This involves not only dealing with challenging new standardized tests but the emotional pressures of test-taking, as well. Under these circumstances, even the brightest students can feel anxious about taking tests. Students need to know that a moderate case of the jitters is normal and sometimes a little stress may even help improve a child's performance. But too much stress can hurt. It can cause intense discomfort and even reduce a student's chances of doing well.
Test anxiety can come from many things.
Children may fear the unknown or worry about their competence. They may have difficulty handling the levels of expectation and pressure they feel. They may fear that if they don't do well on the test, it will harm their relationship with you or affect how you view them. That's the bad news. The good news is that there are things teachers and parents can do to help children with this.