At the start of the school year, one of Darren’s math students talked about test anxiety. Darren was impressed that the student asked how to improve.
I love it when students ask how they might improve, instead of how I might enable whatever condition they think they possess.
I gave him a couple of pointers. First, knowing the material well is the surest way to avoid such anxiety. He wouldn’t stress over a test of the multiplication tables because he’s expert; personally, I think test anxiety is more a crisis of self-confidence than anything else. Know the material, and there’s no reason to be nervous.
He also said there’d be no trick questions on tests and encouraged the student to ask for help to develop mastery and to ask clarifying questions during a test or quiz.
The first semester’s grades are in: The student earned an A.
Thanks for the link!