How to Fight Your Test Anxiety Before the DMV Test

Last updated: October 27, 2025General0

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What is Test Anxiety?

Test anxiety is a common phenomenon that occurs before or during an important test or exam. It is a combination of physiological tension and somatic symptoms. While most of us should expect some anxiety and even find it helpful to stay alert and focused, it can also hinder us from performing our best.

Our mind and body often generalize anxiety reactions from previous experiences. If you worried about school tests when you were younger, you are also likely to worry about your DMV driver’s license or permit exam.

Stage fright

Test anxiety is very similar to stage fright, which is the performance anxiety a performer can feel before and during a performance in front of an audience. Many athletes experience the same tension before an important game or competition.

The physical symptoms are triggered when the body releases adrenaline into the blood. It is known as the “fight or flight” syndrome, which is a naturally occurring process in the body done to protect itself from harm.

Here is When Your Anxiety Will Grow

One thing that will make your anxiety grow is when you put the focus in the wrong place. If you try to resist and fight your anxiety, you will add to the idea of an exam as a threat. It will likely also trigger negative thoughts like, “I always do badly on a test when I am nervous.”

Focus on the Test, Not Your Anxiety

If you have a severe problem with anxiety, make sure you give yourself a lot of time to prepare. Develop a good study strategy based on your needs. Create a positive and relaxed environment for your studies.

Simulate exam conditions with the free practice tests. Pretend it is the real thing. When you hit a success rate of more than 90% on the practice test, save the feeling of success and keep a positive attitude.

Perhaps you should even reward yourself at this point. Ice cream, anyone?

Positive Thinking

Add this to your positive thinking:

Questions on the actual knowledge test are not harder than the practice tests you did at home.

It is just the DMV environment that is different. Why should this bother you?

Learn from professional athletes. You have done your best to prepare for this. Now, see yourself succeeding instead of failing.

In your mind, you could focus on one easy question, like the stop sign. Sure, you know that one. The rest is simple enough. And don’t tell yourself that anxiety has anything to do with your result.

You can do well even if you are a bit nervous.

Body and Mind are Connected

Get plenty of sleep the night before your exam. Don’t stay up late and try to cram the study guide again. A good night’s sleep is directly related to your performance on the exam.

Just like your body needs energy, your brain needs fuel to function. What you eat and drink matters.

Don’t skip breakfast on the test day because you are nervous. Follow your routines, but drink water instead of drinks with sugar. You should also avoid energy drinks or too much coffee, which can increase anxiety.

If there is time, get some exercise, even if it is just a short walk. Exercising on the exam day can release tensions.