Dealing with Test Anxiety: Strategies for Staying Calm & Confident

Feeling nervous before a big test like the SAT, ACT, CPS HSAT, HSPT, or ISEE? You're not alone; many students deal with test anxiety at some point. Anxiety isn't something you just feel; it also influences what you think and how you behave. When a stressful thought pops up, it can trigger physical tension, mental fog, or even panic. That feeling can lead to procrastination, rushing, blanking, or zoning out.

Therefore, finding ways to minimize anxiety and negative thinking can help improve your performance on tests of all kinds. Luckily, there are many simple, practical ways to ease anxiety and help you walk into your exam feeling confident!

1. Be Prepared

One of the most effective ways to calm your nerves is to make sure you're truly prepared. This means:

• Taking full-length practice tests to get familiar with timing and structure

• Reviewing what you got wrong and figuring out why

• Creating a realistic study schedule and sticking to it

When you know what to expect, the test feels less like a mystery, and more like something you can handle!

2. Make Studying Less Stressful

Mix in some low-stress activities before and after your study sessions. Take a short walk, listen to music, draw, or even watch a short episode of your favorite show. Enjoying the time before and after your study sessions can help prevent burnout, and makes your study time more productive.

On that note, be sure not to cram the night before you take the exam. Instead, do a quick review, and then focus on relaxing. Make sure you get a good night's sleep, drink lots of water, and have a meal you enjoy the night before, so you can wake up bright and early to be ready for your test the next day!

3. Take Advantage of Breaks

Studying for long hours without a break can leave you feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. Working in focused blocks of time (50-60 minutes) and taking a 5 minute break between each block, can help you maintain stamina and retain the information you're learning. Get up, stretch, and reset!

During the actual test, make the most of your scheduled breaks. Move around, hydrate, and reset. Even short mental breaks can help you refocus and avoid mid-exam burnout.

4. Talk Back to Anxiety

Anxious thoughts often show up before and during a test. Challenge them with facts. For example:

• Anxious Thought: "I'm going to fail."

• Your Response: "I've studied, taken practice tests, and I know the material. I'm ready for this."

Positive self-talk can help improve focus and performance. It's not about pretending everything is perfect, but instead reminding yourself of the truth.

5. Breathe

When stress spikes, take a moment to take a few deep breaths. Try this pattern:

• Inhale for 4 seconds

• Hold for 4 seconds

• Exhale for 4 seconds

• Repeat!

This helps calm your body and clear your mind, whether you're studying or sitting in the testing room.

6. Celebrate Your Effort

After you study or finish your test, reward yourself. Whether it's a favorite snack, movie night, or quality time with friends and family, celebrating your effort (not just the outcome) builds positive associations with the process and helps reduce future anxiety.

At Test Prep Chicago, we specialize in helping students feel confident and ready for important exams like the CPS HSAT, ISEE, HSPT, ACT, and SAT. Whether your child is looking for a structured group course (click here), a focused, one-day workshop (click here), or individual tutoring sessions (click here), our programs are designed to build skills, reduce anxiety, and boost performance.

We offer:

• Full length practice tests to build familiarity, confidence, and stamina

• Targeted lessons and homework to strengthen key areas

• Tutoring that teaches effective test-taking strategies, important material, and time management

• Ongoing updates to our materials based on student feedback from recent exams

If you are looking for a supportive path to test success, Test Prep Chicago is the way to go!

CPS Selective Enrollment Process: What You Need To Know

The Selective Enrollment High School (SEHS) admissions process for Chicago Public Schools (CPS) uses students' High School Admissions Test (HSAT) scores and final 7th grade scores in math, English, science, and social studies to determine eligibility. Each applicant is ranked using this criteria to match students with the highest-ranked school on their GoCPS application that still has available seats.

Admission begins by awarding the top 30% of seats to students with the highest overall points, regardless of socioeconomic tier. The remaining 70% of seats are evenly divided among four tier groups, with placement based on point rankings within each tier.

