H
clarion
Brevard College, Brevard, N.C.
Wednesday, April 13,1994
, Volume 62 Nwnber4
eating Test Anxiety
With final exams around the corner, a little organization may help your study habits
by Casey Marshall
Clarion Co-Editor
The teacher tells the class that there
will be a test on the material that you
have been covering and the material you
going to be going over in the next
week. You study your notes way in
advance and you know when you get the
test you are going to ace it. Finally, the
test day is here and you are stoked. The
teacher hands you the test, you look at
it, and your mind goes blank. Has this
ever happened to you?
The information that I’m going to
give to you is for die students who may
suffer from test anxiety. I hope this
information will be helpful to you on
your next test or even on final exams.
A test-anxious student may do
poorly on an exam even if he or she
knows the material better than a
classmate who is able to control
anxiety. Also, test anxiety is caused by
pressure, past experiences and fear of
failure.
Effective studying gives you
confidence. Set the right atmosphere.
Find a place where you can concentrate
without interruption, sit at a well-lit
desk or table, and don’t study when
you’re over-tired. Also, develop a
schedule. Mark deadlines and exam
dates, schedule several short review
sessions, and be realistic about how
much material you can cover in one
session.
For any exam you take, read
directions carefully! When taking short-
answer exams, always budget your time.
Estimate how much time you have to
answer each question. If some questions
are worth more points than others, plan
to spend more time answering them. Do
the easiest questions first. Don’t dwell
on any particular question. You may
come up with the answer as you work
on a different question. Write what you
do know, even if you don’t know the
complete answer. Also, use the full time
allowed. Never leave early. Review your
answers, make corrections, add more
information, etc.
For essay exams, read all questions
first. Underline key words such as
discuss”, “explain”, and “compare.”
Then jot down your initial thoughts. Be
realistic. Answers should be logical and
clear, but they don’t have to be literary
itasterpieces! Use short, simple
sentences to make your points. Start
"'ith the easiest question. Organize your
thoughts into a simple outline. Draft
your answer, leaving space between
'nes and in the margin for correction
and rewrites. Answer more difficult
questions last When you’re fmished, go
back, add any more details that you can
remember and correct any errors.
There are ways to control your
anxiety. Don’t let emotions interfere
with logic. Think about why you
become anxious and afraid. Also, use
your imagination in a positive way.
Learn to relax before and during an
exam. Here’s one technique:
1. Loosen your clothing and get
comfortable.
2. Tighten the muscles in your
toes. Hold for a count of ten. Relax and
enjoy the sensation of release from the
tension.
3. Flex the muscles in your feet.
Hold for a count of 10. Relax.
4.Move slowly up through your
body-legs, abdomen, back, neck, face-
contracting and relaxing muscles as you
go-
5. Breathe deeply and slowly.
If your mind is blocked by tension
during an exam, here are some tips:
L Close your eyes.
2. Take a long, deep breath.
(See Test Anxiety on Page 4)
Spring Fest ’94 is coming to campus
^ — — hand will oerform a information on hair, si
Henry Stepp/Clarion
/
by Rachel Christian
Clarion Staff Writer
. The time has come for Spring Fest
1994. In the span of two weeks, BC
will be the busiest campus in Western
North Carolina.
Hypnotist Extraordinaire
Spring Fest will begin on Monday,
April 18 with a performance by Jon
Lautrec, a hypnotist. At 6 p.m. he wdl
hold a seminar in the Student Cafe
called “Memwy Miracles: You Can Do
Them Too.” . . o
The main show will be at 8 p.m. in
Dunham Auditorium. Lautrec is able to
cause people to forget their names,
count their fingers to total eleven,
believe that they are invisible, and a
variety of other strange things all
through the power of suggesUon.
Music Everywhere.
During Spring Fest many musical
activities will take place. On April 19,
the collegiate singers will
Dunham Auditorium at 8 p m- ^n Ap
24, the band One Tribe will have a
concert from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the
quad. The concert band will perform a
“Life and Culture” series program in
Dunham Auditorium April 26 at 8 p.m.
Make A New You
Come discover “The New You!”
with our nurses from 11 a.m. until 2
p.m. on Thursday, April 21, in the
Rutherford Room in Myers Dining
Hall. There will be a fashion show
(with prizes for most original costume,
funniest costume, futuristic costume and
best dressed in today’s styles), free
haircuts, and lots of valuable
information on hair, skin and nail care
from professional cosmetologists.
Poets And Writers At Brevard
Then join the English Department
on the evening of April 21 as they
introduce poet Julie Suk as part of the
series. “Poets and Writers at Brevard,” at
7:30 p.m. in MG 118. Suk has
published several books of poetry, and is
currently a creative writing professor at
(Queen’s College in Charlotte.
(See Spring Fest on Page 4)
In This Issue...
Campus He
Cotendar
iBftsrs To The Editor
page 7
PC^S3
V Ernie's Students
Money
Beor Cross
page 10
For ^udents
pages
Students Vcfee
Oromtf Cff Art.
Opinions Sufvey
poge6
pogeia