HOW TO HOW TO DO YOUR BESTDO YOUR BEST ON TESTS BY ON TESTS BY LOWERING LOWERING

STRESSSTRESS

Tips and ToolsTips and Toolsby by

Dr. Ron RubenzerDr. Ron Rubenzer20112011

drronrub@aol.comwww.drrubenzer.com

Prepared for GCSPrepared for GCS

Why test at all?Why test at all?• The days of the “self-made” man are overThe days of the “self-made” man are over

• Would you go to an MD who got her Would you go to an MD who got her degree on the internet?degree on the internet?

• Even teenagers have to pass a driver’s Even teenagers have to pass a driver’s test (Imagine an SAT score cut-off to test (Imagine an SAT score cut-off to drive!)drive!)

Why test at all?Why test at all?• $cholarships (Up to $30,000 at $cholarships (Up to $30,000 at

Harvard)Harvard)

• To get into desired colleges/tradesTo get into desired colleges/trades

• Promotion (for students to next Promotion (for students to next grade, for adults to next pay “level”)grade, for adults to next pay “level”)

Why learn test-taking/test Why learn test-taking/test anxiety managementanxiety management• Testing is the number one source of Testing is the number one source of

stress for high schoolersstress for high schoolers

• Reducing excess test-anxiety Reducing excess test-anxiety increases your IQ and Creativity increases your IQ and Creativity scores (Columbia University [NYC])scores (Columbia University [NYC])

YOU WILL FEEL BETTER !YOU WILL FEEL BETTER !

YOU WILL DO BETTER!YOU WILL DO BETTER!

Feeling better helps you do better, and Feeling better helps you do better, and doing better helps you feel betterdoing better helps you feel better

Why learn test-taking/test Why learn test-taking/test anxiety managementanxiety management

Ralph Waldo Emerson Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803-18821803-1882

•Do the thing you fear Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is and the death of fear is

certaincertain

Why learn test anxiety Why learn test anxiety managementmanagement• Avoiding test-anxiety contagionAvoiding test-anxiety contagion Since test anxiety is a learned habit, Since test anxiety is a learned habit,

and can even be caught from others and can even be caught from others (the “chicken little” syndrome), TEST (the “chicken little” syndrome), TEST ANXIETY CAN BE UNLEARNED (like ANXIETY CAN BE UNLEARNED (like dropping a bad habit) dropping a bad habit)

New Term: New Term: Trait affective presenceTrait affective presence, , or misery spreads misery (2011)or misery spreads misery (2011)

AVOID TEST ANXIETY AVOID TEST ANXIETY CONTAGION CONTAGION

• First step: First step: Avoid negative people,Avoid negative people, then then seek out “winners” seek out “winners” not whinersnot whiners

• You can replace test-anxiety with You can replace test-anxiety with positive Eustresspositive Eustress-TO SHOW WHAT -TO SHOW WHAT YOU KNOWYOU KNOW

How-to do best on tests:How-to do best on tests:

•The mantra for good test The mantra for good test performance is “Be over-prepared performance is “Be over-prepared and under-reactive”and under-reactive”

Pessimistic reactions are often OverreactionsPessimistic reactions are often OverreactionsBelief in a positive outcome is more realistic Belief in a positive outcome is more realistic

Edison said, “The only reason Edison said, “The only reason we have a body is to support we have a body is to support the life of the brain.”the life of the brain.”

Students must be – Students must be – • Fact-Smart (Left Brain)Fact-Smart (Left Brain)

• Test-Smart (Left & Right Brain) Test-Smart (Left & Right Brain) • Stress-Smart (Right Brain)Stress-Smart (Right Brain)

Training to become Fact-Training to become Fact-SmartSmart (Left Brain) (Left Brain)

• Teach Positively - Teach Positively - Students learn more Students learn more

when they like the teacherwhen they like the teacher

• Becoming Fact-SmartBecoming Fact-Smart: The smartest : The smartest person in the world. Marilyn vos Savant, person in the world. Marilyn vos Savant, IQ IQ of 230of 230, proclaims that , proclaims that repetitionrepetition is the is the best way to learn. (Like seeing a movie 10 best way to learn. (Like seeing a movie 10 times)times)

Fact-SmartnessFact-Smartness• Require students to develop and memorize Require students to develop and memorize

their own flashcards. their own flashcards.

