Does it create a faulty ray of hope?

I think it’s human nature and a bit of correct tension that allows us to face a new task. Once we have achieved it we can pass on from experience what the task was like. For example rap sailing. I was terrified but the people at the bottom assured me it was OK. When I got to the bottom I felt fantastic (that I was still alive). But no, it was not OK, it was horrible. With a test no one can really tell you how it was because each of our learning levels are different. But in general I have found most report backs on tests to be correct. If they said it was easy it was, if they said it is tricky it was. So there is a grain of truth in it.

No it’s not lying. You have a perception of what it will be like before you experience it; your experience does not always agree with your original perception.

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. We all have head that before and everyone faces and responds to fear differently and yes people may try to find familiar ground in your similar experience hoping to mitigate some of that initial fear. It’s a fairly normal natural reaction to scary times. We all get through it one way or another.

Maybe, but is that so wrong? If you walk in already defeated what’s the point of walking in at all.

You’re not looking for “hope” when encountering a new, unknown situation. You’re looking for belief in yourself so that whatever happens, you know you can handle it and you’ll get something positive out of it.

I have never understood asking that question at all. “Was the test hard? How do you think I’ll do?” – it’s ridiculous. Every person faces their challenges in different ways, and unless the challenge was ridiculously easy (1. Write your name. 2. Turn in your paper.), the person being asked has no idea how the asker will fare. It may be creating a false ray of hope to say “it was easy”, but I don’t see how those who ask others for a prediction of their own success can expect a more accurate assessment. You know how prepared you are – you can predict your own success or failure.

Sorry to get off-topic, but I hate when people ask things like that. :)

What is easy for one person may be difficult for another. People have different aptitudes but some of this can be offset by good preparation. My lady had almost a phobia about math and was very worried about the statistics course for her psychology major. Fortunately I was able to explain things differently than her textbook did; the “lighbulb” clicked on, she aced the course with 96% on the final exam.

Try to learn what areas the test covers and prepare yourself as best you can. Often there are different ways of learning the material. When someone says that a test is easy or hard, it was that way only for them, it doesn’t necessarily follow that you will find it the same.

When I was in High School and College, I would receive the test paper, stare at it for 15 minutes, decide I didn’t know any of the answers, bring it back to the teachers desk blank, then go back to my desk. Then I would relax, knowing I failed, and I would begin thinking about the questions, and realize I knew many of the answers. I would walk back up, get my paper back (from the usually surprised teacher), take it back to my desk, and get most of the answers right. Usually I would run out of time, but the teachers were always amazed at what I did in the time given.