learn more about the 5 W’s in our blog post + infographic.
4. Listen to Your Body and Practice Self-Care
Pay attention to your bodily cues. If you are becoming burnt out, unfocused, or unproductive, it is time to take a break. Take a moment to stop what you’re doing and become aware of what’s happening in your body and mind.
It is essential that you make time in your schedule for self-care. If you are not in good mental and physical health, neither your mind nor your body will be able to perform to their full potential.
5. Build a Plan for Test Week and Test Day
This can be a very stressful time for many test-takers. However, with a strong plan, you can minimize your stress and maximize your preparation and test score:
- Know the location of your exam prior to test day!
- Show up early! If you are late, you may be refused entry to the exam.
- Bring Proper ID. Make sure you have your ID ready the day before to ensure no day of surprises. You are expected to show both a primary and secondary form of ID.
- Dress in layers. You do not know what the temperature will be like in the testing room.
- Eat something prior to your test. You do not want to be HANGRY and unfocused during the test.
- Listen to your body. Take breaks as you need them if you become physically or mentally fatigued, but be mindful of the time.
- Stay positive. Think positive thoughts and keep your mind focused on the end goal. Don’t let your mind start to slip into negative thinking patterns.
Test Anxiety with the ASWB Exam
Test anxiety can be a major obstacle in preparing for the ASWB exam, but with the right strategies, it is possible to overcome it! Through mindfulness, habit stacking, avoiding cognitive overload, and planning your test day, taking proactive steps toward managing your stress can lead to better exam results.
Remember, the ASWB exam is just one step in your journey to becoming a licensed social worker, and by putting in the effort to overcome test anxiety, you are setting yourself up for success not only on exam day but also in your future career! So, take a deep breath, trust in your hard work, and embrace these strategies to tackle test anxiety and reach your full potential.
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► Learn more about the Agents of Change course here: https://agentsofchangeprep.com
About the Instructor, Meagan Mitchell: Meagan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been providing individualized and group test prep for the ASWB for over five years. From all of this experience helping others pass their exams, she created the Agents of Change course to help you prepare for and pass the ASWB exam!
Find more from Agents of Change here:
► Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/aswbtestprep
► Podcast: https://anchor.fm/agents-of-change-sw
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Disclaimer: This content has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or clinical advice, diagnosis, or treatment
