As Jerrell C. Cassady states in the landmark work Anxiety in Schools, many students self-report academic anxiety, although “more systematic examinations of the prevalence for test anxiety place estimates closer to 25–40% of the population, with higher rates of prevalence for racial minorities and females” (7). While not all students in your classroom will experience such high levels of anxiety that it seriously affects their grades, you are very likely to see test anxiety play out in your classroom.

Helping students cope with test anxiety is a highly individual matter. There’s no one mantra, exercise, or review technique that magically cures what ails the anxious mind. As Cassady notes, it’s important to help students “recognize that their pre-evaluative beliefs and behaviors are as detrimental to their final performance levels as the during-test thoughts and behaviors” (21). Here are some ways to build this mindfulness for students with moderate levels of test anxiety.

Watch for the Signs

Every student is unique when it comes to test anxiety symptoms. Some possible symptoms to watch out for are nausea, stomach pain, rapid heartbeat, headache, shortness of breath, sweating, trouble concentrating, insomnia, procrastination, and negative self-talk.

Emphasize Growth, Not Perfection

When you emphasize that mistakes are part of the learning process and not measures of your students’ worth, you are encouraging a growth mindset that fosters resilience and reduces the fear of failure. Be mindful of the language that you use around the test, avoiding expressions that suggest extreme consequences for poor performance.

Provide Study Strategies

Talk about time management skills and study tips during class. You may also want to provide review games and practice tests, allowing students to familiarize themselves with the test format and timing. While simulating test conditions may not work for more severe cases of test anxiety, this technique may give others a heightened sense of control.

Publish the Schedule

You’ll want to establish a predictable schedule for tests so that your students know what to expect. Inform them about test dates well in advance so that they have adequate time to prepare.

Encourage Healthy Habits

Adequate sleep, a nutritious diet, and physical exercise matter every day—not just the night before the test. All three are linked with enhanced cognitive function and emotional regulation. Also, breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation practices, when used regularly, will become easier for anxious students to channel during tests.

Involve Parents

You can be doing all the right things at school, but if parents are reinforcing the high-stakes mindset for tests, you may not make headway in soothing students’ test anxiety. Discuss with parents the nature of test anxiety, how it manifests in their child, and how to promote healthy study habits and attitudes that should help improve grades in the long run.

Form Study Groups

The power of peer support can be channeled as study groups share tips, resources, and encouragement. Creating a culture of understanding and support for those with test anxiety can make these students feel less isolated in their anxiety and more confident in the material.

Celebrate Balance

Life is more than academics. Encourage students to pursue hobbies, interests, and social activities outside of school to help offset academic pressures. A well-rounded lifestyle can help students manage stress and will hopefully also offer a chance for more physical exercise opportunities to manage emotions and boost relaxation during downtimes.

Use Scripture and Prayer

The tradition of using Scripture meditation and prayer to combat anxiety is time-honored for a reason: it works. Encourage parents to print and post verses on fear and anxiety where the student studies. Consider sharing a verse before handing out the test and offering a special prayer asking for God’s calming presence and strength.

Stress before and during a test is not the enemy. In fact, short-term stress can be the very discomfort that spurs your students on to study hard and to concentrate during testing. However, because chronic test anxiety will likely harm students’ academic career and their overall health, seeking expert counsel and treatment may be the best option. After all, a test is just a test—and not the end of the world, and your students have what it takes to succeed. Some students will just need a bit more help than others to get to that headspace.