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Show Home J by tJ Dr. Daryl J. McCarty Executive Secretary Utah Education Association 'Test anxiety' Did you ever face the prospect of an upcoming test in some tough class at school and have your palms go sweaty from sheer dread? Some students feel that way about every test they take. Educators call it "test anxiety." An associate professor of psychology, Dr. Scott Lawrence, has been studying ways of dealing with acute cases of test anxiety, and he's come up with some information on the topic. First, how do students recognize the symptoms of this problem? They are tenseness, nervousness, stomach tightness, an increased heart rate and yes, sweaty palms. A student who experiences one or more of those symtopms may be having a twinge of test anxiety. Dr. LawTence says current theory on test anxiety comes from research that showed students who are high in test anxiety tend to do worse on tests than others of equal ability who don't have these symptoms. Research has centered on ways to help people with this problem. Dr. Lawrence lists these suggestions: Make an effort to relax, take a minute to collect your thoughts, and rid your mind of that that might interfere with taking the test. Concentrate on getting into the test itself. Think of it as a challenge and not a life and death matter, and get down to work . Make sure you're ready to take the test. No amount of relaxing or worrying will insure a good grade if no study has preceded the test. "Exam day jitters" will always be with us, and maybe slight cases of this aren't bad. A little nervousness can stimulate adrenalin flow, which may heighten the student's alertness. Of all Dr. Lawrence's suggestions, perhaps the admonition to study for each test is the best. Parents can help students study by providing them a quiet, well-lighted comfortable place for this and then giving them frequent encouragement. |