Test anxiety is so widespread that it is almost impossible to find a student who doesn’t approach a big test without some level of anxiety. Being anxious before a test can cause a variety of symptoms for a student, from stomach aches and headaches, to loss of focus, fear, irritability, and even depression. Some students may feel “butterflies” in their stomachs, while others may want to cry, or leave the room without taking the test.
Test anxiety can be classified as a situation-specific anxiety trait with emotionality and worry as its major components. In the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual; 4th edition), test anxiety is a specific phobia, situational type {the situation is test taking}. Feelings of fear, frustration, anxiety and anger can actually cause the two branches of the autonomic nerve system to get out of sync, which can disrupt our ability to think clearly. Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time. Low levels of anxiety can actually motivate students to study and perform well. But, when these anxiety levels interfere with test-taking and learning, students can “blank out” or have trouble paying attention, limiting their ability to think clearly and do their best work.
Most students who have test anxiety are usually worried about success in school in general. They may worry about the future, and are often self-critical. Instead of feeling challenged with the possibility of success, they become afraid of failure. Often they become so worked up that they feel that they know nothing about the subject at all.
It doesn’t help to tell your child to relax, to think about something else, or stop worrying. But there are some things that can be done to help reduce test anxiety. One of the most important things you can do as a parent is to make sure your child has enough sleep, eats a good breakfast, and gets to school on time. Also make sure he/she has the school supplies needed for the test. Here are a few more things to try:
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1. Encourage your child to study over a period of time rather than to cram the night before; cramming increases anxiety which interferes with clear thinking. It is important to space studying over days, or even weeks. Real learning takes place over a period of time, especially when information can be related to something the child already knows.
2. Casually talk to your child about his/her feelings about an upcoming test, such as while driving in the car, or shopping together. They may be more willing to talk about their fears in a more casual (as opposed to face-to-face) setting.
3. Doing well on tests is often easier if homework assignments have been consistently completed; encourage your child to complete homework every night. Provide a quiet, comfortable place for studying at home.
4. Stay well informed about your child’s tests, and have frequent contact with his/her teacher for suggestions on how you can help your child best prepare for tests. If necessary, get some extra help for reinforcing test-taking and study skills.
5. Make sure your child attend school on a regular basis. Since most tests reflect overall achievement, days missed means information for tests missed also.
6. Motivate your child to want to take the test; reinforce their efforts, including their studying and homework efforts rather than focusing on having them earn a certain grade. Give small rewards for giving their best effort in spite of feeling worried. Don’t dismiss a test as unimportant, but rather let you child know that it’s his/her effort that counts more than the final test score.
7. Anxious children often have many negative thoughts (“I’ll fail this test no matter how much I study” or “Every time I take a test I fail”). You can help you child challenge these statements with statements like- “Do you really fail every test you take?”, or “What could happen if you study?”
8. Teach relaxation techniques like deep breathing and meditation; you can even practice these as a family. Activities like deep breathing can be done on days before the test, right before the test, and during the test.
9. Help your child think good thoughts. Science has actually proven that feelings like enjoyment and appreciation can actually help your brain work better. Teach your child to think about things that make him feel good, like hugs from you, or playing with a pet, or the day at the amusement park; hold the thought for 10-20 seconds or more, and enjoy that good feeling. Practice this tool right before the test.
10. Tell your child to do these things when they get the test in front of them:
a. Read the directions carefully; if you don’t understand something- ask.
b. Look quickly at the test to see what kinds of questions there are, and if possible how many points each is worth. If there is an essay, draw a quick story map or jot some notes down to help remember when you get to that question.
c. If you don’t know the answer to a question, skip it and continue. Don’t waste time worrying about one or two questions; put a mark by them and go back to it at the end of the test.
d. Go back and proof answers if there is time- but DON’T change an answer unless you are really sure; studies show that most often the first answer is usually the right one.
e. Don’t worry about who finished first or last
11. After the test, discuss wrong answers with your child to find out why they answered as they did, and to see how well they used their time, etc. Read and discuss any comments made by the teacher, and if there are some that aren’t clear, ask the teacher for further explanation.
**Although it is normal to have some degree of test anxiety, if the problem persists, or the symptoms are interfering with school performance, there is help available in the form of caring Christian counselors and professional agencies.
Information taken from several websites, including: www.aboutourkids.org, www.schoolcounselor.org, www.ed.gov, and www.mohonasen.org