Test Anxiety in High School: How Parents Can Help Teens Stay Calm and Confident
You’ve seen it before: your teen studies hard, knows the material, and then freezes on test day. Sweaty palms, racing thoughts, and blanking on answers, it’s more common than you think. Test anxiety affects nearly a quarter of high school students, and without support, it can take a toll on both grades and confidence.
At MyTotalTutor, we help students build the skills to manage stress, focus under pressure, and perform at their best. Here are strategies parents can use to support their teen.
1. Normalize the Nerves
A little anxiety is natural. Remind your teen that feeling nervous before a test doesn’t mean they’re unprepared—it means they care. Normalizing the experience helps reduce shame and panic.
2. Focus on Preparation, Not Perfection
Many students feel they have to get everything right. Encourage consistent study habits and emphasize progress over perfection. Small wins build lasting confidence.
3. Teach Calming Techniques
Simple breathing exercises, mindfulness, or short movement breaks can reset the nervous system before or during an exam. Practice these techniques together at home so they feel natural on test day.
4. Shift the Mindset
Help your teen replace “I have to get an A or I’ll fail” with “I’m prepared, and I’ll do my best.” Reframing thoughts reduces the pressure that fuels anxiety.
5. Seek Extra Support When Needed
Sometimes, anxiety goes beyond what parents can manage alone. Working with a tutor can reduce stress by providing structured practice, confidence coaching, and proven test strategies.
How MyTotalTutor Helps with Test Anxiety
Our tutors don’t just review content—they teach:
Stress-management tools grounded in cognitive science.
Test-taking strategies for pacing and focus.
Confidence-building habits that carry into every subject.
The result? Students walk into exams feeling calm, capable, and prepared.
Test anxiety doesn’t have to hold your teen back. With the right support, students can transform stress into confidence and perform at their true potential.
