Test Anxiety: Get the Appropriate Diagnosis and Accommodations

Many of us have experienced the panic associated with an evaluation or test. It is often a very uncomfortable feeling that can have a debilitating effect. Test anxiety is associated with the stress and excessive worrying a student feels before, during, and after a test. While some level of nervousness is normal before a test and can even in some cases help certain students focus and ‘lock in,’ others do not have the same experience.

It can manifest differently across people but often is described as physical symptoms (such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, feeling faint) cognitive or thinking problems (such as difficulty concentrating, memory problems), and emotional issues (such as feeling overwhelmed, negative self-talk). These symptoms are often so intense that they impair a student’s ability to perform well on tests, and show their true level of ability. In other words, they feel so stressed out about a test that it interferes with their ability to do their best work.  There can be many underlying reasons for feeling very anxious before tests, such as perfectionism and poor study habits.

If this is an area of concern, the first step is to obtain a proper workup and diagnosis. Many factors can ‘look like’ anxiety or be contributing to it, such as attentional problems and learning disabilities. Therefore, it is important to obtain a thorough evaluation to determine the source of the anxiety to help guide what treatments and/or accommodations would be most useful based on each person’s own profile of strengths and weaknesses. 

There are many accommodations that can help students who suffer from test anxiety. For example, providing them with a quiet location to complete tests where distractions are reduced can be helpful, along with testing in a small group or alone. For some students, allowing them more time to complete a test removes much of the pressure they feel and allows them to manage their symptoms and perform at their optimal level of performance.  Some benefit from being allowed to present a project in a different format, instead of in front of a classroom. There are also treatments available, including psychotherapy and medications, that may be beneficial for some individuals.

If you have questions about test anxiety, please talk to your primary care physician or your child’s pediatrician. We also encourage you to contact our office to obtain more information about our services. You will find this process to be helpful and empowering for your child, but also for you as a parent. Contact our office for more information about our test anxiety evaluations at (248) 644-9466. We are here to help!