Helping Your Students Deal with Anxiety About Timed Tests
Are you interested in becoming a teacher? Grand Canyon University’s College of Education offers a number of degree programs that can help you gain the skills you need to pursue a career in the academic world. Our programs cover many different topics, including how to help students overcome anxiety about taking timed tests.
Talk to Students About Fears
It is normal for students to feel alone when it comes to academic concerns such as test anxiety. They might be too afraid to talk to you or other students about their issue, which can make the problem even worse. Starting a conversation about test anxiety can help your students realize that they are not alone. This dialogue can also help them gain a better understanding of what makes them feel anxious, which can help them find a way to overcome these feelings.
Cover Good Test-Taking Strategies
No matter what subject or grade you want to teach, you should spend some time covering effective test-taking strategies. A lot of students simply do not know how to prioritize when it comes to timed tests, which can make their anxiety even worse. Teach your students the importance of reading every question and answer fully before making a decision. You can also instruct students to skip any questions they do not know and come back to them when they finish the questions they feel more confident about answering.
Remind Them Learning Should be Enjoyable
You can also help your students learn how to keep everything in perspective. Remind them that learning should be fun and enjoyable, not stressful. Tests are designed to analyze what students know, so doing poorly on a test is just an opportunity to study harder and try to do better next time.
If you’re ready to take the next step toward becoming a teacher, consider earning an education degree from Grand Canyon University. Our programs are designed to help future teachers learn how to help students earn well-rounded educations. Click on the Request More Information button at the top of this page to learn more.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.
