Most students eagerly await long holiday breaks. But in order to get to the break, they usually have to go through finals season first. For many students, this is a stressful time. After all, a lot rides on these finals. They’ll be reviewing several months’ worth of material, likely not just in one class, but in several.
The grades they get may determine their acceptance into specialized programs. Achieving even a passing grade may also be a cause of anxiety for some students.
So it’s understandable that many teens experience test anxiety. Fortunately, there are steps they can take to better manage these feelings.
Plan Ahead
Educators and therapists have studied the learning process long enough to know what can help test anxiety. One helpful step is to create a plan at the beginning of the semester for how to approach studying. As with many things in life, being strategic can pay off.
Depending on your teen’s personality and strengths, it can be helpful if you work with them to go over their courses and requirements. Together, you can map out important dates and what needs to happen beforehand. This isn’t being a helicopter parent or enabling them. Rather, it’s teaching them important life skills.
Study Skills
Part of planning ahead at the start of a semester involves implementing study skills. Ask your teen’s instructors or school if they teach their students about what study skills look like. If they do, review them with your teen. This helps both of you.
If the school doesn’t teach study skills, it’s easy to find helpful explanations online. They include studying at the same time and place, studying in small but frequent sessions, and incorporating elements that work with your teen’s learning style (ie, auditory, visual, or kinesthetic learner).
Stress Management
A teen’s life has many stressors, not just finals. Learning and implementing stress management techniques provides them with lifelong resources. Breathing exercises, guided visualizations, and mindfulness are all important tools. If there are other sources of anxiety in your teen’s life, address those.
Nutrition and Exercise
A stream of junk food isn’t just detrimental to the body. It also affects the brain. Too much sugar, starch, and caffeine can contribute to anxiety and cause mood and energy dips. None of these are helpful with test anxiety.
Not enough exercise has similar effects. Your teen doesn’t have to play a sport to be active. Encourage them to find a physical outlet they enjoy. Let them know that exercise is also a wonderful way to manage stress and anxiety. It helps boost their mood and burn off nervous energy.
Sleep
Teens can have a complicated relationship with sleep. For one, their circadian rhythms are typically different from those of adults. They really need more sleep. But their social lives, movies, and video gaming often lead to very late nights.
While this is ok once in a while, adequate rest will enhance test performance and confidence.
Reach Out
Your teen doesn’t have to be controlled by test anxiety. There are many people you can reach out to for assistance. Start by asking your teen if they’ve communicated with their teachers regarding finals. Teachers often provide study guides.
Therapists are also invaluable sources of assistance with test anxiety. A therapist can help your teen process their anxiety and continue to build their stress management skills. They can offer evaluations for deeper underlying anxiety issues or learning differences.
With planning and practice, your teen can learn to navigate test anxiety and get through the finals season successfully.
