How to Help a Teen Overcome Test Anxiety

If your teen seems more than just nervous about an upcoming test, your child might be suffering from test anxiety. When someone can't concentrate while studying or seems overwhelmed or panicky, you may need to offer some help. Follow these tips to help your teen overcome test anxiety.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Plan ahead. Help your teen plan for the test by developing good study notes. Pick out the main points of the information or follow a study sheet from the teacher. Know the who, what, when, where, why and how of any main ideas.
2. Pick out the key words in the main points. Have the teen write a very short description of each point next to the key words. You will now have two sets of study notes. Get the teen to use the first detailed set to study the material. Use the second set to review right before the test.
3. Teach the teen little memory tricks. Some people use mnemonic devices to remember facts. If there is a list of information, take the first letter of each word and make a silly saying. There are many ways to remember facts.
4. Help your teen develop a strategy for taking the test. Some people read all the questions first and then begin working. Others start with the first question and don't look at the rest. They skip any hard questions and come back to them later.
5. Teach your teen relaxation exercises like deep breathing. Some anxiety is normal going into a test. Breathing deeply helps you calm yourself to a point that you can still concentrate and write the test.
6. Review the material with your teen one last time right before bed. We often remember things that we read or think about right before going to sleep.
7. Get a good night's sleep. Make sure your teen goes to bed early enough the night before the test. It is very difficult to remember anything when you are overtired.

Tips & Warnings

• Think positively and teach your teen to do the same. If you believe you will Ace the test, you probably will.
• Avoid the anxiety in the first place by being well prepared.
• Don't give up. Remind your teen that it takes time to learn the material and overcome fear.