Overcoming Test Anxiety: Tips for Students and Parents to Succeed

Learning new information can be empowering and it gives us a sense of accomplishment. Testing allows educators to evaluate what was taught and how students can apply what they have learned. This can be a very easy process for some, but for many, it can be a nightmare. The word test or exam can create anxiety for students. They can study for days or hours but cannot retrieve the information at the time of the exam. There may be many factors why individuals perform poorly or why they are anxious during an examination. It can be a fear that they will not get the grades that they want, pressure from others (peers, parents, teacher), lack of self-confidence, and the list goes on and on. Some of the questions that you can ask yourself before an exam are: Parents and students must learn to celebrate learning and not just focus on the outcome. Teach children that they will never fail, every score means something. We must learn from our results. For example, 100% means we are ready to go to the next level. 50% means that we know half of the materials, so we need to do some more study, ask more questions or go back to the teacher for help. Less than 50% is an indication that you did not understand the material, or you did not study, or the teacher did not explain or teach the topic well. When parents place pressure on their children to perform or make the highest grades, this can create a problem for them. We must expect the best for children, but we must not force them to perform beyond their capabilities. It should be a joint decision and support from parents to do well. When children feel the burden to be the top of the class this can create anxiety for some children, but others may like the challenge and do better to please their parents. Here are some things that you can try to help you do well on a test/exam If you need help with test anxiety feel free to email me. This is general information and it is not specific to everyone?s needs. Individuals must try a series of strategies and techniques to see what works best for him/her.