Students can receive only one selective enrollment offer—their highest-ranked match. Once offered a seat, they are removed from consideration for all lower-ranked programs and cannot be waitlisted for any selective enrollment programs, even if ranked higher. If no offer is made, students are waitlisted for all eligible programs to which they have applied. Tiebreakers are applied in this order: HSAT Math score, then HSAT Reading score, and finally, a computerized random lottery.

We offer 8-week group courses to prepare students for the CPS High School Admissions Test (HSAT), Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE), and Parochial School Entrance Exam (HSPT). Our course prepares students for these tests by focusing on math, reading comprehension, and test-taking strategies. To register your student for one of our courses, click here. We also offer 1-day palooza workshops where students can take a practice exam and review the answers with a skilled instructor. To register your student for one of our paloozas, click here. Finally, we offer individual tutoring, which can begin at any time. You can see our tutoring rates by clicking here. 

High School Entrance Exam Prep Courses in the Fall

This fall, Test Prep Chicago will offer classes which encompass all three high school entrance exams: the CPS High School Admissions Test (formerly known as the SEHS), the independent school entrance exam (ISEE), and the high school placement test (HSPT). Over the course of eight weeks, students will dive into the content of the tests, test-taking strategies, as well as the formatting and timing of each test. Though eight weeks may seem like a short amount of time to prepare for three tests, it’s an accessible timeframe given the likeness of each exam.

First, the content is exceedingly alike. Each of the tests include math (up through geometry), reading comprehension, vocabulary, and language skills (multiple choice for the CPS High School Admissions Test and HSPT, essay for ISEE). Given these similarities, students studying for any or all exams are able to work toward reviewing or learning the same concepts. Where there are a few differences, such as the essay section on the ISEE, students studying specifically for the ISEE will be provided with supplementary, exam- specific material for homework. However, since the student is engaging in language and grammar in our class, they will still be getting their fair share of in-class language and grammar prep for the ISEE.

Next, the time permitted to take each test ranges from two hours and thirty minutes to three hours.  Accordingly, the stamina needed to build up in order to successfully take each exam is almost indistinguishable. The only exception is that the HSPT has quite a few more questions than the other two exams. Similar to the essay section with the ISEE, supplementary materials will be provided for those students who wish to work specifically on quickly getting through the many questions that the HSPT will inevitably have.

Lastly, since the formatting of each exam is slightly different, we include questions formatted in the likeness of each exam, so students feel fully prepared. If you’re interested in enrolling in our comprehensive high school admissions course, visit testprepchicago.com and sign up for our newsletter. Once we add dates for the fall (including online and in-person courses), we’ll send an email notification to let you know registration has opened. We will likely add dates sometime in July for our courses that will begin in late August or early September.

Lauren Lynch, Director of Tutoring and Communications
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266

An Overview of Francis W. Parker School

Located in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, Francis W. Parker School (also known as Parker) is a private school for students at every grade level: junior kindergarten to senior year of high school. It’s ranked the 5th best private high school in Illinois and has a student-teacher ratio of 9:1. The average SAT and ACT scores at Parker are 1420 and 31, respectively.

Parker offers a diverse and challenging curriculum which includes both general classes in math, science, reading, social studies, and more, as well as more specialized classes such as “Sociology of Sports,” “Literature and Censorship,” and “The Civil Rights Movement” among others. In addition to a rigorous course load, students are encouraged to explore the arts, as well as athletics in their “no-cut athletics program.” They also offer a Senior Seminar which “provides a safe space for seniors to reflect on their final year of high school and prepare for their next journey.”

Outside of the classroom, students also attend conferences and participate in a schoolwide Big Brothers and Big Sisters program. Students can also elect to participate in the Model UN program which competes locally, nationally, and internationally. Beginning in junior year, students also have the opportunity to utilize Parker’s College Counseling Office which provides a laundry list of meetings, advise, and thorough information to help guide students in their applications to the schools of their choices. To find out more about their College Counseling Office, curriculum, athletics, or more, visit their website at https://www.fwparker.org/.

