If you fall into the latter group, you're not alone. Test anxiety affects many people of all ages and intelligence, and its symptoms are rooted in your biological "fight or flight" response. For whatever reason, your mind likely perceives an upcoming exam as a threat and then initiates a cascade of hormones that prepare the body for quick action in the face of this threat. But with a little training, you can learn to harness the "fight or flight" symptoms to your advantage.