• Take AP courses and more advanced Take AP courses and more advanced courses whenever possiblecourses whenever possible

• Children must first become effective Children must first become effective (accurate) at answering questions (accurate) at answering questions before they become efficient (fast)before they become efficient (fast)

THE POSTER CHILD FOR THE POSTER CHILD FOR GENIUS GENIUS

Training for Test-SmartnessTraining for Test-Smartness (Both Left and Right Brain)(Both Left and Right Brain)

• Do it yourself. The testing coach should take a legitimate practice test first. (And remember: you don’t have to “do” to be able to coach. Most Olympic coaches are well past their prime.)

• Take advantage of online “daily” practice questions.

• Know your game board.

• Memorize standard instructions for sections of the test if available.

• Don’t be surprised. Make up your own trick

questions for others. Practice “grace under pressure.”

• Answer the easiest questions first. Mark the hard items and then go back.

• What are they asking, really?

• Read and answer the core question, without being tripped up by “word traps” (irrelevant details) or generalizations (always, never, everywhere). Don’t waste time on “trial” test items.

Your Best Bet:Your Best Bet:

• Try to eliminate obvious wrong answers so Try to eliminate obvious wrong answers so you can improve your odds of choosing a you can improve your odds of choosing a correct answer correct answer

• DON’T SECOND GUESS (trust your DON’T SECOND GUESS (trust your instincts)instincts)

• “Timing is everything (almost)” When practicing, work on accuracy first then work on speed. Watch your watch (yes, wear a watch in case a clock is not provided). Pacing is probably the number one cause of underachievement on a child’s first standardized group test.

• Carve out time to go back to those questions you didn’t know the answer to and as a last resort, make an educated guess.

Becoming Stress-SmartBecoming Stress-Smart: (Right : (Right brain; not becoming negative or too brain; not becoming negative or too “generic” during testing)“generic” during testing)

•Relaxation is the oil in the machinery of thought .

•Relax and Exercise aerobically, regularly. See your mental health professional on test-anxiety reduction tips. Contact your coach on exercise.

Consume “Food for thought” just before the test session. Eat fruit followed by a drink of water. Make certain to eat a substantial breakfast on test-day (perhaps an English muffin with peanut butter). Even having “that candy bar that satisfies you” is forgivable right before a test (a trick night airline pilots use for energy). Try peppermint candies.

• Visualize success. BRING-IT-ON. (Game mindset) “A goal well visualized is a goal half realized.” Picture yourself remaining calm and paying attention to what is in front of you on the page.

VISUALIZE WHAT YOU WANT, don’t worry about your fear.

Use humor to relaxUse humor to relax

• Use humor to relaxUse humor to relax. I took an IQ test . I took an IQ test and the results were negative…”. My and the results were negative…”. My Catholic School Nun’s favorite saying Catholic School Nun’s favorite saying was TIME PASSES-WILL YOU.was TIME PASSES-WILL YOU.

Our motto for each student Our motto for each student should be should be

"Your success is my goal""Your success is my goal"

Students should be happy and Students should be happy and effective in their twelve year careereffective in their twelve year career

STRESS MANAGEMENT 101STRESS MANAGEMENT 101• Lower your stress: Lower your stress: Time management, healthy lifestyle, Time management, healthy lifestyle,

support, positive attitude, problem solving support, positive attitude, problem solving skills (take “approved” practice tests!)skills (take “approved” practice tests!)

• Cope with stress you can’t avoid:Cope with stress you can’t avoid:Exercise, write, express feelings, enjoy life, Exercise, write, express feelings, enjoy life,

relax your body, relax your mindrelax your body, relax your mindSource: Healthwise (2007-2010 )Source: Healthwise (2007-2010 )Stress Management, Stress Management, zu1940-8/26/2010 zu1940-8/26/2010For more information on Stress Management Contact For more information on Stress Management Contact AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STRESS (914)-963-1200, www.stress.orgAMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STRESS (914)-963-1200, www.stress.org

Model Relaxation. It flows Model Relaxation. It flows downhilldownhill• The key to relaxation is right under your nose: The key to relaxation is right under your nose:

controlled controlled breathing.breathing.• If you can count to ten, you can relax. If you can count to ten, you can relax. Breathe Breathe

in slowly and deeply through your nosein slowly and deeply through your nose to the to the count of five (as if you are filling your stomach count of five (as if you are filling your stomach with air): counting silently, one, two, three, with air): counting silently, one, two, three, four, five. Now four, five. Now exhale through your mouthexhale through your mouth, , counting from six to ten while completely counting from six to ten while completely relaxing every musclerelaxing every muscle in your body (from in your body (from head to toe). Repeat 3-10 times, daily.head to toe). Repeat 3-10 times, daily.

