Test Taking Dos and Don'ts for Parents
It simply means that they failed that particular test. They'll just have to try harder next time.
Not to contradict the first point, but the second point is that you need to convey to your teen that you do have a certain level of expectation that they need to fulfill. Just make sure that you make it clear that your expectation isn't tied up in the actual grade that they receive, but is directly related to how hard they try.
If your teenager is stressed out about a test because they're afraid of your reaction to their grade, most likely he or she is not going to do a good job on the exam, no matter how well they know the information that they're being tested on. However, if they didn't put forth any effort in preparing for the test and you're sure of that fact, giving them a hard time about their grade is probably a wise thing to do.
Taking away privileges until they get their grades up might be the motivation that they need.
Finally, don't expect your teen to do well if you aren't willing to help them in any way. If he or she is struggling in a particular subject, either help them yourself, or hire a tutor that can work through the problem with them. Don't belittle your teenager or punish him or her for not understanding something on a test. Help them to comprehend the subject matter and encourage them to do better next time!
Hana C.
Pittsburgh, PA
 Reader Comments
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By: swidjaja Posted: Jul 19 2008