TCOLE Test Anxiety? You're Not Broken — But You Might Be Studying Wrong

Let’s get one thing straight: if you’re stressed about the TCOLE exam, you’re not weak — you’re normal.

I’ve trained a lot of people who were sharp in the classroom and solid on the street, but when it came to written tests, they locked up. And some of them started telling themselves things like “I’m just bad at tests,” or “I’ll never pass.”

That’s nonsense. The real issue? They weren’t training their brain the way they trained for the job.

You wouldn’t show up to defensive tactics or firearms and just “wing it.” But that’s exactly what a lot of students do when it comes to studying. And when stress hits, they fold — not because they’re not smart, but because they didn’t train their brain for pressure.

Here’s how to fix that.

1. Stop Cramming. Start Chunking.

Cramming for the TCOLE exam the night before is like doing one big bench press the day before your PT test. It’s not helping — it’s hurting.

Your brain can only absorb so much at a time. Instead, break your studying into short, focused blocks. Try 25 minutes on, 5 minutes off. Do that three or four times, and you’ll retain way more.

🔹 Why it works: You’re fighting mental fatigue and giving your brain time to process what you learned.

2. Move Your Body — It Calms the Mind

If your heart’s racing and your thoughts are all over the place, don’t grab another energy drink. Stand up. Walk. Do ten pushups. Stretch. Go outside for five minutes.

Movement burns off some of the stress chemicals (like cortisol) and clears the fog so your brain can focus.

🔹 Tip: On test day, show up early and take a brisk walk around the building before you sit down.

3. Practice Like It’s Game Day

Don’t just study the material — simulate the pressure. That means:

• Set a timer.

• Turn your phone off.

• Take a full-length practice test with no distractions.

• Review your answers after, not during.

You’ll feel the nerves. That’s good. You’re training your brain to focus under stress — just like we do in scenarios, DT, or firearms.

4. Teach It, Don’t Just Read It

Here’s a trick most people miss: the best way to learn something is to teach it.

After a study session, close the book and explain the topic out loud like you're instructing a class. You'll quickly find what you do and don’t know. And your brain will lock that information in way better than just reading it again.

5. Talk Like a Winner

You’ve heard this before in patrol briefings or training sessions — mindset matters. If you go into the test saying “I’m going to bomb this” — your brain will do its best to make that true.

Change your script:

• “I’ve studied for this.”

• “I’ve done the reps.”

• “This is just another challenge — not a threat.”

It’s not just motivational fluff — it’s psychology. And it works.

Final Word

You’re not being tested on whether you’re a genius. You’re being tested on whether you’ve studied smart, trained for pressure, and understand the basics of being a Texas peace officer.

You can do this — you just need the right tools and the right training. At Police Training HQ, we’re building tools that don’t just throw practice questions at you — we build training systems that work.

If test anxiety’s been holding you back, start applying these five strategies this week. And if you need realistic, up-to-date practice exams — we’ve got you covered.