Teaching study skills and test-taking strategies to elementary school students - The testbusters program

A pilot program to reduce test anxiety and related social-evaluative concer ns is presented. Testbusters is a program designed specifically for element ary and middle school children in grades 4 through 7 that teaches effective study habits, study skills, and test-taking strategies and includes a beha vioral contract to ensure consistent study behavior. The assessment strateg y includes self-report instruments, a behavioral assessment, and children's grade point averages. After a 6-month waiting period, eight children with moderate to severe test anxiety participated in the 11-week program. The re sults indicated that Testbusters decreased general levels of test anxiety a nd self-ratings of distress when taking a test. Overall grade point average improved significantly and grades in the majority of the subjects showed p ositive improvement. There was no change in overall self-esteem or judgment s of cognitive competence. The results are discussed in terms of the use of a skills strategy to decrease anxiety and improve academic achievement.