Today I had a maths test and even though our teacher warned us that it would contain new types of exercises (let's call them unsual compared to what we worked in classes) it was actually very accessible for everyone.

I like to study especially for maths and I could get an A for this test, excepting the fact that I made a lot of mistakes that not concern the chapter I had to study, but my attention.

If in my first year of high school I was breaking down in the middle of the test experiencing a sort of panic combined with brainwash, this time I make all sorts of mistakes. I don't have the previous problems anymore, I am lot more relaxed and I concentrate better than ever, still, it seems that something disturbs me. What could it be and can I get rid of any external issues that hold me back?

When I solved my previous problem I became indifferent towards what grade I was going to take and so I am now. It helps me relax and release the pressure of living up to some expectations. However, this year (and the years that are to come) I need the real grade that reflects exactly what I know for I want to graduate high school and go to university. I cannot be given better grades based on what teachers know about my real knowledge unless my papers tell the opposite.

I try to be strong and hold my tears because I don't want to give up, but when seeing the disappointment in the eyes of my parents and my teachers I cannot hold any hope for my future. Though I refuse to believe that I should resort to a miserable life...

I was an excellent student and yet did sometimes panic during a test. It had no rhyme nor reason, and didn't matter whether I was good in the subject or not. So although I did well overall, I do understand what you experienced. In fact I dropped out of college partly because of a dismal inability to think during an important exam in my favorite subject. I also had insomnia, worrying about what I wasn't prepared for the next day.

What to do? I'm not sure. It was 45-50 years ago for me, and it never would have occurred to me to tell teachers about panic attacks. Can you do that? Is it clear that you are a bright student outside of testing? Can you arrange to be tested another way, such as independent study, doing a paper that requires a lot more work than others are doing?

Self-help is possible, of course. You already found that 'not caring' helped. You do care, but it's a tool to calm you down that works. Another tool is confidence! Go into class convinced that you are as smart or smarter than half the others around you. Keep telling yourself daily, when you go to bed, when you get up, when you solve a problem, that you are SMART. And ask your parents to curb their expectations and anxiety for you in order to help this process. Good luck!

Maybe changing how you study will help build confidence (especially in test taking) and help you realize how smart you really are. Make flash cards every day for the various subjects, the question on one side and the answer on the other. I used 3x5 cards I bought at the bookstore or Walgreen's. Even as you write up each card, you are studying the information and locking it into your brain. Flip through the cards each day, add a new set with new facts each day, and before a test in a subject, flip through them again alone or with a few classmates for an overview and quick check. This will also help your confidence, that you are sure you know the material.

There are lots of studying tricks like that. Playing a form of "Jeopardy" with classmates in a study group could work for you too. Ask us old timers!

I cannot ask for a priviligiate way of testing, I know most teachers wouldn't understand. Moreover, I cannot go to university and ask for different treatment, too. They'll say that I should already have some abilities to manage through this type of situations.

As a consequence, the only solution is to keep a stiffen upper lip and do my best to maintain a high level of confidence.

Thank you both for tips and encouragement!

I think the suggestion for changing the way you study is a good one. Instead of reviewing the information say by reading through it, practice asking yourself a question and recalling the answer. It will be more like taking the test and through practice could help reduce your anxiety when you need to answer a question on the real test. Completing practice tests, if available, would also accomplish the same things. If you have serious difficulty focusing because of anxiety, it would be good to learn techniques for quickly calming yourself down and refocusing.

Do you shut down when you get stuck on a question? It might also help you to look up some test taking strategies or techniques. Examples... When you encounter a question you can't answer right away, move on to the next question. When going through multiple choice, eliminate incorrect responses. When struggling with short answer or essay questions, write down all the relevant knowledge that you do remember - often just having that in front of you helps you organize your thoughts and remember the correct answer. Often just having some of these tools in ming and a generic plan for approaching the test can really boost your confidence as well as helping you improve your grade.