Testing Success! How to Help Students Beat Exam Stress
$32.00
Do you have high school and college-aged students who are freaking out over tests?
Quizzes. Mid-terms. Finals. The SAT. The GRE. The LSAT. The MCAT…
Whether big or small, preparing for and taking these can make life miserable for some of our clients.
Would you like to help them to find relief?
In this training, you will learn strategies for effective study habits and the tools that will enable your clients to manage their test anxiety successfully.
You’ll discover how your clients can improve their focus, retention, self-discipline, time management, and confidence as they prepare for a test. You’ll also explore a variety of cognitive, physiological, and behavioral interventions that will set your clients up for success, both before and during their test.
Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:
- Identify the cognitive, behavioral, and physiological symptoms of test anxiety
- Describe at least five strategies for developing effective study habits
- Learn at least five interventions for managing anxiety before a test
- Describe at least three techniques for addressing challenges during the test itself
Social workers completing this course receive 2 General asynchronous continuing education credits.
For other board approvals, this course qualifies for 2 hours of General Skill Building continuing education training.
Course Instructor: Dreya Blume, MSW, LCSW
Recording Date: 09/05/2024
Recorded Live Webinar with downloadable presentation slides and/or handouts, evaluation, and a required quiz. The learner is required to pass with a 70% or higher to achieve the CE certificate of completion. The learner is able to reset the test until a satisfactory score is achieved. CE Training Workshops, LLC, provider #1770, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 8/2/2022 – 8/2/2025. CE Training Workshops, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7091. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CE Training Workshops, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. System Requirements: Firefox, Chrome, Brave, Safari, Edge on any modern operating system (Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS). A desktop browser is recommended. We do not provide support resources for issues encountered using a mobile device. For more information about our policies and board approval statements, please visit our FAQS page.
Dreya Blume, MA, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker, with her MSW from Radford University and an MA in anthropology from the University of Hawaii. Dreya has twenty years of experience working in mental health, from case management to intensive in-home services to leading groups for addicts in recovery.
Testing Success! How to Help Students Beat Exam Stress (2 HR) Syllabus
I. Understanding Test Anxiety
- Cognitive, behavioral, and physiological symptoms
- Stress and its effects on the prefrontal cortex
- Common causes: fear of failure, perfectionism, past experiences, underlying anxiety
II. Effective Study Habits
- Establish consistent study routines
- Utilize self-testing and peer teaching
- Identify personal learning styles and retention methods
- Time management tools: Pomodoro Technique, deadline planning
- Avoid cramming and manage procrastination with accountability partners
III. Pre-Test Preparation Strategies
- Create calming routines and rituals before the test
- Nutrition tips: avoid sugar, favor slow-burning meals
- Arrive early, use the restroom, and bring water or light snacks
- Reframe anxiety as excitement; avoid overstimulation from caffeine
IV. Interventions During the Test
- Use stretching and mindful breathing to release tension
- Practice grounding techniques: “Observer self” and body relaxation
- Try aromatherapy and guided imagery
- Apply somatic methods like the “squeezing lemons” exercise
V. Managing External and Internal Triggers
- External distractions: noises, movements, test environment
- Internal triggers: anxious thoughts, fear-based beliefs, negative self-talk
- Emotional and physical symptoms: panic, nausea, rapid heartbeat, frustration
- Strategies: ear plugs, seating choices, reframing thoughts
VI. Regulation and Relaxation Tools
- Deep breathing and visualization techniques
- Positive self-talk and cognitive reframing
- Creating mental “anchors” to return to calm
- Repetition of affirming mantras or statements
VII. Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Overview
- Evidence-based energy psychology intervention
- Combines tapping on acupressure points with verbal processing
- Reduces cortisol and activates the parasympathetic nervous system
- Helpful for both current stress and past trauma
VIII. EFT Protocol and Practice
- Setup: rate distress using SUD scale
- Create a “setup phrase” and tap through key acupoints
- Practice with phrases for anxiety, pain, disappointment, loneliness
- Integrate “Choices” method for reframing: shift from distress to intention
IX. Applying EFT and Mind-Body Tools
- Use EFT for anticipatory anxiety, test-day nerves, and post-test reflection
- Support restful sleep and emotional resilience
- Applicable to academic performance, emotional distress, and self-regulation
- Encourage students to practice techniques regularly
X. Further Integration and Resources
- Suggest daily self-care and consistency with stress reduction strategies
- Offer recommended readings on test anxiety and self-directed learning
- Create an individualized toolkit for students to use before, during, and after exams
- Encourage educators and therapists to model calm and confidence
