ASSISTING THE TEST ANXIOUS STUDENT

Test Anxiety…How bad is it?

Appears to cause 15 to 25 percent of college students to perform more poorly on exams than they are capable of doing

Continues to be reported on counseling needs surveys across the country

May lead to withdrawal from courses and/or college

Literally makes students sick

How can you help?

It is very likely that the tutees you work with on a daily basis suffer from test anxiety

YOU can share ways that may assist students to manage their anxiety

What Causes Test Anxiety?

Academic Skills Deficits Cognitive-Attentional Factors Social Learning Factors

Academic Skills Deficits

Includes inadequate study habits Research supports findings that high test

anxiety is associated with a lack of effective study skills or deficient test taking skills

This area is where you as a tutor may have the most impact

Social Learning Factors

Modeling Internal vs. External Locus of Control Self-efficacy: The level of one’s belief in

his/her ability to handle a certain situation or engage in certain behavior(s).

Cognitive-Attentional Factors

Worry Thoughts Self-Critical Thoughts Thoughts about Potential Negative

Consequences Excessive Thinking about Alternative Answers Thoughts about Performance

Anxious States: Physical and/or Emotional Arousal

Irrelevant Thoughts: Thoughts not Related to the Task at Hand

Deep Breathing

Breathing deeply and slowly has a calming effect on the body

Useful for test anxiety as well as many other times in life when one feels stressed

Has been shown to significantly lower blood pressure

Let’s Practice!

Guided Imagery

Tutee should already be familiar and capable of using Deep Breathing

Guided Imagery facilitates relaxation as well as increasing cognitive control

Not everyone is able to do guided imagery…especially on the first try

Practice time…Lets imagine!

The So-What-If-Technique

Does not deny the importance of doing well on exams but enforces rational thinking of outcomes

Reduces impact of disruptive, worrisome thinking

Role Play

Self-Affirmation

Goal is to get the student to engage in positive self-talk

The method is deceptive because it truly is simple, yet effective

Lets create some of our own self-affirmations

Resource

College Reading and Learning Association Tutor Training Handbook, Revised Edition

Article written by Jones, Lesley, Southwest Texas State University.