Do You Know Test Psychology?

How test savvy are you? How well do you prepare for a test? Once in the test, how well do you handle the stress? Are you knowledgeable about test construction theory? Do you manage the test proctors? How's your concentration under pressure?

All these factors represent what's called "Test Psychology". That's the knowledge about tests and the ability to apply it to test taking so you can succeed. Smart test takers have a working knowledge of test psychology. It can be learned by reading about it, by lots of trial and error, and by working with a coach.

This self assessment tool will help give you an overview of your abilities in test psychology so you can begin strengthening your weak areas and get on with improving your test taking skills.

You can assess yourself in three areas:

1. The Psychology Of Studying For Tests
2. The Psychology Of Mental Preparation For Test Taking
3. The Psychology Of Test Taking

Make a check mark on the line below if you think you need more help on that item.

The Psychology of Studying for Tests

How are your skills in the classroom and studying?

1.  __Classroom listening and note-taking skills.
2.  __Self-study habits skills.
3.  __Small group study skills.
4.  __Written self-testing skills.
5.  __Verbal self-testing skills.
6.  __Problem solving abilities.
7.  __Creating study aids and tools.
8.  __Creativity in study routines.
9.  __Assessing what the test will cover.
10.  __Knowing how to rest and pace yourself.
11.  __Knowing how to create a study system.
12.  __Ability to focus and concentrate.

The Psychology of Mental Preparation for Test Taking

How are your skills in psyching up for the test?

1.  __Expecting and visualizing success.
2.  __Believing you deserve success.
3.  __Handling stress in your life in general.
4.  __Building mental toughness to handle the stress of the test.
5.  __Preparing your mind the day before and day of the test.
6.  __Psyching up your energy for the test.

The Psychology of Test Taking

How are your skills in the actual test?

1.  __Having a strategy for taking the test.
2.  __The tactics of test taking.
3.  __Management of memory aids, formulas, and important facts.
4.  __Hearing, reading and managing test directions.
5.  __Understanding test grading procedures and building a test strategy around them.
6.  __Educational psychology knowledge.
7.  __Test construction knowledge
8. __Knowledge of statistics and measurement.
9.  __Interacting with test proctors.
10.  __Asking for help.
11.  __Pacing yourself.
12.  __Handling time issues.
13.  __Dealing with stress in the test.
14.  __Problem solving.
15.  __Maintaining composure.
16.  __Handling distractions.
17.  __Maintaining focus and concentration.
18.  __Using test taking tools and aids.
19.  __Understanding the questions.
20.  __Formulating potential answers.
21.  __Using logic and deduction to devise answers.
22.  __Handling tricky, truth-testing and misleading questions.
23.  __The politics of test taking.
24.  __Leaving questions for later.
25.  __Speed in answering questions.
26.  __Checking answers.

When you are test savvy you feel confident about figuring out the test. When you know test psychology you are handling factors before and during the test, and that's more powerful.

Now you know your strengths and weaknesses when it comes to test psychology. I encourage you to become even more knowledgeable about test psychology so you can reduce your stress, enjoy the educational process more and score better on every test! Good luck.

Knowing about educational psychology and being test savvy is certainly an important part of being a good student, but top students who get consistently high grades also have a knowledge base and applied skills in stress control and peak performance. You need to know how to manage your mind, calm your emotions and relax your body so you can get into the “test zone”, that powerful, deeply focused mind-body state that gives you excellent recall, mental alertness and clarity. You need to learn these skills and become mentally tough so you can handle the extreme pressures of academia. Other mental skills training you need are visualization, confidence-building, mental readiness training and motivation skills.

To learn this set of mental toughness, zone, and stress control skills, sign up for our special Test Anxiety Stress Reduction Program. You can also take this no-cost assessment of your test-taking skills.

Test Anxiety Assessment