Assessments & Preparation

Secondary Page Banners

Managing Exam Stress



Taking exams can cause stress for some people. To help you avoid or manage stress, consider the following tips: 

 The months before the exam

  • if you have never taken a computer-based exam, practice using our Online Assessment Exams
  • use your nervous energy productively: Study regularly and well
  • practice relaxation techniques such as exercise, adequate sleep and hobbies to balance study time
  • review your Authorization To Test (ATT) letter found in your Online Profile to ensure your first and last name on the ATT letter match your name on your government-issued photo ID

The week before the exam

  • get directions to the exam site, and make sure you understand them
  • consider following the directions at the same time of day you will leave for the exam, and note the time and mileage of the trip

The day before the exam

  • relax and get a good night’s sleep
  • do not study
  • visualize success

On exam day

  • bring your government-issued photo ID 
  • bring directions, money and tickets or fare cards for tolls or mass-transportation
  • leave ample time for transportation delays 

During the exam

  • pace yourself, spending an average of one minute per question
  • after you answer all the questions that you can, return to any unanswered questions and to any answers you were not sure of
  • if you are not sure of an answer it's better to guess than to leave a question blank
  • take all the time you're given; you get no points for finishing early