One of the best things a teacher can do for their students is to help reduce test anxiety. Teachers and parents can help children face a test situation without freaking kids out, inducing panic attacks and having kid puking or not sleeping because they are afraid of failure. Teachers should make sure that their students are ready to face a variety of test formats. This would include true/false, multiple-choice, fill-in the blank and essay questions. Being prepared means sufficient instruction on academic topics has taken place and students have practiced test taking strategies. They should have practiced filling in the bubble-sheets that teachers can computer generated. The students should be encouraged to read and listen to the directions carefully. If confused, they should ask for directions to be repeated and explained. Some students qualify for oral testing. Others can have test items read to them. If a test is true/false and they are unsure of an answer, students should look for words such as always, never, and only. If two answers are similar, neither one is likely to be the answer. If the test is timed, students should go through the test answering all items they are sure of and go back to the others. This builds confidence and helps with time management. If the test offers a fill-in the blank format, each word should be tried in the sentence. Students should look back to the passage for specific information. After eliminating answers that are wrong, they should stick with their first choice. If they finish the test early, they should review to catch any missed items. If other students finish first, tell them it's okay and not to panic.
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