Since Parker is a private school, students must take the ISEE to gain admission into the school as well as apply. In addition, Parker charges approximately $34,000 in yearly tuition to attend. Test Prep Chicago will offer both tutoring and courses for the ISEE beginning in the fall semester. Sign up for our newsletter on testprepchicago.com to be notified of new class offerings, including the ISEE course.

Lauren Lynch, Director of Tutoring and Communications
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266

An Overview of Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy

Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (also known as IMSA) is located in Aurora, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago. IMSA is a public high school that houses its student body (which is comprised of sophomores, juniors, and seniors) in dorms on the Aurora campus. Students who are eligible to apply must have achieved at least one year of ninth-grade science and Algebra.

IMSA prides itself on being one of the top-ranked math and science academies in Illinois and retains its academic vigor by teaching with an honors-level curriculum for all its students beginning in their first year. IMSA’s academic programming includes college preparatory courses in mathematics, science, arts, and humanities. Because the school’s teaching philosophy aims to arm their students with knowledge that emphasizes application over memorization, they do not offer AP classes. Instead, IMSA chooses to focus on how to best educate its students without having to teach to the specific standardization of Advanced Placement. However, students are still welcome to and often do take AP exams in order to earn college credit.

IMSA is unlike other schools of its caliber in the Chicagoland area because it provides the unique opportunity of offering dorms on campus to its students. IMSA highly encourages students to remain on campus for all years that they attend. In doing so, students get to participate in extracurricular opportunities that focus on various types of real-life learning strategies such as budgeting and conflict resolution. Beyond this, IMSA offers a vast curriculum of activities available to their students during the evenings or on weekends;  including clubs, athletics, service, and research opportunities. 

To find more information for Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, please IMSA’s website: https://www.imsa.edu/

Written by former Tutoring Coordinator, Ramisha Ejaz

For more information about Test Prep Chicago contact:

Lauren Lynch, Director of Tutoring and Communications

lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266

An Overview of The University of Chicago Laboratory School

The University of Chicago Lab School (also known as Lab, University High School, or U-High) is an Independent High School in Chicago. Located in Chicago’s Hyde Park Neighborhood, Lab is affiliated with the University of Chicago. Since Lab is an Independent high school, potential students must take the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) and interview with the U-High Admissions Committee to apply.

Lab believes that their high school students should have the skills to be able to balance their academic curriculum alongside their extracurriculars. It is their hope that students graduate Lab with not only the ability to exceed academically but also to practice the personal skills they will be needing once they enter college.  Lab ensures this by providing a program that focuses on “analytical reading, writing, research, strong math and science skills, and broad access to the arts.” In tandem, the students are encouraged to spend their free time joining a variety of clubs or sports, where they have a “no-cut” policy to encourage as much participation as possible. There are also a variety of resources that are provided to the students at Lab in order to foster academic success including math tutors, a writing center, and college counseling.

Lab prioritizes the development of their students throughout their four years. They do their best to make sure that there are plenty of opportunities for academic and social success. High school students have class retreats planned for them every year that they attend in order for them to reflect with and enjoy their peers in an outside environment. Students are also provided an Advisory Program where they are assigned an advisor and a small advisory group that continues to work with them throughout their high school journey. 

To find more information about The University of Chicago Lab Schools, please Lab’s website: https://www.ucls.uchicago.edu/

Written by former Tutoring Coordinator, Ramisha Ejaz

For more information about Test Prep Chicago contact:

Lauren Lynch, Tutoring Coordinator

lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266

An Overview of Latin School of Chicago

Founded over a century ago in 1888 by Mabel Slade Vickery, Latin School of Chicago is located in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood on the North Side. The school was established when a group of parents unsatisfied with the education their students were getting in public schools came together to create a parent-owned school with East Coast teacher Mabel Slade Vickery at the helm. The school began with ten boys in 1888 and today has approximately 400 elementary students, 300 middle school students, and 500 high school students all of which are coed.

