How do I combat test anxiety?
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Asked by janiequist {20}
7/22/2010 3:10:08 PM I am a court reporting student and am only two semesters into my training, and I have bad test anxiety. I can reach the speeds I'm going for in practice, but when it comes to test time I fall apart. I lose focus, my hands shake, I drop stuff. If you had test anxiety, what did you do to get past it? 
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 |  Answered by jbergmancsr {1164} 7/22/2010 10:06:02 PM | [0 Votes] Vote this up Flag as inappropriate |
Look at test anxiety as the best practice for the BIG test :) Everyone (at least everyone that I know) is nervous for that test. What you have to do is get past it. Learn to write even if you are a little nervous. Get in that "zone." The zone is where you put everything else out of your mind except each and every word that you hear. It's almost a "zomby" kind of state. If you are nervous, that means you are thinking, "What if I don't pass this test? What if it is a hard test? What if . . . what if . . . what if. . . Try to block those "what ifs" out of your brain. They are stopping you from "the zone." I always told myself this: "Look, there is a test tomorrow, so don't sweat it." That always seemed to work for me while I was in school. The little problem with that is that for THE BIG test, there is no test tomorrow, so I think the zone is better. Breathe deep and then find that zone. If you can find that zone over and over while you're in school, then it will be easier to find it when you really need it. Of course, prayer doesn't hurt either :) |
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Great advice. Thanks! I'm going to work on finding that zone. - janiequist 7/23/2010 9:13:32 AM | FlagSomeone commented from the facebook section to find a spot and just stare at that. I've done that as well. It works. Find the spot before the test starts and then get in that zone even before the test starts, only this time focusing on getting those nerves calmed down. Then just keep staring at that spot and keep in that calm pose during the test. You can do it :) - jbergmancsr 7/24/2010 1:42:50 PM | FlagThe Zone is something to strive for. I believe it takes practice. While you're practicing at home, work on thinking or focusing on something else instead of the words you hear. I used to think of a shopping list. Takes your mind off what you're writing, and you'd be amazed that you're still getting it all down verbatim. And always try to give yourself a cushion when you take a test. Try to practice and write a speed highter than a test. So when you get shaky hands and nervious, hopefully that little extra speed you've attained will compensate for it. Take DEEP BREATHS. Breathe during the test. Don't worry, you will find what works for you. - veames 7/24/2010 3:56:59 PM | FlagOh, those horrible testing nerves & brain freeze! I remember it well. I found that continuous writing up right up to the test starting, kept my fingers from freezing up. It no one was talking, I'd write things like: Today is Monday, August 10, 2010. The time is 9:00 a.m. I have to go to the store later today, etc. If I flubbed the first couple of words, I'd allow myself to drop them & immediately pick up what was being said. I could usually remember the couple of words I dropped. Also, in the second before the test starts, three deep breaths with extended exhale can help calm you down. Good luck! - IheartMultiCopy 8/9/2010 7:15:25 AM | Flag |
|  Answered by Melissa Lee Dominguez {40} 12/3/2011 4:30:45 PM | [0 Votes] Vote this up Flag as inappropriate |
Where does one get court reporting hypnosis tapes?! |
Comments from Facebook | ||
 | Brenda MacNaughton I`m in my 200s and still battle this problem! I haven`t found anything that works, yet. :-) Saturday, July 24, 2010 | |
 | Tabitha Huffman Ooh, that`s a hard one. I get nervous during tests too. I try to focus on my breathing just before the test. You can Google breathing exercises if you need to. That seems to calm me down a bit. I will also sometimes alternate between opening my eyes and closing them. If I find I am beginning to talk in my head, saying things like, I`m getting it! I`m getting it!, or focusing too much on something I missed, switching between opening my eyes or closing them seems to help for me. It`s hard Saturday, July 24, 2010 | |
 | Suzanne Reid exercise and visual imagery. passed the csr test after a good run in the morning before. also still yourself, lie quietly, listen to calming sounds, and imagine your fingers writing the words immediately as they are spoken. also...tell yourself it`s just a test and in the grand scheme of life, there will always be another test :) worked for me. I totally had test anxiety until 200s...started the above and voila! I still do it before a real time job where I know it will be challenging. a Saturday, July 24, 2010 | |
