State Test Stress: How to help your student survive

State test season is upon us in New York and if I learned anything over the past 19 years in education, these assessments mentally drain both students taking them and staff proctoring them. Students who experience test anxiety can suffer immensely over the two to three-day period. Often, well-meaning parents ramp up the anxiety by stressing the importance of the assessment when discussing the topic at home. So how can you support your student through this oh-so-lovely experience? Over the past two decades, I discovered ways to lessen the pain for all parties involved. 

The Purpose of State Testing

First, it’s probably a good idea to understand the purpose of these exams, or at least what the state explains as the purpose of the exams. State tests are used to see which students need additional support, identifying each student’s strengths, weaknesses, and progress. The exams are also used to assess gaps in curriculum and instruction. HOWEVER, after 19 years in the classroom, what I have learned firsthand is that state tests do one thing and one thing only: Assess how well your student takes a test. Period. The end.

I’ll give you an example of what I mean. In reading the exams each year, I’ve come to recognize that the math state assessment is more of a reading comprehension test than anything else. The same can be said for the Science state assessment given to fourth and eighth graders in New York. I share this so that you understand that each student who sits to take the exam isn’t necessarily showing their knowledge and skills in a specific subject area so much as they are exhibiting their ability to sit down and take a test that is provided in a specified format. And if your student is classified with a disability, well I have a whole other view on state testing entirely but that’s for another time.

What I’ve also come to realize is that state tests DO NOT reflect the impact of a teacher on your child’s education. They do not predict your child’s success in life and they certainly do not accurately reflect many students’ skills or knowledge. It is an assessment like any other, where some students will thrive and excel while others will be stifled, frustrated, and deflated after trying their best. 

So what can you do to support your student?

Focus on effort, not on numbers.

As with any test, focusing on your student’s effort and not the numerical grade is always a great place to start. The bottom line is we don’t know if your student will get a 1, 2, 3, or 4 on the assessment and 20 years down the road, it won’t matter! What does matter is helping your child learn that effort is vital to their success in life and they should take pride in their efforts each and every day. 

Bribe the hell out of them & Celebrate their accomplishments

Ain’t no shame in my bribery game! As a teacher, I would bring in snacks, treats, and all sorts of yummy things they could enjoy while taking the state tests. Feel free to do that too! Just make sure it’s a quiet snack that won’t distract others. Now is NOT the time to focus on intrinsic motivators. Extrinsic motivators are the name of the game in surviving the mentally and physically exhausting challenge of sitting through a state assessment. Favorite candy? Favorite drink? Iced coffee from Dunkin’? Absolutely allowed and helpful during this time! Even better, plan a little celebration of any kind after the final day of the state test. Celebrations can be dinner at their favorite restaurant, baking their favorite dessert, letting them pick the movie or game on family night, or anything to let them know that you’re proud of how hard they worked and you recognize their efforts. 

Check-in with their feelings

Don’t hesitate to ask them how they feel about the state test before, during, and after the state testing extravaganza. Highly anxious students might feel more anxiety during this time so they might benefit from you asking them what they think is causing their increase in anxiety or what their fear is related to the assessment. Help them dig a bit and they might reveal a more significant area of struggle. For many students, this experience can trigger some underlying challenges such as low confidence, perfectionism, or comparing themselves to their peers. Students who struggle with low frustration tolerance might have a particularly tough few days trying to complete the assessments. Allow time for your student to vent. Validate them. Use statements such as, “I understand.” or “That sounds really hard. I remember how I felt about big tests and it was tough.” Let them know that regardless of their score, you are proud of their efforts and love them unconditionally.  

Try to avoid the following…

• Your anxiety about the test will 100% stress your student out. Keep your feelings in check and remind yourself that this is just a test, not a reflection of who you are as a parent or your child’s potential as a student or future adult. 
• Respect the test. If you badmouth the test, your student might come in with a negative, maybe even apathetic, attitude. This doesn’t serve anyone involved. Like me, you might have some strong feelings about the bias, inaccuracies, and purpose of this exam, but it’s best to keep them to yourself. If you feel that strongly, you can always opt your student out of the exam. Ask me how if you need some pointers! Otherwise, if you are having your student take the exams, treat them as any other assessment. Respect it and again, focus on their effort above anything.
• Scores? What scores? Yes, test results can indicate if students need additional help, but don’t read anything more into them than that. When the scores come in the summer, look at them but remember the focus is all about effort. If your student completed state tests with 100% effort, celebrate that and keep the scores to yourself. Will it really benefit anyone to know they scored a 1 or 2 {out of 4} on an exam? Not at that age! If your child qualifies for additional support, simply tell them they are going to have an extra reading or math class to help improve their skills. Leave numerical values and the state test scores out of the conversation.