Test Anxiety: How to help your child overcome this challenge

By General Education Advice

Overcoming Test Anxiety: How One Connecticut Student Transformed Her Approach

“I’m not terrified of the GRE—can you believe it?” Marissa wrote when she reached out for graduate-school test preparation. I first met her years earlier in my Madison SAT class, where she arrived convinced she was “bad at tests.”

Her belief came from early experiences with the old Connecticut Mastery Tests. A lower-than-expected PSAT score reinforced the story she had been telling herself: she was a poor test taker, and standardized exams were something to fear.

Identifying the Root Issue: The Psychology of Test Performance

At the beginning of every SAT class, I ask students to share anything that will help me better support them. Marissa wrote, “I’m just bad at tests and will probably be horrible at the SATs.” Her comment was common, but the underlying issue was not simple.

During the program, I teach a full session on the psychological side of test performance, an area that is frequently overlooked. Marissa noted, even then, that the discussion made her feel “a little better.” It was the first sign that her narrative could change.

Individual Sessions and a Breakthrough

After class, Marissa and I worked individually on SAT preparation. That is when we uncovered the real pattern: she is a perfectionist, consistent with the tendencies of an Enneagram Type 1. Her desire to “get everything right” was an admirable trait in daily life, but in testing environments it created two major problems:

  • She struggled to make educated guesses

  • She moved too slowly to maintain proper pacing

Both issues are central to SAT performance.

Through systematic practice, reframing, and targeted strategies, she gradually overcame the emotional and cognitive blocks that had held her back for years. Her progress was steady, hard-earned, and ultimately transformative.

A Confident Test Taker—Years Later

Hearing from her again—this time for GRE preparation—was deeply gratifying. Her message made clear that her relationship with tests had fundamentally changed.

My opinion: Marissa’s story shows that test anxiety is not a fixed trait. When students receive the right psychological and strategic guidance, they can replace fear with confidence and become far stronger test takers than they believed possible