Test Anxiety

One day it's homework nightmares, the next it's test anxiety.

The day before a placement test, Prima came home happy, but before she put her coat away she was in tears over said test.

"We have less than a minute to answer each question!" she sobbed. "This test is unlike any test I've ever seen before!" Prima was so worked up, so upset, that she was simultaneous afraid of failing and passing the test. "I don't even want to be in GT math because there's like an hour of math homework alone and I don't know how that will work for our family because of drama club and piano lessons and karate."

Whoa, child. Breathe.

After a lot of hugging and breathing, she calmed down. The Man and I told her not to worry about the time per question. One minute sounds like a short amount of time, but it really is very long. She could answer a few questions in one minute. As for the homework load, we would deal with that if we have to, but we don't have to think about that now.

Prima's teacher explained how the classroom conversation about the test went that day, and kept an eye on Prima the next morning. It is hugely comforting to have such a compassionate and communicative teacher. I got an email from her during the day on test day that Prima had been relaxed and happy. Sure enough, when Prima got off the bus in the afternoon she incredulously described how easy the test was.

"It was SOOO easy. I mean, the first question was 'Which is greater: 9+2 or 13-5? Come on!"

We cleared that hurdle, but the next is approaching. The MSAs begin the week after next, and Prima is already showing signs of nerves. I remember taking standardized tests in elementary school, (California Achievement Test, anyone?) but I don't remember worrying about them. Prima isn't unique with this text anxiety, either. I've heard her classmates ask worried questions and speak of the MSAs in hushed tones and a sense of serious seriousness.

These worries may get worse before they get better. In a few years, we may have the "perfect storm" of testing as the MSAs and new assessments overlap. Test anxiety isn't in and of itself a horrible problem that must be totally eradicated, but if allowed to build to excess it is counterproductive.

I still have far more questions about test anxiety than I have answers, so I'll take the same advice I gave to Prima before her placement test: take it one step at a time.

What are your thoughts on testing culture, anxiety, and how to help your children with it all?

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