German exam anxiety? Tips for more confidence

The pressure is mounting, your thoughts are racing, the room is getting tighter and the view of the exam paper seems anything but promising. Do you know this feeling? Exam anxiety can be overwhelming and prevent you from reaching your full potential. But there’s no need to worry. In the first episode of our new ÖSD podcast, we give you a few tips that can help you overcome your German exam anxiety and stay calm and focused.

German exam anxiety: How to stay calm and focused

A German exam for a visa, permanent residence or studies can seem like a big hurdle, especially as soon as the pressure increases. At these moments you need the right mindset to stay calm and focused. That’s why today we’re going to show you a few important tips and tools to help you get your exam anxiety under control and stay calm during the German exam.

1. Stay positive – mistakes are part of the learning process

Have you ever asked yourself: “What if I start now and it doesn’t work out?” On the one hand, many mistakes can have a demotivating effect. They give us the feeling that we are not good at something. In the worst case, this can lead to exam anxiety. But on the other hand, we should not forget that mistakes are a natural part of the learning process. They are just as much a part of it as successes.

Especially when learning a new language, it’s not about memorizing everything or doing everything perfectly straight away. Given the complexity of languages, that would be hard to imagine. It’s okay and understandable to make mistakes, which is also taken into account in all our exams. That’s why every ÖSD German exam, for example, focuses on the authentic language performance and language skills of the participants.

2. German exam and anxiety: breathing techniques for relaxation

As soon as you notice that your heart is beating faster and faster and you can no longer think clearly, focusing on your own breathing can calm you down again. In general, slow and deep breathing can help to reduce stress and promote concentration.

One breathing technique that is used for panic attacks and can be consciously used for relaxation is the 4-7-8 method. This involves breathing in for 4 seconds, then holding your breath for 7 seconds and breathing out for 8 seconds. Small exercises like these can help you to stay calm before and during the German exam.

3. Take the ÖSD “Probeprüfung” for more confidence

If you want to calm your nerves before the real German exam, you can additionally simulate an exam situation. It can be very helpful to know what the situation will be like in reality, especially if you have exam anxiety.

The ÖSD provides you online with various preparation options for this purpose, such as free model sentences or the Probeprüfung. Our second offer gives you the direct opportunity to get to know a real exam situation. At the same time you will receive professional feedback from our German experts. After the personal feedback, you will know exactly what you can already do particularly well and which areas you still need to prepare for. This allows you to learn in a much more targeted way and master the real exam situation in a relaxed manner.

More self-confidence for your next German exam: Probeprüfung – start now.

Negative German exam? No reason to give up

A negative exam result can feel disappointing, but it is no reason to despair. Every setback is an opportunity to learn and develop. Don’t forget: every attempt brings you a little closer to your goal.

Learning a new language takes time. That’s why you should take enough time after a negative result to continue preparing yourself. If you think about your own strengths and weaknesses and practise systematically, your German will continue to improve. And then you will be able to take the next German exam with more confidence.

Additional tip for examiners: How do you relieve test takers’ exam anxiety?

Examiners can also play a crucial role in alleviating test takers’ exam anxiety by being empathetic and supportive. If you see that someone is particularly panicking, you can try to make them feel positive with reassuring words and a smile. If necessary and possible, short breathing exercises can be carried out, for example.

In our ÖSD training courses, examiners learn more about empathetic interaction with candidates in exam situations.

You can find out all the important details on this topic in the first episode of our new podcast Deutschprüfung? Keine Panik.