Q: My eleventh grade son attends Palm Springs High School. He is motivated and wants to go to college, but his grades are dropping because he doesn’t do well on tests. His teachers tell me that he completes and turns in his classwork and homework. The problem is when it’s test taking time. He says he blanks-out. I had the same problem when I was in school. I don’t want to see his attitude toward his education turn negative. Please help us before it is too late.
A: It is normal for youngsters to have some test anxiety, but it becomes a problem when excessive worry negatively impacts their academic performance. Children who are highly anxious during tests usually engage in negative self-talk. Teach your son to get into the habit of thinking in a more positive way, thus blocking out negative thoughts. Replacing the negative self-talk with a positive script like, "I’m prepared for this test and I am going to do well," and other relaxation techniques such as visualization and deep breathing are other strategies used to reduce test anxiety. However, the reduction of test anxiety alone may not necessarily improve his performance. It is also very important that he understands the requirements of each test. Often students study, but don’t study enough or aren’t studying the appropriate material. Have a conference with his teachers to find out if he’s preparing for each exam appropriately.
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