How To Help Teens Handle Test Stress

The junior year of high school includes a huge number of tests including midterms, finals, AP exams, SAT tests that all contribute to which colleges a teen will get into. The pressure is intense and even the mellowest teen will experience at least some anxiety.

Some stress helps teens do better, work harder, and stay focused. Too much stress will strip them of their confidence and actually make their test-taking skills worse. It is important that parent help teens prepare for tests by:

• Not planning trips or events in the weeks before the tests;
• Encouraging them not to cram the night before;
• Encouraging them to take practice tests to increase their comfort;
• Helping them get a good night sleep the night before the test and eating a healthy breakfast;
• Going early and having what they need (picture ID, admit form, pencils, calculator);
• Reminding them to read through the whole test making notes and then budget time and reading all the directions slowly and completely, as well as organizing their thoughts before writing; and
• Working with them to remember to think positively, calming any anxious thoughts during the test.

No matter how independent our teens can be, testing season calls for extra parenting and comfort provision!