Chariot Learning
  • About
    • FAQ
    • Our Curriculum
    • Areas Chariot Learning Serves
  • Services
    • SAT & ACT Prep
    • Academic Coaching
    • Subject Tutoring
    • Strategic Reading Club
    • Proctored Practice Tests
    • GRE Prep
    • Roots2Words
  • Calendar
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact
April 14, 2016 by Mike Bergin

Test Anxiety? Try a Power Pose

wonderwoman-powerposeWhen Frank Herbert wrote “Fear is the mind-killer” in the sci-fi epic Dune, he might have been thinking of academic performance. Research suggests that stress is so powerful that it can actually shrink the brain. Of course, outstanding test preparation instills massive confidence on test day, but if anxiety strikes, the solution may be a simple power pose.

Researchers Dana R. Carney, Amy J.C. Cuddy, and Andy J. Yap wondered if a person could fake it ’til she makes it, whether nonverbal displays govern how we think and feel about ourselves? They predicted that
posing in high-power nonverbal displays would cause neuroendocrine and behavioral changes that would trigger elevations in testosterone, decreases in cortisol, and increased feelings of power and tolerance for risk. Their findings in Power Posing: Brief Nonverbal Displays Affect NeuroendocrineLevels and Risk Tolerance confirmed their hypothesis:

By simply changing physical posture, an individual prepares his or her mental and physiological systems to endure difficult and stressful situations, and perhaps to actually improve confidence and performance…

High-power poses accentuate expansiveness (taking up more space) and openness (keeping limbs open), whereas low-power poses shrink into themselves. To prepare for a stressful situation, Cuddy recommends in her very popular TED Talk that you hold your body in high-power poses for just two minutes. Power posing with arms outstretched in victory formation or sprawling confidently in your seat might raise testosterone and lower cortisol sufficiently to not only increase confidence and reduces stress, but raise your ability to take more risks and think more abstractly. When you’re taking a high stakes test, all of the above are helpful!

high-power-poses

Power posing may not be all it’s cracked up to be, but considering how debilitating test anxiety can be, any strategy to increase confidence can be valuable. Next time you’re heading into a high pressure situation, strike a power pose and seize the moment!

confidence stress management test anxiety

Previous articleTop Timing Tips for TestsNext article SAT Subscores and Cross-test Scores
Mike Bergin
Tens of thousands of students a year prep for the SAT & ACT through programs Mike Bergin created or organized. After more than 25 years of intensive experience in the education industry, he's done it all as a teacher, tutor, director, curriculum developer, blogger, podcaster, and best-selling author. Mike founded Chariot Learning in 2009 to deliver on the promise of what truly transformative individualized education can and should be.

2 comments

Pingback: Body Language Tips to Boost Confidence
susan george says:
November 10, 2017 at 5:09 am

Thanks for sharing

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Helping high schoolers with tests, school, and life is what Chariot Learning is all about. Let us know how we can help you!

Latest Posts

  • Are You Really Ready for College?
  • ACT Now Reporting Superscores
  • Looming Questions About a Digital SAT or ACT
  • Test Ready for Spring 2021
  • When Someone Scores Higher Than You
  • Be awesome today!
    by chariotlearning 7 hours ago
    Be awesome today!
  • Everyone must choose one of two pains. Which do you choose?
    by chariotlearning 2 days ago
    Everyone must choose one of two pains. Which do you choose?
  • If you want better, go get better.
    by chariotlearning 4 days ago
    If you want better, go get better.
  • Your destiny is forged in the fires of your determination.
    by chariotlearning 6 days ago
    Your destiny is forged in the fires of your determination.
  • Today
    by chariotlearning 1 week ago
    Today's accomplishments were yesterday's impossibilities.
  • All good things start with a dream...
    by chariotlearning 1 week ago
    All good things start with a dream...
  • Fall in love with the process of becoming the very best version of yourself!
    by chariotlearning 2 weeks ago
    Fall in love with the process of becoming the very best version of yourself!
  • If you want something you
    by chariotlearning 2 weeks ago
    If you want something you've never had, you have to do something you've never done.
  • Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal.
    by chariotlearning 2 weeks ago
    Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal.
  • Don
    by chariotlearning 3 weeks ago
    Don't be pushed by your problems. Be led by your dreams. :)

Subscribe to Mike’s Podcast

Subscribe to Tests and the Rest

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE NEWSLETTER

College Road is your source for expert educational advice, test news, college admissions action steps, special offers, and more. Sign up now!

Upcoming Events

  1. Free Practice Online SAT (4/17/21)

    April 17 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
  2. Free Practice Online SAT (4/24/21)

    April 24 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
  3. Free Practice Online SAT (5/1/21)

    May 1 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
  4. Free Practice Online ACT (5/8/21)

    May 8 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
  5. SAT/ACT Extended Class – Spring 2021 (Online)

    May 11 @ 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

View All Events

Testimonials

Working with Chariot Learning was the best preparation choice we could have made. Robert's test scores increased by nearly 50 percentile points. Plus he learned reading and writing skills that he was able to apply immediately in school. Thanks so much!

Bob & Sarah, Brighton parents

Read more testimonials...
© 2020 Chariot Learning, LLC. All rights reserved.