 | Jennifer Boros When I passed my boards, I slowed everything down in my head. I thought about a hummingbird`s wings and how they moved in slow motion. I honed in on my body, my breathing, and what it was telling me. Focus! You can do it! Saturday, July 24, 2010 | |
 | Jan Hussey That happened to me during the CSR in May 1981! And I`d been in school for 3 years. I just said to myself, Jan, you can do this! You were doing it, just start writing again. I did, and that was the only part I could not type up (yes, we had to type it ourselves back then!). I only missed a few words. Just tell yourself, you`ve done it before, you can do it now! Saturday, July 24, 2010 | |
 | Melissa Macrelli-Powell start writing whatever is in your head before the tests starts and as soon as the test starts, you will already be in somewhat of a flow! It used to help me! Saturday, July 24, 2010 | |
 | Jill Moyle Practice lots of fresh material that you haven`t heard before so you get used to writing unfamiliar takes. And be faster than the speed you`re testing for. That may sound obvious, but if you`re trying to pass a 100, you may really need to be writing close to 120 to compensate for your nerves. Saturday, July 24, 2010 | |
 | Jackie Sigwing On my state test, 33 years ago, I still remember dropping an answer (SO nervous) and believing I`d blown it at that point, so I decided to just keep writing so I didn`t mess up my old roommate who was sitting right next to me. When I typed it up, the answer was obviously yes or no, so I just put it in, had 5 full pages typed up which seemed right....of course I`d passed but was psyching myself out during the Q&A. LOL Saturday, July 24, 2010 | |
| Jackie Sigwing I remember trying to practice using the tv news, thinking I was horrible because it was really hard to track with it. And practicing things a level above the test speed levels. The nerves, you can even get those in certain jobs later, and you just have to figure out how to get in a zone where it`s a reflex from brain to hands, a straight shot to them without thinking or trying to follow the story, or thinking about what`s going on later at home, etc. There`s plenty of time later to be tak Saturday, July 24, 2010 | |
 | Beth Finson Benson I`ve been reporting 25 years and went through the same thing...took me five tries to pass it, the first three I wasn`t really ready, the fourth was total nerves, by the fifth time I aced it! It`s all in your confidence and your abilities. Keep practicing! Saturday, July 24, 2010 | |
 | Andrea Martin Ask your doctor for Inderol to take prior to your next test. I took/passed the CA CSR and the RPR without it. I was a nervous wreck but still somehow passed. I then attended a seminar to prepare reporters to take the CRR, and the speaker recommended Inderol. It`s a blood pressure medication used to combat stage fright. I used it to take the CRR exam and also the Nevada exam...it was AMAZING how well it worked to keep my heart from feeling like it was going to pound right through my chest an Saturday, July 24, 2010 | |
| Andrea Martin Hmm, not sure you want to use it for tests in school, though. For those, practice is the best thing to do. And always practice at a level higher than your current speed. Saturday, July 24, 2010 | |
 | April Lassiter Learn to relax and hit what you hear. Just tell yourself, this is like taking something down in court.......pretend this is your job and you`re already working as a reporter. You`ll be bound to get it then!!! What I`ve learned after being an Official reporter for 7 years,after coming out of school and freelancing for a bit, I realized, THIS is different than school. This is the real thing. Sink or swim! It`s imperative that I get done everything said! Once you look at your testing that way, you` Saturday, July 24, 2010 | |
| April Lassiter Sorry for the typo!!! These darn small keys on this phone!!! LOL! Saturday, July 24, 2010 | |
 | Janalee Whitacre I would get test anxiety also, and would reach a certain point of hanging on and then give up and drop because my nerves got the best of me. I was tired of doing that and knew I had the skill and practice to pass. I finally heard of a girl that just passed her CSR test say You just have to be mad enough to want it. I thought mad. Hum. okay. I used that technique for the qualifiers and the board test. I got angry that this test wasn`t going to beat me. I wasn`t going to drop and I was Saturday, July 24, 2010 | |
 | Paula Pollack I had a friend come over, who`d just taken a Hypnosis course. He used the techniques that he learned. It was really helpful and I passed my test on the next try.... Saturday, July 24, 2010 | |
 | Joanne Lombardo Do not ever, ever, ever think, wow, I am doing it or wow I am blowing it. Be in the moment, in the zone focused on each stroke. Sometimes when it is tough, I do not even connect the words together to keep going. Like in child abuse, murder cases. Open your mouth, it sounds funny, but it is hard to be tense with it open. And if someone pounds on their keyboard next to you and that bothers you, just move. Saturday, July 24, 2010 | |
