AVOIDING TEST-TAKING JITTERS It’s the night before the test. Your child stays up past bedtime, hitting the books, as exam day looms. What’s wrong with this picture? In general, educators agree that students who engage in last minute “cramming” may do little to improve their test scores but much to increase their anxiety and fears about test taking. Anxiety is a natural human feeling that is a part of life and often serves as a form of adrenaline. Anxiety can actually help by providing alertness and readiness. Excessive worry about doing well on a test, however, can result in stress and hinder performance. While test taking is not an exact science, parents can help their children build solid study skills that enhance success in test-taking. Prepare for the exam ahead of time. Draw up a schedule with your child that blocks units of time and test material to be studied. (Estimate the number of hours you’ll need to review the material with your child.) Space studying over days or weeks. (Real learning occurs through studying that takes place over a period of time.) “Chunk” the information into manageable study sessions with frequent breaks to avoid boredom and/or fatigue. Tackle the most difficult material when your child is most alert. Complete studying for the test on the day before the exam. Avoid the temptation to “cram” the night before. Cramming only increases anxiety and interferes with clear thinking. Find out if your child’s school provides practice in taking tests on a regular basis or will provide such practice if your child warrants it. This technique helps ensure that students are familiar with directions and testing formats. Make sure that your child is in bed on time and gets a good night’s sleep. Spend the night before the test in your normal routine. Rest, exercise and good nutrition are as important to test taking as they are to other schoolwork. Sweet Dreams: How Much Sleep Does Your Student Need? 5-9 years:    10-11 hours 10-15 years:    9-10 hours 15-18 years:    8-9 hours - Source: www.parentsoup.com