Taming the Monster: Helping Your Child Overcome Test Anxiety

100 million. That is the number of standardized tests American students take each year. If your child is among the most that experience some anxiety associated with these tests, you may need to help them overcome their apprehension so that they can perform their best on exam day. How can you know if your child suffers from test anxiety? Look for these signs:


• Your child seems to know more than is expressed on exams
• In the days or even weeks leading up to the exam your child exhibits more signs of anxiety such as headaches, stomachaches or nail biting
• In the days or weeks leading up to the exam, your child becomes more resistant to attending school
• Your child expresses resistance to taking the exam
• Your child states that they feel nervous during standardized tests. You may need to ask your child directly to find this out.


Most of these test-taking and studying tips are best implemented throughout the school year. Your child’s teacher will be working very hard at school to help your child succeed. But home preparation is an important part of successful test-taking for many children as well. There are several steps parents can take at home to prepare their children for the big day.