Academic Diagnostic During the enrollment process I completed the academic diagnostic test that tested current writing and reading skills. It has been about ten years since I last completed any test. My anxiety level due to the testing experience on a scale 1-5, 5 being the highest, was 4. My anxiety level being as high as it was, was not only due to the amount of time that I have been out of school, even though that played a major factor, but also because I have never done very well taking any test, whether I study or not. During tests, I get panic-stricken and freeze up, fearful of answering wrong and receiving a discouraging grade. It usually doesn’t matter if the test is just a knowledge test or a test that I studied for, or how long I studied for it; I still tend to get stressed, especially if the answer options are multiple choices. I have always done better answering questions that are given by explanation from memory, like writing a paragraph or answering in my own words. Choosing from multiple choices, I read too much into the test questions and tend to over think the answers, second and third guessing my first. Furthermore, my mind goes blank and anything that I know or studied, dematerialize. Once the test is over and I’ve had the chance to review the questions that were on the test and the answers that I gave, I feel foolish and upset with myself, particularly if I didn’t do well, because I know that I could have done better if I didn’t get distressed. Some of the aspects of the diagnostic that I found most difficult were seeing the timer counting down, as I tried to focus on the reading and answers, causing myself angst because I wanted to make sure that I had enough time to complete the tests. At times I got confused and frustrated trying to understand some of the questions and what exactly was being asked. On a positive note, the diagnostic test will be a useful tool throughout this course and others, not only because of the fact I have taken the test for the first time in ten years, but also, I can look back on how I handled things, what I did wrong and I can definitely learn from these situations for future testing to overcome.