 | Vicki Martin I used to get so nervous when I realized that I was getting everything in the test and then I would freeze! I started focusing on a spot on the floor out in front of me somewhere during practice and then during the test and that really seemed to work. Just staring at one spot the whole time helped me just zone out and become a channel for the words to flow from my ears to my fingers. I still do it to this day if I`m in a job that picks up a pretty quick pace every now and then. I just focus on a Saturday, July 24, 2010 | |
 | Amanda Leigh Don`t smoke, whatever you do...until right before the test. Then light up a couple of Camel nonfiltered--suck `em down slowly and deliberately...walk in there, sit down, tell that test you`re gonna kick its ass and then do it. Being at a comfortable 240 helps, too. ;) Saturday, July 24, 2010 | |
 | Elora Dorini I underwent hypnosis. It did work. And for qualifiers since I`m there at speed but nerves just whip me, I use either one 5-HTP pill, or RIGHT before the test I`ll put some vanilla lotion or something that when I get a whiff will calm me down. It does help, but I haven`t passed the Q yet. Saturday, July 24, 2010 | |
 | Lorri Spencer Seriously good suggestions, some I`ve never heard of like Inderol or hypnosis, but very glad to hear about them! Keep practicing with speeds higher. And, remember, tests vary, some are harder than others. You will eventually pass your speeds. I have same problem with nerves, even today after 20 yrs of writing, ESP if I have to hook up realtime and people are watching me. Talk about shaky hands, lol! Saturday, July 24, 2010 | |
| Lorri Spencer Seriously good suggestions, some I`ve never heard of like Inderol or hypnosis, but very glad to hear about them! Keep practicing with speeds higher. And, remember, tests vary, some are harder than others. You will eventually pass your speeds. I have same problem with nerves, even today after 20 yrs of writing, ESP if I have to hook up realtime and people are watching me. Talk about shaky hands, lol! Saturday, July 24, 2010 | |
 | Maria Riggs My two cents, Lorri is right! The best way is to just keep practicing, listening to tapes (did I just date myself?) of higher speeds that are barely in reach. Anxiety is hard to control, but you should start sometime in school practicing your game face, meaning looking calm in a depo or court when you`re actually very nervous inside! Saturday, July 24, 2010 | |
 | Sharla Wallace Just hang in there. Two semesters is nothing. When I started doing well on tests is when I stopped thinking about having to transcribe every test. There`s no way you`re going to get every one. Just keep writing and when you least expect it, there will be a test where when you`re done you`ll realize you got every word. One day it will just click. I`ve been doing this for almost a hundred years, and there are days where I still don`t get stuff either because it`s hard they`re fast or you Sunday, July 25, 2010 | |
 | Cheryl Gilliam When I passed RPR and RMR, I sat by a window and picked a spot outside, a pole, a car, whatever, and just focused like my life depended on it, and I passed both the first time, plus I was practicing at very high speeds. For some reason, though, the CRR is not coming as easy, but I won`t give up, and I will pass it. I do this every day, for Christ`s sake. It is the easiest test to fail because you`re lulled into thinking, oh, it`s so slow, but whereas you can read your sloppy RPR or RMR notes Sunday, July 25, 2010 | |
| Cheryl Gilliam When I passed RPR and RMR, I sat by a window and picked a spot outside, a pole, a car, whatever, and just focused like my life depended on it, and I passed both the first time, plus I was practicing at very high speeds. For some reason, though, the CRR is not coming as easy, but I won`t give up, and I will pass it. I do this every day, for Christ`s sake. It is the easiest test to fail because you`re lulled into thinking, oh, it`s so slow, but whereas you can read your sloppy RPR or RMR notes Sunday, July 25, 2010 | |
 | MaryAnne Coppins-Misiti practice, practice and expect it`s going to come. usually around the 3 minute mark. When you practice over and over you`ll have the confidence to get through it. We all get it, even experienced reporters. Good luck. Sunday, July 25, 2010 | |
 | Dee Ayer I`m going to tell you something weird, but it worked for me. I focused on a particular song right before the test that was sort of inspiring....like the Rocky theme song. I pictured myself crossing that finish line. Now, I knew I MAY not be the first one across, but I sure as heck was NOT going to be the last one. It`s a visual thingy, and like I said, it worked for me. Also, as you progress into higher speeds and you have a test only once a week but it`s the biggy, dress like you`re going to Sunday, July 25, 2010 | |
