Mary
As a 46 year old who still dies each time I hear the word test - I can only say - don't tell them it's a test!!!! Just let them take the test thinking it's an exercise, a practice, a whatever word you can think of to call it - other than test!! One example I can remember for as long as I live is I was taking a typing test at the age of 22 for a Federal Civil Service exam -it was important - couldn't get hired without passing. During the practice I did excellent, I flunked the actual test. I talked to the proctor and she looked at the practice test and the actual test and threw away the actual and put the practice test in it's place. I got the job, worked 20 years at progressively more responsible positions. Thank God for understanding people. Test anxiety is all in your mind. You put so much pressure on yourself to be perfect you bring about the very thing you fear - failure! So my advice is to trick people into be relaxed!!!! Don't tell them it's a TEST!!