My 13 year ADDer was was a honor roll student this year(7th grade). But no matter how hard she tries, she can not seem to pass her Standard of Learning tests. It was very disappointing to her and I am worried about her self-esteem and her shutting down. She only took one SOL last year in 6th grade, Civics, and she was 7 points off from a passing grade, she took three tests this year and was fairly close but not close enough. These failures have not kept her from passing to the next grade since her academic scores in her classes are good, but I am afraid if she stays on this track she will not be able function and graduate high school. She is taking SOL prep classes and does well, but when that is put in front of her, she does a brain dump. SOLs are required to graduate. Help, any advice:confused:

have you considered giving her practice tests in a mildy distracting environme so that she can practice staying glued togehter for the real thing ?
Also, is she getting special accomodations for the test? Perhaps she needs to take the test in a room by herself so that she is no distracted?


ME :D

Performance on a test like this can be a problem for ADHDers and basic accommodations are often granted, such as extra time. The first step is to pinpoint the specific problem. For instance, if this is an anxiety issue, accommodation should be specifically geared to that problem.

Welcome to the forums, shivy!:)


I don't have anything extra to add to what these guys have already shared. I hope you can isolate and obtain the accomodations she needs to pass her tests. It can be such a tricky thing, because the ADD mind tends to shut down under stress and the harder she tries the worse she's likely to do.

Take care,
Scattered

Thanks for the advice. She does get accomondations for the Math (plain English),etc. but she does not take the test in a room alone. She has taken practice tests and the SOL prep courses and does fine, but I think when she know this is the "real deal" she goes blank. I am pretty sure she has to do retakes this year, so maybe the second will be a charm. But like SCATTERED said, the harder she tries the worse she does. I guess I am more worried about her self-confidence being shattered than I am about her passing those stupid tests!! Unfortunately,, they are necessary evils...
I will be back with a update to let you know how she did this year. Thanks again.