Test anxiety tips for students taking SOLs
Child psychologist offers strategies to help students manage stress and improve performance on standardized tests
RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Students across the area will take Standards of Learning tests this spring, showing off what they’ve learned at school. Older students might be thinking about SATs and ACTs, but those tests can come with an emotional test as well.
A lot of kids experience anxiety going into a test, and experts say that can directly impact test scores.
Dr. Tram Huynh, a Virginia-based child psychologist who specializes in helping students manage test anxiety, said parents should check in with their children.
“If they tell you I’m very nervous, I can’t think I have a stomach ache. I can’t eat very well. You know, there’s a problem here. Let’s talk about it,” Huynh said.
How parents can help
If a student is receptive, parents can offer to help by practicing together and making flashcards.
“The time pressure feels so anxiety inducing to the brain, so we want them to feel this is familiar. We want them to feel this is not threatening. It’s just a timer. We’re going to use a timer. We want them to space out their study down, cram it at the last minute. Make sure that every week you do math,” Huynh said.
She said spacing the learning out and allowing the brain to process over time will feel better physically.
When students need more help
In some cases, students experience a complete shutdown before a big test.
“They can’t think anymore. They have a meltdown before enjoying the test. Those need a bit more help. They need to be more desensitized to this whole idea of testing. So we need a bit more work with those students so more exposure can help them. Therapy,” Huynh said.
In this case, a student may need to work with an expert to prepare and learn coping skills to manage the experience. One idea might be to visit the testing space or create a study space that is similar to the testing space.
Clearing the brain before a test
Immediately before the test, one simple act could help a child of any age clear their brain and be ready to perform.
“Have them write down all of their worries. Write it down on a piece of paper. That’s how they can offload all the anxiety so that they can clear that memory. Working memory that is needed for the test is out. It’s called expressive writing. It has a lot of good research,” Huynh said.
Huynh also recommends sleeping and eating well. To perform at your best, you want to make sure your body is well taken care of and rested.
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