Test Tips – My Child Has Test Anxiety

TutorGiant

     Test anxiety is more common than people think.  I’ve seen students as young as 6 or 7 become anxious when they have to write a test.

     As a parent, your can have quite a profound impact on your child’s ‘perception’ of test taking.  Your attitude and experiences regarding test taking rubs off on your child.  Furthermore, you can help your child with study aids in order to reduce anxiety.

     There are steps your child can follow in order to drastically reduce test anxiety.

1.    Reinforce the idea to your child that tests are not the’ be all, end all’ of their grades.  If your child doesn’t necessarily believe you, have your child ask the teacher what percent of the overall grade the test counts for (obviously I am not referring to final exams here).

2.    Get your child to focus his/her attention on the content of the material and how to study for it rather than the test itself.  Quite often, children’s minds are more focused on the physical test itself and their energies are deterred from actually studying.

3.    Tell your child when he or she first gets the test to read it over, put it down, take a deep breath, and think about something else for one minute.  This will refocus your child and relax his or her mind.

     Ultimately, you have to help your child reduce the ‘perceived’ importance of tests.  Set your child up with personal techniques and tricks so that he/she will feel comfortable and secure when taking the test.

©Tutorgiant.com

         Learn'Em Good          

Homework/Studying Tips          

        by Stuart Ackerman         

             MSc.Ed.,B.A.