Understanding and Managing Test Anxiety: Strategies for Students, Families, and Educators
Most students feel nervous before an important test. But for some, anxiety becomes more than pre-exam jitters. It can interfere with concentration, memory, confidence, preparation, and performance—sometimes preventing students from demonstrating what they truly know.
Benjamin J. Lovett, PhD, and Alex Jordan, PhD, explore the causes of test anxiety, how it affects learning and academic performance, and what students, families, educators, and support professionals can do to help reduce its impact and build greater confidence.
Why This Training Matters
Test anxiety affects students of all ages, from elementary school through college and beyond. While some anxiety can motivate preparation and focus, excessive anxiety can create barriers to learning, academic performance, and emotional well-being.
Students experiencing test anxiety often find themselves trapped in cycles of worry, self-doubt, avoidance, perfectionism, or fear of failure. These experiences can affect not only test performance but also self-confidence, motivation, and long-term academic engagement.
At the same time, parents, educators, and support professionals may struggle to determine whether a student’s anxiety is a typical response to academic pressure or a sign that additional intervention is needed.
This training explores the science of test anxiety while providing practical, evidence-based strategies that can help students better manage anxiety, strengthen performance, and build healthier relationships with academic challenges.
What You’ll Learn
- How test anxiety develops and why it affects students differently
- The relationship between anxiety, academic performance, concentration, and memory
- Practical strategies students can use before, during, and after exams
- When accommodations, professional support, or additional intervention may be appropriate
- How parents, educators, and support professionals can help students build confidence and resilience
About the Experts
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Note: Continuing medical education credits are not available for this training
Event Details
- Date: November 6, 2026
- Time: 12pm ET
- Length: 60 minutes
- Presenters: Benjamin J. Lovett, PhD, and Alex Jordan, PhD
- Format: Virtual Training
- Cost: Free
Overcoming test anxiety isn't about avoiding exams or never feeling nervous. Join us for this practical training to explore how evidence-based strategies can help students build confidence and stronger academic performance beyond test anxiety.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this training, participants should be able to:
- Recognize signs and symptoms of test anxiety across different age groups
- Explain how anxiety can affect attention, memory, learning, and academic performance
- Identify evidence-based strategies that help reduce the impact of test anxiety
- Distinguish between typical performance anxiety and clinically significant impairment
- Apply supportive approaches that help students build confidence and manage academic stress
Who Should Attend
This training may be especially valuable for:
- Education & School Professionals
- Parents & Caregivers
- Mental Health Professionals (Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Counselors, Therapists, Social Workers, Nurses)
- Health Care Professionals
- Students and Young Adults
- School Counselors
- Academic Support Professionals
- Community & Youth Program Leaders
Wait! There’s More!
Explore 100+ expert-led sessions on key mental health topics. Designed for professionals and community members alike, the library offers accessible, high-quality education in a flexible format.
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