How can you support a student who seems anxious about answering?

Reassuring a student that their answers will be fine is an effective way to support an anxious learner. This approach helps to alleviate anxiety by building their confidence and creating a more relaxed testing environment. When students feel supported and understood, they are more likely to engage positively with the material and reduce their stress levels. This reassurance helps eliminate the fear of being judged for their responses, enabling them to focus more on the questions at hand rather than their apprehensions about performance.

Providing reassurance fosters a growth mindset, where students perceive challenges as opportunities to learn rather than threats. The act of communicating that their answers are acceptable serves to normalize mistakes and reinforces the idea that the primary goal is understanding rather than perfection. Encouragement can have a powerful impact on a student's emotional and cognitive readiness to participate fully in assessments.