Latin School is now one of the premier private/independent schools in Chicago and ranks as the third best private K-12 school in Illinois. The student to teacher ratio is 8:1, and its graduation rate is not only 99%, but 99% of its students also go on to attend a four-year college. The school also has an impressive average for its ACT and SAT scores: 31 and 1370, respectively. With all of its successes, however, it isn't particularly diverse with nearly 70% of students identifying as White, 11% identifying as Asian, 6% identifying as Hispanic, and 6% identifying as African American.

Curriculum at Latin School includes standard, specialized, honors, and AP courses in math, science, English, social studies, and history. In addition, they have a wide range of performing and visual arts classes as well as physical education courses. Languages available to study include Latin, French, Mandarin, and Spanish. Students are also able to elect to have a School Year Abroad (SYA) with both year-long and summer programs available in Spain, France, Italy, and China. In addition, they offer an exchange program through schools in South Africa, Germany, France, and India.

Something that is also unique to Latin School is their Capstone Studies Program and their Project Week. Their Capstone Studies Program allows seniors to apply “to participate in a year-long Capstone Studies Program, which allows them to create an interdisciplinary project that links their research to Chicago community resources, or present a senior project that is not strictly academically focused.” The Project Week is also a favorite of students at that school. It allows “upper school students [to] spend one week each March exploring the world outside of the classroom during Project Week. Students can choose to learn about literature, art, technology, or the Civil Rights movement, participate in community service or outdoor education, travel the world or get to know their city in a new way.”

All of these programs are based in Latin School’s mission which states that it “provides its students with a rigorous and innovative educational program in a community that embraces diversity of people, cultures and ideas.” It further adds, “Latin inspires its students to pursue their passions and lead lives of purpose and excellence.”

Since Latin School of Chicago is a private school it does require tuition. Their website states that their tuition for 2019-2020 was $32,815 for grades PK-4, and $36,675 for grades 5-12 with payment plans and financial aid available. For more information about Latin School of Chicago including tuition or academics, visit their website at latinschool.org.

Lauren Lynch, Tutoring Coordinator
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266

An Overview of the Independent School Entrance Exam

Created for students nationwide for application into Independent Schools, the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) is the entrance exam used by independent schools throughout the country. Students applying to high school (grades 9-12) must take the Upper Level ISEE. Though it may sound unfair that an 8th grader is required to take the same exam as an 11th grader, 8th graders’ scores are only compared to the scores of other 8th graders, 9th graders’ scores are only compared to the scores of other 9th graders, and so on.

Designed by the Educational Records Bureau, this test is approximately two hours and forty minutes long and includes 160 questions. There are four multiple choice sections on the ISEE: mathematics achievement (47 questions, 40 minutes); quantitative reasoning (37 questions, 35 minutes); reading comprehension (36 questions, 35 minutes); and verbal reasoning (40 questions, 20 minutes). Additionally, students are required to complete an essay (30 minutes). The essay, though not graded, is sent to the schools to which students are applying and is used much like a personal statement. A calculator is not permitted and there is no guessing penalty on the ISEE.

The ISEE is administered on Saturdays throughout the year at various independent schools throughout the city. To learn more about how to register for the ISEE, visit the Educational Records Bureau website.

Lastly, dissimilar to the selective enrollment high school process, the ISEE is viewed in conjunction with a student’s transcript. Thus, a student’s score on the ISEE is of similar importance as the score a high school student needs to get on their ACT/SAT to get into college. It’s certainly important, but it isn’t the only thing considered for admission. To learn more about how to prepare for the ISEE, visit testprepchicago.com.

Lauren Lynch, Tutoring Coordinator
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266