CHILDREN who consistently perform less well on tests than they expect often develop test anxiety. The anxiety may further interfere with their performance, thus causing a self-perpetuating cycle. Studying feels increasingly hopeless to these children, so they decrease the study.

Test anxiety can also take place for highly creative students who tend to interpret questions in unusual ways. The continuous misinterpretation causes them to lose confidence in their test-taking skills.

Students actually become less anxious if they can take and make up a practice test, either for themselves or for other students. The practice of answering questions in a variety of ways as well as the design of tests takes much of the mystery away and dissipates anxiety.

WHAT KIDS CAN DO BEFORE A TEST

HERE ARE some suggestions you can give your children for preparing for an exam.

• After reading each paragraph, write down a summary sentence of the paragraph. This sentence can be used for later study.

• At test time, make up a test question for each summary sentence. The questions should be the same type the teacher usually uses, whether multiple choice, matching true-false, or essay. This will be excellent active preparation. Making up questions will also relieve test anxiety.

• If a teacher tends to expect students to recall definitions on tests, then write key words and their definitions while studying. When reviewing for tests use those key words. Write the key words and write their definitions. Then check back to see whether the definitions are correct. Writing the answer will help relieve test anxiety.

• When preparing for an essay test, select a few of the most important summary questions to answer. Write out the essay for the best practice. Although the teacher's questions may be different, they will probably incorporate much of the same information. This practice will also diminish test anxiety.

STUDY TIPS FOR KIDS:

--Study regularly.

--Don't cram the night before, but do review.

--Go to bed early; wake up in plenty of time.

WHAT KIDS CAN DO DURING A TEST

HERE ARE some ways that your kids can cope with anxiety while taking a test:

Talk confidence: Tell yourself you've studied well and can therefore do your best.
Overview: Look over the test, answer questions you know first to gain confidence.
Make notes: If there is a definition or date you are afraid you'll forget, write it on the margin of your test, so you can relax about it.
Become involved: Concentrate on the actual questions and not on your grade.
Imagine: If you feel too tense, close your eyes for a few seconds and imagine a pleasant, restful scene like a beach, sunset or park.
Breathe: Take a few deep breaths and concentrate on breathing.
Relax: Tighten up those muscles that feel tense, then relax them one at a time.
Don't rush: Don't get tense if others finish before you. Use all your time. Fast does not mean smart.

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