Reducing test anxiety

Reducing Test Anxiety TSI/ACT/SAT and Other Tests Kira Holt, M.A.H.S KiraJaneneHolt@gmail.com KiraHolt@yahoo.com http://www.apadivisions.org/division16/publications/newsletters/science/2013/07/test -taking.aspx The Research • Test-anxious students reported that being frontloaded with the structure of tests and being given goals helped them become more familiar and comfortable with the test-taking situation • Other students felt that positive comments and encouragement were helpful to their self-confidence throughout the exam • Some felt that intervention is unnecessary and at times detrimental to their feeling of independence Know the Tests Texas Success Initiative The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) state-legislated program to improve student success in college There Components - Assessment to diagnose basic skills in reading, math, & writing Developmental instruction to strengthen academic skills that need improvement Texas Success Initiative https://accuplacer.collegeboard.org/sites/default/fil es/accuplacer-tsi-assessment-student-brochure.pdf •Must participate in Pre-Assessment Activity •Explanation of importance of TSI Assessment; •Practice test questions & feedback; •Explanation of developmental education options if don’t meet minimum passing standard; and • Information on campus/community resources to help succeed as college student Accuplacer - College Board • https://accuplacer.collegeboard.org/students • https://securemedia.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/accuplacer /accuplacer-sample-questions-for-students.pdf • https://securemedia.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/accuplacer /accuplacer-study-app-flyer.pdf TSI Assessment in Mathematics • Elementary Algebra and Functions • Intermediate Algebra and Functions • Geometry and Measurement • Data Analysis, Statistics and Probability approximately 20 items on the TSI placement test and 10 items in each section of the DE Diagnostic Test TSI Assessment in Reading •Literary Analysis •Main Idea and Supporting Details •Inferences in a Text or Texts •Author’s Use of Language approximately 24 items on the TSI placement test and 10 to 12 items in each section of the DE Diagnostic Test Guessing? Tips for Multiple Choice: • Sometimes lengthy/highly specific answers will be correct answer • Be aware of words like "always," "never," "only," "must," and "completely." Many exceptions to rules Extreme words more than likely wrong choice • Answer all questions in order without skipping or jumping around Identify doubtful answers by marking in margin; recheck these as time permits after all questions answered • Do not linger on any one question Mark best guess & move on, return later if sufficient time • Reread all questions containing negative wording such as "not" or "least." Be especially alert for use of double/triple negatives within sentence Must read carefully to assure full understanding • Check for qualifying words "all-most-some-none," "always-usually-seldom-never," "best-worst," or "smallest-largest." When qualifiers, test for truth by substituting the other members of the series IF substitution makes a better statement, question is false If substitution doesn’t make better statement, question is true Guessing? Tips for Multiple Choice: • Watch for modifying or limiting phrases inserted into true/false questions Instructors often use inserted names, dates, places, or other details making statement inaccurate • Be alert for multiple ideas or concepts within same true/false statements All parts of statement must be true or the entire statement is false • Be alert for grammatical inconsistencies between the question stem and answer choices on multiple-choice questions A choice is almost always wrong if it and the stem not make grammatically correct sentence • Be cautious about changing answer to a true/false or multiple-choice question without a good reason First "guess" is more likely to be correct than are subsequent "guesses," so be sure to have a sound reason for changing answer • Apply same approach to answering true/false and multiple-choice questions Same techniques work equally Multiple-choice = true/false questions arranged in groups Planning/Writing Essay • Read several times until clearly understand what asked • Pay attention to key words found in every essay question Ability to understand/respond to key words is basic skill to handling essay • Rephrase question into statement-can serve as thesis statement for essay or topic sentence for one-paragraph answer • Opening sentence-thesis statement (reworded question) Follow with background information necessary for understanding of answer Essay Strategies • Few minutes of careful planning - crucial to good essay • Budget time - planning, writing, editing • Make notes, organize & check to see outline contains everything • Writing • Stay on track/explain points Keep in mind special instructions • Keep introductions & conclusions short • Say what going to say in introduction, say in the body, restate in conclusion Journaling Test Anxiety • Write feelings about upcoming test… • What worries you about test? • When I think about this test, I feel …… Activity: With partner, write out two or three prompts to share with group RELAXATION Techniques • Use techniques waiting on exam • Use if freeze during an exam • Two/three minutes deep breathing/relaxation well spent • Focused relaxation & deep breathing reduce biological effects of anxiety • Reduce adrenalin pumping through system, clear mind & think again Differential Relaxation Loma Linda Univ • Sit up straight in chair • Place both feet on floor - make sure flat • Grasp bottom sides of chair with hands • At same time, use hands to pull up on chair & push feet firmly on floor • Hold this position counting slowly to (5 seconds) • Release tension in hands & feet; let body relax while counting slowly • Repeat process several times before test begins Metropolitan College - Deep Breathing: • Inhale, taking a deep breath that fills diaphragm as you push it down & outward By moving diaphragm lungs fully inflate • Hold breath as slowly count to three • Slowly release the air as exhale • Focus on feeling of diaphragm moving back inward • Repeat cycle five times • Repeat if needed UC Berkeley - Visualization • When it comes to reducing test anxiety, visualization method known as palming is popular choice Visualization method is easy to perform while sitting at desk before test • Close eyes • Use the palms of hands to gently cover eyes Careful not to touch eyes with hands To this, place fingers on forehead lower palms on cheekbones • Imagine relaxing scene/quiet place - real or imaginary • Imagine self at relaxing, quiet place Begin practicing palming method of visualization days before test The more practice any relaxation method, the easier it becomes Five Finger Relaxation Technique • Takes few minutes • Sit in a comfortable position with both feet on the floor & hands in lap Close eyes • Touch thumb to index finger While doing, go back in time when body felt healthy fatigue, after exhilarating physical activity Imagine tennis, jogged, etc • Touch thumb to middle finger Go back to a time when felt loved • Touch thumb to ring finger Go back to the nicest compliment ever received Accept it By accepting, you show high regard for person who said it Paying person compliment • Touch thumb to little finger Go back to the most beautiful place ever been Dwell there for a while Guided Meditation – Test Anxiety •http://assets.wne.edu/118/TestAnxiety.mp3 Western New England University/ 18 minute of relaxation specifically for testing situations http://www.amazon.com/Kira-JaneneHolt/e/B006Q9ZCZ2 Connect to Kira • www.linkedin.com/in/kirajaneneholt/ • Sign up for free newsletter on college planning at http://eepurl.com/bm9DdX • KiraJaneneHolt@gmail.com College Planning Resource Guide There are many Internet tools to help parents and students with preparation, planning, searching, applying and paying for college It’s mind numbing to sift through site after site after site Some sites are better than others Some sites use free information to entice parents and students into paying for other services Be wary of any site asking for money I’m giving you my list but it is by no means comprehensive These are sites I trust Texas Specific http://www.collegeforalltexans.com/apps/publications/?CFID=44896999&CFTOKEN=32898018 Helpful materials to download in English and Spanish https://www.applytexas.org/adappc/html/research_your_options.html Research 2-year, 4-year schools in state as well as scholarships https://www.applytexas.org/adappc/html/research_your_options.html Common application for TX schools http://gentx.org/ From inspiration to checklists that can be downloaded College Search – Here’s where there are too many to name all the good ones https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/ College Board’s comprehensive search and planning tool http://www.act.org/collegesearch/ ACT’s college search http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ Federal government’s search site Other helpful sites http://www.edpubs.gov/ProductCatalog.aspx?KeyWordSearch=&TypeofSearch=exact&searchterm=Coll