How to Coach Yourself Through a High-Stakes Career Exam

If you’re working towards a career in the public sector or as an accountant or nurse, a high-stakes career exam is a major undertaking. It can make or break your future as a professional. It can be intimidating, what with all the pressure you’ll be facing. While the idea of hiring a coach or tutor is tempting, self-coaching is also a good option. It’s practical and doable.

However, it’s important to understand that there is more to self-coaching than just finding time to study. It’s a comprehensive package that includes planning, preparations, and management with a specific purpose. You have to strictly apply a results-focused mindset. It may sound challenging but it can be done. You can do it if you set your mind to it, and there are resources out there to help. For example, TEAS test sample questions will give you an idea of what the test format is, as well as help prepare you mentally for nursing exams.

This article offers tips on how to properly coach yourself and prepare for a high-stakes career exam.

1. Get the Basic Exam Details

First things first. You need to know and understand the basic details of the exam. Not knowing what you are “up against” can be scary and overwhelming. 

Here are things you need to do to understand what you’re preparing for:

• Get basic information about the format and structure of the test. What topics and how many sections are included? How long do you have to finish the exam? Getting the answers to these questions will help you determine what topics you need to focus on, especially if there are sections you are not confidently familiar with.
• What is the exam more focused on – testing your knowledge or testing your abilities when under pressure? Knowing what’s expected of you will help you become mentally prepared.
• Don’t get intimidated by the topics you need to focus on. Instead of looking at the exam as one big and long mental challenge, break it down into different study categories. Divide your review hours accordingly. Don’t tackle everything in one sitting or else you’ll get overwhelmed and won’t be able to accomplish anything.

2. What’s Your Study Plan?

Since you already have the basic details of the exam, you can start creating your study plan. This plan should be specific to your goal of becoming mentally and physically ready for your exam. Thus, it should keep you in the right direction, ease your anxiety, increase your confidence, and help you gain all the information and knowledge you need to do well in the exam. 

Here’s how you can work out an efficient study plan:

• Be aware of the exam date. Use a calendar – digital or otherwise, to determine how long you have to study and spread out the topics or sections you need to focus on across the timeframe you have. Schedule at least two review days a week or so before the exam date.
• Be as specific as possible when creating your goals. For example, instead of “Week 2 is for science”, go for the more detailed “Week 2 goal is to finish one practice set on Anatomy by Thursday”. The more detailed your goals are, the easier they are to achieve.
• Avoid cramming. The best thing to do is schedule daily study times of around 30 minutes to an hour instead of dumping all the studying and reviewing you need to a week before the exam. Cramming can result in burnout. Commitment, consistency, and determination are key factors in successfully completing a high-stakes exam.

3. Think Like A Coach

Studying is not the only thing that you should do if you want to successfully coach yourself. You should also adopt the mindset of a coach – so talking to yourself while studying is normal. 

Some tips:

• Don’t be too hard on yourself, especially when you do not know the answer or are unable to fulfill a study goal. Encourage yourself to keep trying. Talk to yourself as if you’re talking to a friend or a loved one. Be supportive. 
• If you catch yourself getting stuck on negative thoughts, don’t be discouraged. Instead, challenge these thoughts with positive ones. For example, if you’re thinking, “I can’t do this. This is beyond my capabilities”, counter this with the thought that, “It’s difficult now but with constant practice, I can learn to do this”. Every positive, encouraging thought matters.
• Journaling will help you reflect on what’s working and not working, what you need to adjust, and what you’re feeling. Managing your mindset is vital in staying on the right track.

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4. Do Simulated Test Practices

Always include simulated practices in your study schedule. You can do this every week or every two weeks – it depends on your study pace. You need to get familiar with what it’s like to perform under pressure. 

Try doing these:

• Timed practices provide the best training for learning how to stay focused and think well even when under pressure. Find a quiet and comfortable place – an area that’s similar to a testing center. Turn the timer on as soon as you start answering the test. You can even have someone act as your proctor.
• If you made mistakes, find time to review them so you’ll know why you were wrong. Take note of what you learn so you won’t make the same mistakes in your next timed practice.
• Ideally, practice sessions should be done once a week. However, if you’re still adjusting your studying pace, you can do them every other week. Just make sure that you start doing it weekly at least a month before your exam. Once you become familiar with what it’s like to perform under pressure, you’ll be able to confidently walk into the exam room – no more reason to be scared or overwhelmed.

5. Stay Focused, Manage Stress

Take care of yourself, too. Don’t spend all of your time studying and forget to sleep and eat well. If your body is tired and your emotions are all over the place, your brain can’t function well. 

Do the following:

• Avoid cramming, especially late at night. You need to faithfully follow the schedule that you set for yourself. Don’t sacrifice rest and sleep. Eat well and at the right time. A well-fed and well-rested brain is what you need.
• Take short breaks when studying. Do stretching and breathing exercises at least once a day, or every 15 minutes during your study time. A 5-minute walk is also beneficial as it can help clear your mind. These breaks help prevent anxiety.
• Don’t go beyond your limits. Once you start feeling overwhelmed, pause and rest. Taking a break is not a sin, it’s vital for maximum performance.

6. A Support System Is Important

Don’t hesitate to reach out to friends and loved ones who can help make your self-coaching journey easier. 

Here are suggestions you should consider:

• Every now and then, work with a study buddy or join a study group. You and your buddy can take turns reviewing by asking questions. Sometimes, explaining things you’ve learned helps you feel validated and more confident.
• Always keep your family and friends updated with your progress. Knowing that the most important people in your life are checking in on your progress will make you feel more motivated. 
• If you can find legit, safe, and positive online communities – such as social media groups and forums, join one or two. Aside from connecting with like-minded individuals, you’ll also have access to resources and tips.

Conclusion

Getting ready for a high-stakes career test is not an overnight thing. It’s something that you pour your time, effort, and commitment to. While hiring a coach is the common practice, you can choose the more practical but equally effective option – self-coaching. 

Using the tips highlighted above, you can successfully coach yourself and prepare for one of the most important exams of your career. Staying committed, motivated, and focused – showing up, will help you achieve your exam goal. Just don’t rush things – take it one study session at a time. Once you’ve started, you’re already one step nearer your goal. 

Image by Jan Vašek