THIS IS A TEST, THIS IS ONLY A TEST…
Learning to Handle High-Stress Situations in School and Life

You remember how you felt taking an exam in school: the sweaty hands, the churning stomach, the all-too-quiet room ringing with nervousness from each of the four neat rows.

You've probably had these same feelings more recently, albeit not while sitting in a tiny desk and chair. Perhaps it was the last time you got your year-end evaluation from your boss, for instance, or when you had to make a pitch for a new account. What children and adults don't often realize is that test-taking skills can translate into life skills.

The ability to do well on tests can help throughout life in such things as getting a driver's license, trying out for sports or getting a job. Without this ability, a person can be severely handicapped, according to a report by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, a division of the U.S. Department of Education.

So when exam time rolls around, help your child understand the importance of feeling relaxed and confident. This type of situation is something he or she will encounter many times in life.

The Department of Education report, "Help Your Child Improve in Test Taking," offers recommendations for parents to give their children:

Space studying over days or weeks. Preparation is key. By preparing over time, we become more comfortable with the information.
Don't cram the night before. After studying for several weeks, review the material the night before. Rest and eat well. Don't change your routine because that will affect how you perform.
Read the directions and look over the test carefully. When we know the possible outcomes of a situation, we have an easier time adjusting to them. Likewise, when students know what the exam entails, they can think and plan ahead.
Don't let the tough questions throw you. No one should expect perfection, so learning to prioritize and answer the questions they know first will help students do well on tests. Similarly, when we know our strengths and limitations, we know what we can handle and can channel our energy toward those things.

By being prepared and confident in their strengths, students can handle any test that comes around in life.