The first time I recall being handed a comprehensive standardized test was in fifth grade. I was in a combined class – Mr. Baird and Mr. Robbins – and we were being given placement tests to determine our reading groups. But I didn’t want to take the test; it made me anxious.
I shouldn’t have been concerned. I was an avid reader, always carrying a Little House on the Prairie or Judy Blume book in my backpack. Yet, when I sat down to take the test, overcome by anxiety, I chose not to read. I drew pictures on the testing grid.
I was subsequently placed in a remedial reading group.
Since I could clearly comprehend reading materials at or above my age and grade level, I aced every assignment and in-class activity. At one point, Mr. Robbins pulled me aside to discuss my performance. “The assignments are really easy,” I deadpanned. He moved me up a level to a more advanced reading group. I aced every assignment at that level as well.
In late September, we were tested for math. Once again, rather than trying, I drew pictures on the testing grid. It was an easy way to pass the time, and they refused to take my test without the grid filled in completely. I was too anxious to try to solve the problems.
And, once again, I was placed in a remedial group. And, once again, it was not an appropriate placement.
In November, during parent-teacher conferences, Mr. Robbins told my parents that he was confused by the discrepancy. My parents put it off to my unwillingness to try. Back in the 1980’s, test taking anxiety wasn’t something that was considered in academic circles.
Today, those discrepancies would not be overlooked by either an effective teacher or a parent.
There are many reasons students may have test taking anxiety. Lack of understanding concepts, feeling uncomfortable under pressure or inability to focus are just some of the potential reasons. Tapping into the source of the problem is simply the first step in solving the student’s anxiety. Once discovered, students need to be taught coping mechanisms to manage anxiety in testing environments in order to reach their full potential.
As finals and New York State Regents Exams are fast approaching, GAMECHANGER Tutoring Connection wants to call attention to test-taking anxiety. How can students learn to manage test taking anxiety, empowering them to perform effectively on exams rather than drawing pictures on a testing grid? Here are 5 proactive strategies:
- Don’t Ignore the Problem. We’ve illustrated the impact on academic performance when students ignore test-taking anxiety. If a student is anxious about taking a test, they need to own it. And they need to get checked out to ensure that they don’t have a condition that interferes with their ability to learn, focus, or concentrate. Many students’ anxiety stems from their inability to focus, and undiagnosed ADHD can heavily contribute to test-taking anxiety and poor performance on exams. By identifying the cause of the problem, students can find ways to mitigate their anxiety, from requesting testing accommodations to learning test taking strategies.
- Don’t Procrastinate. I should have been ready for these standardized, comprehensive tests. I’d been reading and solving grade appropriate math problems my whole life. But I never thought to review material before sitting for these tests, which is something GAMECHANGER Tutoring Connection highly recommends. Start studying early, possibly a month or more before a scheduled exam. If students start studying far in advance of a test, the material tends to become part of their repertoire rather than something that they quickly memorized for a test. This will make students less anxious when they actually have to complete a test. Moreover, if students can spend time studying in a test-like environment, they will become less anxious about the space. Plus, studying in a test-like environment over time will help trigger their brains to recall information when they enter a similar environment.
- Meet with the Teacher Regularly Throughout the Semester. The first time I discussed my anxiety around taking tests was when I was in 11th grade. I was about to take the APUSH exam, and my teacher, Mr. Van Leer said that he would write glowing college recommendations for any student who achieved a score of a 4 or 5 on their APUSH exam. I loved the class, I was passionate about the subject matter, but I was truly scared to take the exam. Meeting with Mr. Van Leer, discussing concrete expectations, helped to ease my test-taking anxiety. When students develop a bond with their teachers, they tend to feel less anxious when tasked to complete something by that teacher. Speaking to teachers about expectations and concepts will help students to feel more at ease when it comes time to sit for a large, comprehensive exam. Students should be forthcoming about their test-taking anxieties, as teachers will often give them tips and suggestions to help them manage their test-taking anxiety.
- Get Physical. Nothing can calm your body and mind more than exercise. Exercising while studying releases tension and helps students to hyper-focus on the task at hand. We already know that regular cardio exercises help boost verbal memory and learning. It also reduces inflammation and insulin resistance, as well as stimulating chemicals in the brain that help cells to regenerate. Ultimately, cardio positively impacts your mood and reduces stress and anxiety. This gives students a better opportunity to walk into a test feeling more relaxed.
- Work, one-to-one, with a GAMECHANGER Tutoring Connection Curriculum, Study Skills, and Test-Taking Skills Tutor to Learn to Manage Test-Taking Anxiety. Another thing that I didn’t have when I was in Mr. Robbins’s reading section was access to individualized learning support. That’s where GAMECHANGER Tutoring Connection can help. GAMECHANGER Tutoring Connection knows that students spend an average of more than 1,200 hours in classroom settings with, on average, more than 18 other students. They are learning with people who absorb information differently than they do. They are trying to keep up with fast-paced lectures and trying to focus when the teacher is moving too slowly. GAMECHANGER Tutoring Connection understands that there are gaps in most every student’s understanding of core curricular concepts. That’s why GAMECHANGER Tutoring Connection connects students to one-to-one tutors who work with students to help focus on their curricular strengths and weaknesses, to help students learn effective study skills, and to help students learn coping strategies when they are anxious test-takers.
Neither Mr. Robbins nor Mr. Baird ever recognized that I was simply too anxious to focus on their placement tests. They simply responded to my constant nagging about changing my reading and math groups until I was appropriately challenged. And my ultimate issue – test-taking anxiety – was not confronted or ameliorated for another six years, when Mr. Van Leer taught me about managing expectations as a way to manage test-taking anxiety. Today, students can readily employ strategies and get support to manage test-taking anxiety.
And GAMECHANGER Tutoring Connection is always here to help.
