Test Anxiety

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.  - Psalm 55:22

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  - Philippians 4:6-7

Parents:  Below you will find an outstanding resource in helping your child manage his or her uneasiness before, during, or after a test which is known as Test Anxiety.  You'll find this information particularly helpful in preparing your student for the upcoming Terra Nova testing here at VOL.   

As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions or additional recommendations you may need for your child.  

Did You Know...

- A recent study found that people who got 8 hours of sleep before taking a math test were nearly 3 times more likely to figure out the problem than people who stayed awake all night. 

- Although preparation is the key to doing well on a test, different types of tests require different types of thinking and different ways of responding.  For example:

* Multiple-Choice Exams - Think of your answer before looking at the choices provided.  Eliminate clearly wrong answers, and then make your best guess (unless there are points off         for wrong answers).  After you have answered the questions you know, return to the other questions.  You'll feel more in control if you think about only one question at a time.  

* Essay Exams - Organize your thoughts in a brief outline.  Look for key words such as compare, contrast, describe, and identify.  Start with a short summary or topic sentence, and             then make your points.  Remember the points and topics that your teacher emphasized.    

- It's pretty normal to feel a little nervous and stressed before a test.  Just about everyone does.  A touch of nervous anticipation can actually help you get revved and keep you at peak performance while you're taking the test.  However, for some people this normal anxiety is more intense.  The nervousness they feel before a test can be so strong that it interferes with their concentration or performance.