Your high school student is probably always preparing for some sort of test. Whether it’s a mid-term or final, or the SAT, there are things that you can do to help ease their stress. Collegeboard.com has put together the following list of tips for parents of test takers. Give it a look!
Tips for Calming Test-Time Jitters
If your child gets nervous before tests for classes, encourage her to try the following tips and strategies for keeping anxiety down and energy up for the next big exam.
Before the Test
Don’t cram: Studying like crazy the night before an exam can leave your child exhausted and more stressed out than before, so encourage her to study in small doses over several days.
Take practice tests: Knowing the format and style of a test can keep anxiety at bay, so have your child take practice exams if they’re available.
Get a good night’s sleep: Lack of sleep contributes heavily to anxiety. Be sure your child goes to bed early the night before an exam.
Eat a healthy breakfast: Blood sugar is at its lowest in the morning. In order for your child to think and problem-solve effectively, she needs a good breakfast.
Exercise: Encourage your child to engage in physical activity before the test to reduce body tension. For example, take a brisk walk or jog.
Come early and prepared: By arriving to the test early and with the right supplies (e.g., No.2 pencils, calculator), your child can avoid stressing out about small details. This will allow her to focus on the task at hand.
During the Test
Preview the exam and budget time: By previewing the test, your child can avoid any unexpected surprises (and anxiety). It will also give her the opportunity to budget her time so she doesn’t spend too long on any one section.
Jot notes: Jotting down brief notes right away can help your child feel less anxious about forgetting important facts or key information.
Read all directions: Some students are so anxious to get the test over with that they fail to read the directions.
Answer easy questions first: Getting the easier questions out of the way allows your child to focus her energy and time on the harder questions.
Rephrase difficult questions: Putting difficult questions in her own words can help your child slow down and really think about the problem. But your child should be careful not to change the questions’ meanings when rewriting them.
Organize thoughts before writing: Your child should organize her responses to short-answer and essay questions before diving in. Having a plan will help her feel confident while she’s writing.
Think positively: Negative thoughts during a test (e.g., “I’m going to fail”) can destroy your child’s confidence. Encourage her to override negative thoughts with positive ones (e.g., “I studied hard and I know my facts. I’ll do great on this test.”)
Relax: If your child starts to feel stress during a test, she should try quick relaxation techniques, such as:
- Taking deep breaths, and letting out tension with each exhale
- Tensing muscles for five seconds and releasing, repeating three times
- Visualizing a peaceful and relaxing setting
Keep in mind that using the tips above won’t necessarily keep anxiety away completely. However, practicing these techniques can give your child the right skills to manage test stress when it does happen.
