Feeling nervous about the TEAS? You're not alone. Test anxiety affects many students, but there are proven strategies to help.
🧘 Before the Test
- Sleep well — Don't cram the night before. Your brain consolidates learning during sleep.
- Eat a good breakfast — Complex carbs + protein keeps your brain fueled.
- Arrive early — Rushing increases anxiety. Give yourself buffer time.
- Practice under test conditions — Take our timed practice tests so the real thing feels familiar.
- Prepare your materials — ID, confirmation, etc. ready the night before.
🫁 Quick Calming Techniques
4-7-8 Breathing (takes 30 seconds):
- Breathe in quietly through your nose for 4 seconds
- Hold your breath for 7 seconds
- Exhale completely through your mouth for 8 seconds
- Repeat 2-3 times
- Progressive muscle relaxation — Tense and release different muscle groups
- Grounding technique — Name 5 things you can see, 4 you can touch, 3 you can hear
- Positive self-talk — Replace "I'm going to fail" with "I've prepared for this"
📝 During the Test
- Skip and return — If a question stumps you, mark it and move on. Don't let one question derail you.
- Use the timer wisely — Check time at 25%, 50%, 75%. Pace yourself, don't panic.
- Process of elimination — Even if unsure, eliminating 2 wrong answers gives you 50/50 odds.
- Read carefully — Anxiety makes us rush. Take a breath and re-read the question.
- Trust your prep — You've studied. Your first instinct is usually right.
💭 Mindset Shifts
❌ Unhelpful thoughts:
- "I'm going to fail"
- "Everyone else is smarter"
- "I don't know anything"
- "This is my only chance"
✅ Reframe to:
- "I've prepared and I'll do my best"
- "I only need to beat my own goals"
- "I know more than I think"
- "I can retake if needed — this is practice"
💡 Pro tip: Our AI Tutor can help with test anxiety too! Try asking: "I'm feeling anxious about the TEAS. Can you help me with strategies?" It's like having a supportive study buddy available 24/7.