1. Test Anxiety:
Helping our students cope
Jenn Roberts-Martzall
EDIM510
Wilkes University
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37452987@N06/3779905314/

2. Test Anxiety
 Most students are prepared for tests by participating
in class, doing homework, & studying
 Students get a nervous feeling before the test
 It’s normal to feel nervous/stressed before a test
 Some students have more intense nervousness and
can interfere with concentration or performance
http://www.flickr.com/photos/regalhypnosis/3934694300/

3. What is Test
Anxiety?
 Test anxiety is actually a type of performance anxiety - a
feeling someone might have in a situation where
performance really counts or when the pressure's on to do
well.
 Can bring on ‘butterflies,” stomachache, or headaches
 Students might feel shaky, sweaty, or feel their heart
beating quickly as they wait for the test
 Some might feel they need to throw up or even pass out
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fypp/6257657049/

4. What Causes it?
 All anxiety is a reaction to anticipating something stressful.
 Focusing on the bad things that could happen also fuels test
anxiety.
 Just like other types of anxiety, test anxiety can create a
vicious circle: The more a person focuses on the bad things
that could happen, the stronger the feeling of anxiety
becomes.
 This makes the person feel worse and, because his or her
head is full of distracting thoughts and fears, it can increase
the possibility that the person will do worse on the test.

5. Who’s Likely to
Have Test Anxiety?
 People who worry a lot or who are perfectionists are more
likely to have trouble with test anxiety.
 People with these traits sometimes find it hard to accept
mistakes they might make or to get anything less than a
perfect score.
 Students who aren't prepared for tests but who care about
doing well are also likely to experience test anxiety.
 Students feel tired because didn't get enough sleep the
night before.

6. What can we teach
our students to do?
 Use a little stress to your advantage: Let stress
remind you to study well in advance of a test.
 Ask for help: Your teacher, your school guidance
counselor, or a tutor can be useful resources to talk
to if you always get extreme test anxiety.
 Be prepared: Many students find that their test
anxiety is reduced when they start to study better or
more regularly.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36106576@N05/4231123420/sizes/l/in/photostream/

7. What can we teach
our students to do?
 Watch what you're thinking: Watch out for any negative
messages you might be sending yourself about the test.
They can contribute to your anxiety.
 Accept mistakes: Everyone makes mistakes, and you
may have even heard teachers or coaches refer to
mistakes as "learning opportunities”. Learning to tolerate
small failures and mistakes - is a valuable skill.
 Take care of yourself : calm down, take care of your
health, get enough sleep, eat a healthy breakfast/lunch
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37969646@N03/6171379635/sizes/m/in/photostream/

8. References
 Weller Health Education Center. (2011). Test
Anxiety. Retrieved from
http://www.wellercenter.org/Home.aspx