Local In-Home Tutoring Service Shares Seven Ways for Students to Reduce Anxiety and Improve Test Taking Abilities

Tutor Doctor, a personalized professional one-on-one, in-home tutoring service, is offering students seven great tips to help improve test scores. Tutor Doctor is designed to help students from ages 4 to 96, offering the community and students a private, easy way to get assistance in any of area of schoolwork (including college) or even help adults learn the basics of things such as email, the Internet and more. Local entrepreneur and owner of the local Tutor Doctor location Kevin Price has seen first-hand how valuable tutoring services can be for students looking to achieve better grades and higher test scores.

Most everyone is familiar with the anxious feeling that slowly builds up inside your body before taking a test. While it is normal for most students to experience some level of anxiety before and during an exam, it has proven to become a problem for some, affecting their scores so much that they no longer are an indication of the student’s true ability. Tutor Doctor State College aims to squash anxiety and help local students boost their grades.

“There are many techniques that students can use to improve concentration and help in school,” Price said. “Every student is different, which is why we use a one-on-one method in our learning model, but here are a few tips and tricks to get students started on boosting their marks in school.”

Students can begin the path to better test taking skills with these simple tips:

1. Write Down Anxieties Before a Test — A recent study in the journal Science explains that students can greatly benefit from writing down their anxieties before taking an exam. The study suggests that releasing anxieties onto paper will clear students’ minds during a test and allow them to focus better.
2. Counter Anxieties by Writing Down Positive Responses — In a guide on how to reduce anxiety while taking tests, Claire Stone, MFT and Berkeley therapist, explains that it is beneficial to write down positive responses to the negative anxieties or thoughts that students write down. This will ensure that all the negatives will be cleared from students’ minds while taking a test.
3. Stay Physically Fit — According to Lesley Cottrell, an associate professor of pediatrics at West Virginia University, children’s physical fitness is associated with their academic performance. Students who stay physically fit during the week generally experience better test scores.
4. Maintain A Healthy Diet — There is a correlation between positive test scores and a healthy diet. Students should be sure to not take an exam on an empty stomach, and make sure they are eating the right foods. Joe Landsberger, author of the Study Guides and Strategies Web site, offers fruit and vegetables as a recommended option to reduce stress. Avoid processed foods, artificial sweeteners, and foods containing preservatives, as they are considered “stressful foods.”
5. Get Enough Sleep — Many students struggle to get adequate sleep at night, but it is important that they try to get between seven and nine hours. According to psychologist John Markovich, “Sleep keeps students well-rested. It gives them a good attention span, along with a more stable mood, which increases concentration.” Getting enough sleep at night will help students focus while taking tests.
6. Study with a Friend — When possible, students should study with a friend or parent. This helps students understand the material better and learn from one another.
7. Aromatherapy — It has been proven that essential oils such as lavender and rosemary can stimulate the brain and improve concentration and learning abilities. Students can use this method by lighting a lavender candle while studying, helping them retain information easier before the test.
   Tutor Doctor State College services students with learning techniques in their homes with a one-on-one method. With locations worldwide, the franchise has continually impacted the lives of students by helping them improve test scores and grades in school.

About Tutor Doctor
Tutor Doctor was founded in 1999 as an alternative to the “one-to-many” teaching model most extra-curricular learning centers offer by providing a personalized one-on-one, in-home tutoring service to students. The company quickly grew and in 2003 turned to franchising as a way of expanding the company’s impact and meeting the vast market demand. Now with offices internationally in Canada, the United States, Latin America, the United Kingdom, and the Caribbean, the Tutor Doctor vision is becoming a reality as the lives of students and their families are being positively impacted throughout the world. With 180 locations worldwide, Tutor Doctor was listed by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the fastest growing franchise brand.