How to Conquer Test Anxiety Part 3
It is important to give students with testing anxiety the opportunity to take practice tests under simulated test settings – a form of “exposure therapy.” Having students practice taking the test under test-like conditions evokes the student’s anxiety in a manageable way that gradually permits the student to lessen it over time with additional practice tests. It also simulates the test-day experience, helping students to better know what to expect and practice taking-taking and relaxation strategies that can help curb anxiety.
Taking practice tests regularly is something that we encourage for all of our students, since it helps establish consistent baselines for improvement and allows the tutor and student to enhance their tutoring sessions to meet the ever-changing needs of the student.
Ultimately, it’s important to acknowledge that testing anxiety can be manifested in many ways, and these can be addressed in your test prep programs. Online tutoring is a way for students to experience the face-to-face tutoring, while granting them the comfort of being at home and control of their program. While sometimes students feel uncomfortable making mistakes and asking for help, the confidence of being behind a screen and having the option to turn their video camera off, gives students with test anxiety the confidence to address areas of improvement or confusion with their tutor.
The incorporation of practice tests is important to not only simulate the testing experience to lessen the anxiety, but also to address the pacing issues and questions that the student needs improvement on.
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