Parents can help their children with these coping strategies to reduce test taking anxiety. A Spanish version is available HERE.
Coping Strategies to Reduce Test Taking Anxiety
- Ask your child specific questions to determine what is making them anxious. Try to narrow down specific scenarios/situations that are causing them to feel most anxious in a test taking situation.
- Prepare a plan for the day of the test. Include things such as; having a healthy breakfast, going to bed early the night before the test, setting an alarm to be up to get to school on time the morning of the test.
- Acknowledge your child’s efforts. Reassure them that you are aware that they will do their best on the test. Remind them that you are proud of all of the effort that they put into their school work/tests.
- Remind your child that they did/will do a practice test session with their teacher to become familiar with the testing process and computer system for the CPS High School Admissions Test. So, they will have an opportunity to try out the computer system in advance of taking the test.
- Remind your student that this test is not a “grade” and there is no judgement placed on the results. Additionally, remind your student that many CPS high school programs do NOT require a score from this exam for admission into a specific high school program.
Many CPS high schools use a lottery system for admission and every student is always guaranteed a seat at their neighborhood high school.
Our school counselor, Ms. Rendleman, is available to talk with parents about any questions or concerns that they may have about the GoCPS High School Application process or new admissions test. Please do not hesitate to reach out to her at [email protected] or call 773-534-5502 and leave a message.