Ea Test Taking Tips - Reducing Anxiety

So you think you're prepared for the Special Enrollment Exam. You've studied for weeks. You know the material backwards, forwards, and upside-down. You've purchased every enrolled agent study guide for the test known to man. You even made flash cards.

Then comes test day. You walk into the Prometric testing facility, mentally reviewing the last night's cram session, confident as can be, and sit down at your computer. And that's when your palms start sweating.

Believe it or not, no matter how ready you think you are for an exam, it can all go down the drain because of one little thing: anxiety. Many test takers fail to live up to their test-taking potential, simply because of stress and worry. It can become a major hindrance on your performance, causing extreme nervousness, doubt, and even memory lapses.

So, what's an examinee to do? Reducing your stress level for the enrolled agent exam can be key to increasing your chances of passing. Listed below are the top five ways to keep your cool during the EA exam:

5)Space out your studying over a few weeks and continually review the material. Cram sessions the night before the exam are not only ineffective, they keep you from getting much-needed rest (which is, arguably, better for your brain anyway). Speaking of which...

4)Get a good night's sleep before the test. A well-rested examinee will be refreshed, and will have a far lesser chance of sleeping in and being late to the test- an incident that could cause even more stress.

3)Know what you're getting yourself into. One of the best ways to reduce anxiety for the SEE is to understand the test format. The test is given via computer and consists of three sections of 100 questions. Each section is three and a half hours, allowing for an average of about one question every two minutes. Understand what is required of you, and you will have your bearings when the moment arises.

2)Skip difficult questions and come back to them. Keep in mind that the SEE score is based solely on the amount of correctly answered questions. Incorrect and skipped questions do not count against a person's score, so there is no use agonizing over a difficult question, wasting time and causing yourself even more stress. Just remember to guess an answer, mark for review, and move on. Skipping a question will allow you more time to answer questions you DO know. You can return to the difficult questions later. Remember, you do not have to get a perfect score on the test in order to pass- so spending all your time on one question is not going to benefit you.

And the number one way to keep your cool during the Enrolled Agent Exam:

1)Know the material. The easiest and most effective way to reduce anxiety for the EA test is to be well-prepared. The confidence you will have from knowing the material, from studying, from arriving on test day and seeing familiar questions on the screen, will banish any feelings of worry. The more prepared you are, the better you will feel. Period. So wipe those sweaty palms off and get going. You'll be fine.