While studying the content strands of the CAHSEE in preparation for the exam is vital, learning how to properly manage stress levels can play a significant part in your test performance as well. Effective stress reduction techniques are not only easy to learn, they can also be quite enjoyable.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Always take as many practice tests as possible. While this may not seem like a stress reducing tactic at first glance, studies show that the more familiar a student is with the exam format and layout, the less likely they are to have their anxiety levels increase when presented with the actual test on exam day. Knowing exactly what to expect as far as the appearance of the test goes helps to reduce any last minute surprises which can cause stress levels to spike. Also, the more practice questions you expose yourself to beforehand, the more familiar you can become with the actual types of questions you can expect to see on the exam. Practice questions can essentially give you a road map, detailing exactly which steps you need to take to improve test performance.

Keep Your Spirits Up

Always make sure you keep a positive attitude. While this may seem insignificant, it can actually make a huge difference on your stress levels as well as the effectiveness of your preparation time. While the sheer amount of information covered on the exam may seem overwhelming initially, if you make a plan to take it one section at a time, reducing the amount of material you are exposing yourself to at one time, the information becomes more easily managed. Likewise, when any other aspect of the test runs the risk of brining your spirits down, simply take a step back and find a new way to approach it to make it more manageable. The positive attitude you maintain during the preparation process will carry through to CAHSEE exam day and significantly improve your chances of remaining as stress free as possible.