Test Anxiety - How to Ease Your Child's Mind & Increase Their Confidence

Most children will experience some form of test anxiety at some point in their lives. These kids often have studied the material for hours, know it backwards and forwards, only to freeze on the day of the test. Test anxiety can be particularly demoralizing for kids and equally as frustrating for parents. The following tips may help you and your student perform better and feel more confident.

1. Encourage her to prepare for tests in advance. Studies show that the best results come from shorter, but more frequent study sessions, distributed over a long period of time.
2. Together, look over past tests and quizzes to identify weaknesses and areas that require extra attention.
3. Avoid cramming. Spend some time each day reading the material and reviewing the notes from that day’s lecture.
4. If she does not understand a concept discussed in class, she should ask her teacher questions about it that day.
5. Use the practice tests in textbooks. This will help identify areas which need further study.
6. Allow your child to use a study partner or help her make flash cards for review of terms and formulas.
7. Eat a good breakfast. Studies show that eating breakfast correlates with better performance on tests. Also get lots of sleep the night before a test.
8. Relax before a test. Teach her to practice deep breathing techniques and tightening/relaxing of arms, face, and legs.
9. Suggest that she think about the positive outcome of the test, not the negative.
10. On a multiple choice test, if she doesn’t know the correct answer, have her eliminate the wrong answers first.
11. Use all of the test time. If she finishes early, have her use that time to check answers, review spelling & grammar or check for careless errors. And, only change an answer if she is certain. Studies show that a first answer is usually right.
12. Help her put the test in perspective. Although the one test may be important, it is just one measurement of her capabilities.