Hopefully you listened to the interview I did with the Amazing Alana where she chronicled her journey from failing the PANCE to passing on the second try. In that interview, she graciously spoke a lot about her lack of “test taking skills” and her anxiety.
Those two are major factors on exam day. I can’t tackle both topics all at once, but for right now I do have something for you to help with the anxiety part.
No, this solution doesn’t come from the pharmacy.
There are a few ways you can deal with anxiety. Some of them are effective, some of them make things worse, much worse. I’m sure by now you’ve tried some nefarious methods to alleviate some anxiety. The methods that remove anxiety temporarily, but typically leave you worse off.
I’m talking about long term fixes here, not Band-Aids. A few years ago, I wrote a short booklet detailing the logistics of beating test anxiety. It isn’t theory – it’s down in the weeds tactics, what you can physically do to overpower anxiety.
Now it isn’t easy and isn’t a once and done thing. When I interviewed Alana, I found myself using these same techniques I’d written about. Why?
Because I was nervous. I’d never done an interview. I needed a way to calm myself down and go with the conversation.
Do you think a buddhist monk never gets mad? Of course they do, but they have techniques and training to get over it.
After you go through all of the material from No More Test Anxiety will you still have test anxiety? You betcha. It’ll creep in every single time. Here’s the difference. If you start practicing the techniques I teach NOW, today, on small quizzes and test and EORs, you’ll build up your prowess at battling anxiety. These are skills like any other and the more time and practice you have the better. This isn’t an overnight fix. Maybe one or two of the techniques will help in a pinch, but like any other skill you can use it at first, but he more you practice the better you’ll be.
Anyway, The No More Test Anxiety Package is available today for a short time. This package is made up of the short booklet I spoke about already and video/audio recording of a presentation I gave to a group of PA-S3s before their exam. The presentation is a killer and covers in depth my philosophy on dealing with anxiety.
This time around I’ve also added in two back issues of Physician Assistant Exam Scholars
Issue # 020 November 2019 – The Science of Slaying Anxiety: How to Avoid The Downward Spiral of Doom
Issue # 042 September 2021 – Six Techniques to Keep Your Brain From R
uining All of Your Hard Work
I’m writing a new book tentatively called “The Essential Guide to PA School: Volume 1 – Starting Strong: The skills you need to succeed as a first year PA student.”
As I was going through old newsletters, I thought, “Wow. These two on anxiety management have to come out of the vault.” So here is your chance to get them.
www.physicianassistantexamreview.com/nmta
Brian Wallace