It is that time of year again when state testing fills school schedules, and the level of stress buzzing through the halls is heightened around performance. Though testing does not give all students anxiety, there are several common problems students can run into when engaging with test-taking or even studying. Here, educator Paulette Chaffee breaks down the five most common issues students have and how to solve them:

Problem #1: Test Anxiety

The general exam process mixed with the natural pressure surrounding performing well during testing can cause a student to suffer from test anxiety. When a child experiences text anxiety, their nervous feelings can prevent them from reaching peak performance. Experiencing test anxiety can cause a negative domino effect on test day, from mental delays in comprehension to making more mistakes from feeling overwhelmed.

Several different methods are practical when tackling test anxiety. For example, students can learn about breathing techniques that will help calm stress that arises before test time. Also, students can create an exam action plan before a test that acknowledges feelings of anxiety and a plan on how to respond to those emotions.

Problem #2: Notetaking

Taking notes in class can make studying for tests easier. However, students can make mistakes in their note-taking process that hurts more than helps with exams. Nevertheless, there are effective ways to take notes that help eliminate difficulties in testing performance due to poor notes.

Students need to build better note-taking habits to set their future testing experience up for success. For example, one bad habit is not properly structuring or organizing notes to the point where students write down too many notes or not enough. Utilizing a note-taking template is the simplest way to replace a bad habit with a proactive one. This strategy can also assist with skill development in active listening, leading to better overall retention of information.

Problem #3: Reading

Reading skills during an exam are tested in more than one way. This can lead to a decline in abilities if specific elements remain unaddressed. For example, a student can be an excellent reader in a comfortable setting, but any stress factor in the environment can alter their full potential. Reading issues during testing could stem from test anxiety, distractions, lack of focus, or motivation.

Approaching reading during testing with a more strategic mindset and a practiced plan will help students read effectively during an exam. Techniques like hand pacing can help keep students moving forward during testing while reading test questions ahead of time helps ignite reading with a purpose, which assists in keeping the mind attentive and focused.

Problem #4: Not Enough Time

Running out of time during an exam and being forced to turn it in incomplete is a common problem for students. A significantly effective way to address this testing hurdle is to exercise time management. While preparing for an exam, students can break down their exam into time sections. For example, if an exam is usually an hour-long, students can cut the large chunk of time into five, ten, or even fifteen-minute timed sections and practice test questions within those smaller amounts of time. This approach helps students get a sense of how much they can achieve in smaller amounts of time and develop a better grasp of the concept of time rather than getting lost in it.

Problem #5: Using the Process of Elimination

Standardized tests often come with tricky multiple-choice questions that have a reputation of stumping students or causing their testing scores to drop. Knowing how to guess strategically and utilizing techniques such as the process of elimination can lead students to the correct answer quicker by eliminating all the wrong answers first. There is more than one way to practice the process of elimination. Finding the right strategy per learner requires a little effort and exploration into trying new testing strategies.

About Paulette Chaffee

Paulette Chaffee is a teacher, speech therapist, and attorney deeply involved in the Fullerton community. As an educator and member of various non-profit boards, her focus has always been on providing children with the highest quality education. Ms. Chaffee holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Redlands, a California Lifetime Teaching Credential, and is admitted to the California Bar.