ege%20prep%20checklist College readiness publications from the federal government http://studentaid.ed.gov/ Link from here to everything you need to know about financial aid http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/education/higher-education/college-score-card Government affordability and transparency site on colleges http://www.actstudent.org/ Learn about ACT College Entrance Exam and sign up to take it http://sat.collegeboard.org/home Learn about SAT College Entrance Exam and sign up to take it Developed by Kira Janene Holt, author of Cookbook for Getting Your Kid to College and Coaching Your Kid to Success www.kiraholt.com KiraJaneneHolt@gmail.com Discounts for schools and non-profits when ordering 20 copies or more [...]... 20 items on the TSI placement test and 10 to 12 items in each section of the DE Diagnostic Test ACT Test Prep • http://www.actstudent.org/sampletest/ • http://www.act.org/qotd/ • http://www.actstudent.org/onlineprep/ costs • http://www.act.org/aap/pdf/Preparing-for-the-ACT.pdf • http://www.actstudent.org/testprep/tips/ • http://www.actstudent.org/testprep/tips/writing -test. html • http://www.actstudent.org/writing/writing-tips.html... use SAT Math Test https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/insi de-the -test/ math • Most math questions will be multiple choice, but some — called gridins — ask for answer rather than select answer • The Math Test is divided into two portions: Math Test – Calculator and Math Test – No Calculator • Some parts of the test include several questions about a single scenario More Math Math Test focuses... Math Test also draws on Additional Topics in Math, including geometry and trigonometry relevant to college and career readiness SAT Old vs New https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/insi de-the -test/ compare-current-new-specifications Total Testing Time 3 hours and 45 minutes 3 hours (+ 50 minutes Essay [optional]) SAT - Old vs New https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/insi de-the -test/ compare-current-new-specifications... http://www.actstudent.org/writing/writing-tips.html SAT Test Prep • https://sat.collegeboard.org/practice free and cost - several links • https://sat.collegeboard.org/practice/sat-skills-insight • https://www.khanacademy.org/sat • https://sat.collegeboard.org/practice/sat-study-plan • https://sat.collegeboard.org/practice/sat-subject-testpreparation/approaches ACT English Test 75 questions 45 minutes • Punctuation... Development and Support 2–12 Organization 2–12 Language Use and Conventions 2–12 1–36 ELA score (average of English, reading and writing tests) 1-36 Writing Test Resources • http://www.actstudent.org/writing/scores/guidelines.html • http://www.act.org/aap/pdf/Writing -Test- Scoring-Rubric.pdf • http://www.act.org/aap/pdf/ACTWritingConcordance.pdf • http://www.actstudent.org/writing/sample/ The New SAT... for every student who uses an SAT fee waiver The New SAT • All-new essay — and it’s optional • No penalty for guessing • No vocab that you’ll never use again SAT Reading Test https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/insi de-the -test/ reading • One passage from classic or contemporary work of U.S or world literature • One passage or a pair of passages from either a U.S founding document or text in... science • 2 science passages (or one passage & one passage pair) foundational concepts & developments in Earth science, biology, chemistry, or physics SAT Writing/Language Test https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/insi de-the -test/ writing-language • Command of Evidence • Words in Context • Analysis in History/Social Studies and Science • Expression of Ideas • Standard English Conventions Building... that require reasoning skills to solve practical problems in mathematics ACT Reading Test 40 questions 35 minutes • Social Studies (25%) • Natural Sciences(25 • Literary Narrative (25%) or Prose Fiction (25%) • Humanities (25%) • referring to what is explicitly stated • reasoning to determine implicit meaning ACT Science Test 40 questions 35 minutes Data Representation (30-40%) Research Summaries (45-55%)... Strategy (15-20%) • Organization (10-15%) • Style (15-20%) • Five essays/passages, each accompanied by a sequence of multiplechoice test questions Passages chosen for appropriateness in assessing writing skills & also reflect students' interests and experiences ACT Math Test 60 questions 60 minutes • Pre-Algebra (20-25%) • Elementary Algebra (15-20%) • Intermediate Algebra (15-20) • Coordinate Geometry