 | Jessica Crowl I am in my 160s and once i realized that I wasn`t going to pass every time I got less nervous. Last week while taking my 160 Q I totally froze. That had not happened to me before but I just put too much pressure on myself. You`ll pass it when you`re ready. Practice, breathe, & focus and think of it as practice. Good luck! Sunday, July 25, 2010 | |
 | Sherita Hunter Im in 225 and I am having this problem. I completely freeze! When I was in 160 I almost passed out from holding my breath and had to go home early. (Not recommended.) Back then I tried hypnosis tapes for court reprters that help with relaxation. I will be trying them again. Hope this helps. : /Good luck! Monday, July 26, 2010 | |
 | Michelle Daniel What`s the worst that could happen? Not pass and take it again tommorrow? It took me forever to get to 200, then I quit school. 20 years later, I went back to school and finished in a year and a half. My 180`s and 200`s were tough. I was there for a few months each. So I planned on at least another few months on my 225`s. But I ended up passing them within a week or two. Sometimes if you just don`t put too much pressure on yourself, you`d be amazed what you can do. I was out and working Monday, July 26, 2010 | |
| Michelle Daniel What`s the worst that could happen? Not pass and take it again tommorrow? It took me forever to get to 200, then I quit school. 20 years later, I went back to school and finished in a year and a half. My 180`s and 200`s were tough. I was there for a few months each. So I planned on at least another few months on my 225`s. But I ended up passing them within a week or two. Sometimes if you just don`t put too much pressure on yourself, you`d be amazed what you can do. I was out and working Monday, July 26, 2010 | |
 | Glen Warner Wow, Michelle! Inspirational.Twenty years ...! Makes my four year wait seem paltry by comparison! Monday, July 26, 2010 | |
| Glen Warner Wow, Michelle! Inspirational.Twenty years ...! Makes my four year wait seem paltry by comparison! Monday, July 26, 2010 | |
| Michelle Daniel Thanks. Yeah, I got married when I was in school, and then my husband left me a few weeks later. I was too embarrassed about the whole thing I guess. So I quit, I just couldn`t seem to face anybody at the time. So, so stupid. So 20 years later, I decided to go back. I was working and taking classes online at night, with a child at home. So, I say to everybody. . . if I can do it, so can you. Monday, July 26, 2010 | |
 | Michèle Leroy Reading your post, Michele really inspires me. Thank you for sharing your story. May I ask, how many hours were you able to pratice every day when you went back to school the second time, taking classes at night? And how long did it take you to finish court reporting school the 2nd time around.(while working full time in the day and also taking care of your child)? I am currently preparing to return to court reporting school in two months.I took a break for a year. (PS sorry about your experien Tuesday, July 27, 2010 | |
| Michèle Leroy Reading your post, Michele really inspires me. Thank you for sharing your story. May I ask, how many hours were you able to pratice every day when you went back to school the second time, taking classes at night? And how long did it take you to finish court reporting school the 2nd time around.(while working full time in the day and also taking care of your child)? I am currently preparing to return to court reporting school in two months.I took a break for a year. (PS sorry about your experien Tuesday, July 27, 2010 | |
 | Carol Williams When I was taking my CR exam, the third time when I passed it I was prescribed beta blockers from my doctor. It really helped my nerves. Wednesday, July 28, 2010 | |
Thank you. I ended up doing it that way you do it. It looked fine. I had...
jbergmancsr {1164} commenting on an answer by ebeths {83}
Had this same scenario a few months ago where the witness spoke maybe 2/...ebeths {83} answering a question by jbergmancsr {1164}
I agree. You did it perfectly. In some instances I think it is best to go...lauraromeo {10} commenting on an answer by ebeths {83}
Are you recording the audio from your steno machine or your laptop? ...fstfngrs {1742} answering a question by KD {30}
You know what, I actually love it just the way you did it in your exampl...ebeths {83} answering a question by Shenna Basye-Cara {104}
I think you should put (as spoken) after each one where she speaks phonetic...Rosalie {1907} commenting on an answer by Shenna Basye-Cara {104}
They do correctly spell it as Weis a few pages later. It doesn'...Shenna Basye-Cara {104} answering a question by Shenna Basye-Cara {104}
I know there is a section in Morson's that touches on phonetic spell...AnnMarie Marciw Deis {35} answering a question by Shenna Basye-Cara {104}
I hate it when these situations arise...they always have to throw us for...CS320 {198} answering a question by Shenna Basye-Cara {104}
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