Student Testing Anxiety - 6 Tips to Help

How to Help Students Conquer Test Anxiety

As teachers, we all dread that time of year - testing season. Whether it's end-of-year standardized tests, weekly benchmark assessments, or final exams, the pressure and anxiety students face can be absolutely crippling. Many of us have nightmares about showing up unprepared or blanking on material we've studied extensively.

The reality is, test anxiety is very real, especially in today's high-stakes testing environment. Poor student performance is often more reflective of anxious thoughts than actual knowledge and abilities. So what can we as educators do to ease test tensions and set our students up for success?

6 Powerful Strategies to Reduce Test Anxiety 

As a veteran teacher, I've witnessed firsthand the debilitating effects of test anxiety across all grade levels. Through years of trial and error, I've compiled 6 highly effective strategies every teacher should have in their toolkit:

Tip #1: Teach Self-Soothing Techniques 

Don't wait until test day to introduce breathing exercises, mindfulness, and other self-regulation practices. Make emotional regulation part of your classroom culture year-round. Provide visual reminders like posters with calming strategies students can reference when they start feeling anxious.

Tip #2: Focus on the Circle of Control 

One of the most powerful tools for any age is the "circle of influence" exercise. Students write down everything causing anxiety in the outer circle, then identify an inner "circle of control" with aspects they can directly impact through preparation and positive self-talk. As the inner circle expands, the outer ring of concerns shrinks. 

Examples of things students might be concerned about: how long the test is, what questions are on the test, how their parents will react to their test scores

Examples of things students can control: how prepared they are, how well rested they are, how they use their test taking strategies

 If you are interested in "print and go" lesson plans and resources for circle of concern/circle of control activities for different grade levels you can check out my resources at this lesson plans link

Tip #3: Create a Soothing Test Environment 

Ditch the sterile, high-pressure vibe for test day. Those bare walls with a few sad staples half hanging are stressful for students who are used to colorful environmental print. Projecting peaceful visuals like ocean scenes and posting empowering affirmations to shift the mindset from performance anxiety to confident self-belief can all help. Many students today are uncomfortable with silence, others are easily bothered by students sniffing or tapping their pencils. Playing calming ambient music can help with all of this.

Done for you positive testing affirmations for students as well as print and go positive notes for students (appropriate for all grades) can also be found in my TpT store.

Tip #4: Communicate with Parents 

While you can't control home environments, you can guide parents on setting students up for success through adequate rest, nutrition, and minimal pressure. Provide tips on creating the ideal night-before conditions and framing the test as just one data point, not a life-defining event. It's important to strike the correct balance of ensuring parents appropriately support the students by getting them to school in plenty of time and prepared with a snack and water without stressing them out and adding to their anxiety.

Tip #5: Build Confidence Through Test Preparation 

Ensure technical requirements are practiced well in advance - things like device logins, software navigation, and test-taking strategies. Use mock exams to simulate the real experience so nothing is a surprise on test day. Have extra chargers and devices on hand just in case as technical hiccups are distracting and very stressful for students and teachers.

Tip #6: Prioritize a Growth Over Grades Mindset

Finally, foster a classroom culture celebrating growth over performance. Remind students that one test score doesn't define their abilities or self-worth. A bad day is simply data to inform future progress. Focus on the "gain," not the gap. Leaving them an encouraging note or treat on their desk to welcome them can help!

The Importance of Modeling Calm Positivity During Student Testing

As teachers, our energy is contagious - students will mirror our approach to high-pressure situations like testing. Avoid negativity like "This is so ridiculous!" or increasing anxiety with comments like "Double-check everything!" as you circulate the room.

Instead, maintain a calm, reassuring presence. It's okay to acknowledge testing isn't fun - that's life, with good and bad days. Remind students you have their back, with celebratory activities planned for afterwards. Most importantly, follow through on promises like no homework so that they can get extra rest to demonstrate your support.

BONUS Testing Tip & FREE Anxiety Reducing Resource

If you want a fun mindfulness activity for "early finishers" or to help relax students before or after the test, please grab my positive affirmation coloring mandalas. Just click on the image below or click here.

While standardized testing may be a "necessary evil," your compassion and preparation can transform a dreaded experience into an opportunity for student empowerment and growth!

If you are crammed for time (what teacher isn't?), for less than a cup of coffee you can find complete done for you resources including:

• positive testing affirmation posters (appropriate for all grades) and positive student notes
• send home test prep brochures for parents (different grades available)
• Circle of concern/circle of control lesson plans (3 grade appropriate versions)
• Free positive affirmation testing mandalas

and many more resources as my TpT store CLICK HERE FOR AWESOME TEACHER RESOURCES