Managing Test Anxiety
Q: What is test anxiety?
A: Test anxiety is a situation in which the child, for some reason, is not able to use what he or she really knows in a test situation. It is related to some kind of shut down because of apprehension, tension, or a fear of just basically not doing well. It keeps the child from performing as well as he or she could.
Q: What are the symptoms of test anxiety?
A: The physical symptoms include sleeplessness, changes in behavior or nervous habits such as nail biting. The child can also become irritable and grouchy. Some kids get really uptight and may get stomach aches or even feel faint. When adults are under stress, we aren't quite ourselves either. But the main symptom of test anxiety is that your child comes home after a test and says, "It was horrible. I couldn't remember anything. I can't think when I am taking a test."
Q: What causes test anxiety?
A: There are several things. The main cause is that there is too much riding on one test. Too much emphasis can be placed on the outcome rather than the process of learning. This can be seen with "high-stakes testing." You have everybody, including teachers and administrators, saying, "If you don't pass this test, you can't go on to the next grade." You can't base any important decision on one test or maybe even on tests at all.
The second is that children really aren't prepared. If children repeatedly do not understand the subject or are not adequately prepared, they naturally develop strong negative responses toward testing situations. This an generalize until walking into any testing room makes them feel panicky. At this point thinking and memory shut down and the problem feeds on itself.
Q: What can students and parents do to help reduce test anxiety?
A: Don't place such a heavy stress on the outcome. Don't give punishments but try to help the child see the test as a way to learn more. Make sure the goal is learning and not simply getting a score.
In some cases you have to make sure some information is "over-learned," which may include repeating the information until it is automatic. Teach for understanding so the child can apply it in new situations. This way if the problem on the test is different than in the text, they can still do the problem.
You can ease off at home by trying to be more relaxed yourself. Rather than punish a child for not doing well, try to understand the problem. Kids want to please us and do well. They are not failing on purpose. If you give them a chance to succeed, most of them will jump at that chance.
Be sure that mornings start as calmly as possible and that your child has a decent breakfast and some quiet time. This should not be just on the day of the test, but everyday. The same goes for a good night's sleep. H healthy brain lines in a healthy body and in order to do well on tests, you have to have a healthy brain.
Jane M Healy, Ph.D; author and educational psychologist, has been a professional educator for more than 35 years, with experience as a classroom teacher, college professor, reading and learning specialist and elementary school administrator. The author of several books including "Your Child's Growing Mind: A Guide to Learning and Brain Development from Birth to Adolescence," she is a frequent guest on National Public Radio's "Parent's Journal," and a lecturer and consultant to public and private schools and parent groups.
Q: What is test anxiety?
A: Test anxiety is a situation in which the child, for some reason, is not able to use what he or she really knows in a test situation. It is related to some kind of shut down because of apprehension, tension, or a fear of just basically not doing well. It keeps the child from performing as well as he or she could.
Q: What are the symptoms of test anxiety?
A: The physical symptoms include sleeplessness, changes in behavior or nervous habits such as nail biting. The child can also become irritable and grouchy. Some kids get really uptight and may get stomach aches or even feel faint. When adults are under stress, we aren't quite ourselves either. But the main symptom of test anxiety is that your child comes home after a test and says, "It was horrible. I couldn't remember anything. I can't think when I am taking a test."
Q: What causes test anxiety?
A: There are several things. The main cause is that there is too much riding on one test. Too much emphasis can be placed on the outcome rather than the process of learning. This can be seen with "high-stakes testing." You have everybody, including teachers and administrators, saying, "If you don't pass this test, you can't go on to the next grade." You can't base any important decision on one test or maybe even on tests at all.
The second is that children really aren't prepared. If children repeatedly do not understand the subject or are not adequately prepared, they naturally develop strong negative responses toward testing situations. This an generalize until walking into any testing room makes them feel panicky. At this point thinking and memory shut down and the problem feeds on itself.
Q: What can students and parents do to help reduce test anxiety?
A: Don't place such a heavy stress on the outcome. Don't give punishments but try to help the child see the test as a way to learn more. Make sure the goal is learning and not simply getting a score.
In some cases you have to make sure some information is "over-learned," which may include repeating the information until it is automatic. Teach for understanding so the child can apply it in new situations. This way if the problem on the test is different than in the text, they can still do the problem.
You can ease off at home by trying to be more relaxed yourself. Rather than punish a child for not doing well, try to understand the problem. Kids want to please us and do well. They are not failing on purpose. If you give them a chance to succeed, most of them will jump at that chance.
Be sure that mornings start as calmly as possible and that your child has a decent breakfast and some quiet time. This should not be just on the day of the test, but everyday. The same goes for a good night's sleep. H healthy brain lines in a healthy body and in order to do well on tests, you have to have a healthy brain.
Jane M Healy, Ph.D; author and educational psychologist, has been a professional educator for more than 35 years, with experience as a classroom teacher, college professor, reading and learning specialist and elementary school administrator. The author of several books including "Your Child's Growing Mind: A Guide to Learning and Brain Development from Birth to Adolescence," she is a frequent guest on National Public Radio's "Parent's Journal," and a lecturer and consultant to public and private schools and parent groups.
