Searcy (LP) From Pre-school to college, test have been a big part of our educational system. When a student is smaller; shapes, colors, numbers  and alphabet, But as we get older the test seem to spread more from our behavior and health to our education and futures. Testing effects students in many ways. Medical problems like stress, anxiety, and depression are some of the things that test can cause. Shelly Rohr the Psychology Administrator for Searcy school district, stated “Testing to assess knowledge and application of material puts a certain degree of pressure on students to perform and meet expectations created by themselves and teachers.  Some students find readying themselves for a test a positive, challenging experience, while it creates varying degrees of stress in others.”  Educational testing can cause students to pay more attention to their test they have coming up then the work they have right in front of them. The definition of test is a procedure, reaction, or reagent used to identify or characterize a substance or constituent, or something for measuring the skill, knowledge, intelligence, capacities, or aptitudes of an individual or group using questions or exercises.

In educational practices testing has been questioned on if it helps students or not and how it can be improved. A normal school test last for a certain time and usually on a certain subject, however there are test like the ACT and SAT that cover many subjects in a certain time period and is harder to study for. Studying is one of the many things that teachers and parents want students to do before a test, however testing does not work for everyone. Testing is used for many different reasons; to show the information, to show understanding, to show improvement in the student, to show needs of the student, and to show the teacher what can be improved in his or her lessons. Testing is believed to have good and bad long time affects on students. According to Amber Betts, a senior a Searcy high school, “Home life affects testing, because focusing on one area of your life can affect another.”

The amount of sleep and time to study can effect your stress levels during and before a test. If you didn’t get enough sleep that night your brain doesn’t have the proper energy it needs to continue thinking. This can cause other issues if it becomes a continuous or prolong thing. Rohr mentioned “The lives of students are very busy and often were is little time left for school work. Students must prioritize their lives and choose what is most important-sports practice, dance lessons, music lessons, studying… no one can do all of these things and be successful at all of them. Pick what is dos important. Prioritize and plan ahead. Don’t wait to the last minute to study.”

Here is a checklist to use when you  have a test coming up:

• Budget your time, make sure you have sufficient time to study
• Take notes and ask questions before test day.
• Ask the instructor to specify the areas that will be emphasized on the test.
• Go over any material from practice tests, homework, sample problems, review material, the textbook, class notes.
• Eat before a test, but avoid heavy foods they can make you groggy.
• Get at least 8 hours of sleep a night but if you are short on time, get at least 3 hours so that you’ll be rested enough to focus.
• Main ideas/information/formulas can be put onto one sheet so that remembering these are easier.
• Show up at least 5 minutes before the test starts.
• Set your alarm and have a backup alarm set so you wake up or leave for the test on time.
• Go to the bathroom before the test.