ADHD - panic about time limits in tests

[Echobelly]

Has anyone dealt with having a kid who is really panicked by coping with time limits in tests. We're trying to help DS (13) practise for tests as school have said they are concerned by his distress about tests and he gets worried both about practising with a time limit (because he fears he won't write enough) or without (because he worries about finding out how long it'll take him to write what he needs to).

We are trying to explain to him that it's OK not to achieve what's required when practising and it'll only get better by practising, but it's hard for him to take that in as he's so anxious about it. Has anyone got any tips?

This sounds like the school SEN department's job. You should put this back on them and ask why they're not supporting your child appropriately and instead making you responsible. Do you have an EHCP? I'm sorry you're having these challenges. Perhaps you could try breaking it down into much smaller timed chunks? Obviously depends in the subject, but if you have 10 questions in 60 minutes, practicing just 1 question in 6 minutes.

Is DS anxious in general?

Does DS have the exam access arrangements he needs?

@LimeSqueezer’s suggestion of breaking down exactly what is needed for each type of question can be helpful for lots of pupils. As DS progresses towards GCSEs, speak to DS’s teachers about that and how much time should be allocated to each question. Lots of subjects have the same structure to the papers from year to year.