Motivating Your Child:Motivating Your Child:

• The Goldilocks “just right” level of The Goldilocks “just right” level of motivation.”motivation.”

You want your child to “care enough to You want your child to “care enough to prepare”. As in the Goldilocks fable, in prepare”. As in the Goldilocks fable, in terms of motivation, you don’t want to terms of motivation, you don’t want to be too hot or too cold, but just right - be too hot or too cold, but just right - to be calm and bright on test day. to be calm and bright on test day.

Dilemma: Still Dilemma: Still underachieving on tests underachieving on tests after full training?after full training?• Turn your DILEMMA (2 opposing Turn your DILEMMA (2 opposing

opinions) into aopinions) into a

TRILEMMA : Get a THIRD opinion and/or TRILEMMA : Get a THIRD opinion and/or approved accommodations for test-approved accommodations for test-taking taking

Seek advice of a professional on testing Seek advice of a professional on testing

The take-away on test-The take-away on test-takingtaking TOP TENTOP TEN TEST-TAKING TIPS (THREE MONTHS TEST-TAKING TIPS (THREE MONTHS

PRIOR TO TEST) PRIOR TO TEST) Become Fact-Smart: Become Fact-Smart: 1) Teach Positively: Students learn more when they 1) Teach Positively: Students learn more when they

like the teacher (William James-Harvard, 1899). Be like the teacher (William James-Harvard, 1899). Be a model of relaxed-exposure to tests (calm & cool).a model of relaxed-exposure to tests (calm & cool).

Test taking tipsTest taking tips 2) Teach memory mechanics. The basic 2) Teach memory mechanics. The basic

rule is repetition, repetition, repetition to rule is repetition, repetition, repetition to train your brain to remember facts.train your brain to remember facts.

3) Require students to develop their own 3) Require students to develop their own flashcards and stack the deck with only flashcards and stack the deck with only the memorized facts to study for tests. the memorized facts to study for tests.

Become Test-Smart: Become Test-Smart: 4) Answer the core question, without 4) Answer the core question, without

being tripped up by “word traps” being tripped up by “word traps” (irrelevant details) or generalizations (irrelevant details) or generalizations (always, never, everywhere). (always, never, everywhere). 5) Be Clerically Correct: For the young, 5) Be Clerically Correct: For the young, when in doubt, check their skills out when in doubt, check their skills out (attention, handwriting, reading skills). (attention, handwriting, reading skills).

Test taking tipsTest taking tips 6) Provide “Test Rehearsals” (if 6) Provide “Test Rehearsals” (if

approved). All great performances approved). All great performances start with rehearsal. start with rehearsal.

Become Stress-Smart: Become Stress-Smart: 7) Test for Test-Anxiety. “Stress is 7) Test for Test-Anxiety. “Stress is

sand in the machinery of thought.” sand in the machinery of thought.”

Test taking tipsTest taking tips 8) Consume “Food for thought” just before 8) Consume “Food for thought” just before

the test session. Eat fruit, followed by a the test session. Eat fruit, followed by a drink of water. Enjoy peppermint candies. drink of water. Enjoy peppermint candies.

9) Relax: See your mental health 9) Relax: See your mental health professional on test-anxiety reduction tips. professional on test-anxiety reduction tips. Use humor to relax. See a movie the night Use humor to relax. See a movie the night before the “big event.” Breathe Right!before the “big event.” Breathe Right!

Test taking tipsTest taking tips10) Learn from those who do best on tests. Test-Prep can 10) Learn from those who do best on tests. Test-Prep can

boost test scores by a whole letter-grade or at least 10%! boost test scores by a whole letter-grade or at least 10%! (Scruggs & Mastropieri, Purdue University, 1992) (Scruggs & Mastropieri, Purdue University, 1992)

AND REMEMBERAND REMEMBERThis is ONLY a test! This is ONLY a test!

  

Once again:Once again:

If you can’t Fight or FleeIf you can’t Fight or FleeFlowFlow