Test Anxiety: How Can I Help My Teen? 2026

The dreaded period of final exams is approaching, which triggers all levels of anxiety and anguish in our children, so we must be expectant and alert to any modification in their behavior and mood, since although a certain additional dose of adrenaline even stimulates their ability to learn or pay attention, the overflow of emotions can interfere with emotional and physical health. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary for parents to become collaborators, who help channel this concern, decisively avoiding attitudes of added demand that - far from facilitating its objectives - introduces strong components of mistrust, insecurity and anxiety into children and adolescents.

How does anxiety manifest in children and adolescents?

We find, within this type of situation, two models of anxiety: anticipatory anxiety, which manifests itself in the preparation of the exam, in the study and retention phase, and is usually accompanied by elusive behaviors (small escapes) such as looking at the cell phone all the time, visiting the refrigerator frequently, playing with the Play... We can also define situational anxiety, which occurs at the precise moment of taking the exam and which manifests itself in a compulsive physiological activation in the form of palpitations. excessive odor. Normally there is a natural trigger which is when the child doubts his own abilities and starts thinking about the harmful consequences of not passing the test he is preparing to take.

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What things are necessary to observe as parents?

We may make the mistake of thinking that this unbridled fear that arises is based on a lack of preparation or the passivity of the examinee, but it may happen that there was poor planning when managing study time, bad learning habits or a binge on concepts the nights before the exam that block the student's response and multiply their anxiety, making it impossible to carry out the test normally (the usual "going blank"). glimpse or intuit the set of all these emotional, cognitive and physiological reactions when the test dates approach, which is why it is important to take a series of measures to help children achieve better study habits and emotional management.

How to properly prepare for an exam

Any activity in life requires learning, so it is of utmost importance that our children discover what things are necessary when adequately preparing for an exam:

• The study should not be improvised, but rather it should adjust to a plan, which we can develop with our student children, with an outline of the task, structured review, mock exams, etc.
• Children's confidence must be reinforced by rewarding each of the successes in the review checks, within the test preparation strategy.
• Study goals must be planned together and helped to face them step by step.
• Be attentive to the sensations of children/young people without exceeding control or recommendations.
• Propose recreational family activities: even once a week, an hour of shared free time helps reduce tension and feel supported.
• Physical activity will be an essential ally to lower the cortisol levels that appear during exam times.
• It is essential to teach the value of core habits such as sleep and nutrition as a way to promote self-care.
• Time management is key, since the perception of owning a roadmap that is properly projected in a timely manner generates greater confidence and self-esteem.
• No matter how much tension increases or inappropriate reactions are observed, it is not advisable for the child or adolescent to avoid taking an exam by citing various excuses.

Article prepared by Verónica Rodríguez Orellana, Director and Psychotherapist of Coaching Club.