TIPS TO EASE TEST STRESS FOR THE 11+
Taking 11+ exams is a pivotal moment in many children’s lives, passing these tests will allow them to open doors ensuring that they have a successful educational career. In the weeks leading up to these tests your child will start feeling fed up or worried, that’s normal! However, its paramount that you equip your young ones with the skills necessary to tackle test anxiety when the pressure is on.
A major misconception with test stress is that it occurs solely in teenagers during their GCSEs and A levels, this couldn’t be further from the truth as exam related anxiety is experienced at all ages, once you understand this “anxiety” is simply an opportunity to gain resilience and strengthen your mindset it will be easy to calm and reassure your child. Here are a few ways to ease test stress:
1) Preparation
The number one tactic for excelling in exams is doing mock papers and revision, this gives your child a preview of what is to come and can allow them to get used to test conditions and the pressure associated with them, helping them ease stress. Since children have never taken tests before, going through past questions and studying the ones they find most difficult removes fear of what’s to come. Other forms of preparation include reading through a test’s directions and answering your child’s questions about the directions given.
You will also find that preparation builds your child’s confidence which is essential for keeping calm during tests so PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE!
2) Verbalising
Verbalising refers to expressing feelings through dialogue, this is crucial for you child,
because talking about what is making them nervous can help them to rationalise their fears and eventually overcome their stress. Asking questions about your child’s feelings and thoughts whilst taking tests (and before) will help you to understand their thought patterns and the causes of exam stress, verbalising makes it easier for you to encourage and reassure, preventing assumptions being made about their behaviour which can be detrimental to their performance, such as laziness or lack of ability.
3) Positive Affirmations
Once you’ve understood the problems triggering test stress, teaching your child to speak positively about their situation puts them in control ensuring your child has a winner’s mindset. Using phrases like “I will do well” or “I know what to do” can raise your child’s selfesteem, switching negative thoughts for positive ones, ultimately easing test stress.
Furthermore, you can speak positively toward your children, which will also encourage them.
4) Adequate Sleep
Some say sleep is the best medicine, a slew of studies have illustrated how vital adequate sleep is particularly for young growing children. Sleep is necessary because it improves your brain performance, health and mood which can all contribute to reducing test stress. It is important that your child is getting an optimum 8 hours of rest so that they have enough energy for an exam. Along with this, watching your child’s diet can also help.
5) Communicating with Teacher/Tutors
Teachers can often be your greatest resources; this is because they work with
children daily and are likely to have come across any of the issues your child
may be having before. Informing your child’s teacher or tutor can mean they use specialised tactics when dealing with your child or give you beneficial advice reducing their test stress. For example, if you child feels overwhelmed when looking at a paper, a teacher can provide a solution such as covering most of the page with paper to help the child focus on one line at a time.
6) Relaxation techniques
The mind of a child is extremely active, this is beauty of youth, however this
emphasises how important it is to practice relaxation techniques. Relaxation
techniques are key as they allow you to release tension, which your child can use
during exams. This could be in the form of taking deep breaths and closing your
eyes, which allow you to control your heartrate and prevent sweating. In addition,
visualisation techniques are useful, especially because children have such active
imaginations. Asking your child to reflect on a place they feel at peace, then asking
them to describe it in great details (i.e., scents, sights, sounds, people) will allow
them to feel at ease, mainly on the day of the test.