It’s normal to feel anxious when preparing for your Apprenticeship Assessment. Pressure and stress are common when you are keen for it to go well. Apprentice wellbeing in assessment is important to us, and our assessors are aware that apprentices will be nervous. Our role is to support you to perform your best.
Read on for some simple tips on how to manage stress in assessment.
1. Breathing techniques
These can be useful in the workplace as well as in your assessment.
Taking a few minutes throughout the day, and just before you logon to your assessment, can really help calm your mind and reset your body, to give you the best chance at performing at your best.
Regulating your breathing can help reduce anxiety and stress. 10 mins before your assessment, breathe in slowly for 5 seconds and out slowly for 5 seconds. Repeat for 2 or 3 minutes. This regulates the oxygen in your system. Sit comfortably, think about your body, acknowledge any thoughts, and slow your heart rate down.
2. Be prepared
Make a list of what’s going to happen and ask for help to prepare from your manager, training provider or refer to 1st for Awarding’s support materials.
- Check your tech and make sure your webcam and mic are working
- Make sure your desk is clear
- Have the meeting link ready
- Make sure you have your digital notes/portfolio/presentation open when you log in to your assessment (this will vary by apprenticeship standard, and you can check what’s allowable in our support materials)
- Have your ID ready to show the assessor
3. Practice
Practice talking about yourself. This can be daunting to do, especially with a stranger in an assessment.
If your assessment contains a presentation, practice it out loud. Time yourself, move through the slides and use any allowable digital notes to help you.
Look at the video clip of a mock assessment so you know what to expect.
Find out more about what to expect in the assessment:
EPA Examples and EPA Questions
6 Ways to Demonstrate Skills and Behaviours in EPA
4. In your assessment
Make sure you listen to questions. If you are asked a follow-up question, it doesn’t mean you haven’t answered the question – it could be that the assessor is trying to dive deeper to ensure the evidence is sufficient, or to try and get further depth so you can achieve a higher grade. Apprentices are not aware of this at the time, as assessors are not allowed to provide any feedback during the assessment.
5. Reasonable Adjustments and Special Considerations
If you’re entitled to an RA or SC, make sure you take the time to request it. Not requesting these can put you under extra unnecessary pressure.
Follow these links for further info:
What are Reasonable Adjustments in assessment? – 1st for Awarding
Policies for Apprentice Assessment and EPA | 1st for Awarding
6. Breaks
If your assessment consists of more than one assessment method, you’ll usually be offered a short comfort break.
The break is important to ensure you can perform at your best for the second part of the assessment. You may wish to take a breather, re-centre yourself, fill your drink, grab some fresh air, stretch your body and review your notes.
Check out some simple stretches you can do at your desk:
5 desk stretches to relieve tension at work – 1st for Awarding
Finally!
After the assessment, the assessor will not give feedback on the call. They will explain the next steps, including when you can expect your results.
Good luck!
