Throughout a student’s educational career, they undergo a lifetime of testing.

Students and, at times, parents more so than their children will show more worry, stress, panic, and in need of more reassurance from teachers that all is OK; that the world is not coming to an end any time soon.  

But many of us parents are not taking any chances.  We will study, review, prepare quizzes, and administer mock exams with each of our children.  We will seek additional help, bring back our notes from primary school, research the internet, and send that last note to the teacher for “explanation” so we can ensure our child gets a “good” grade on those tests.  All this while we look to bring them to soccer, swimming, hockey practice, dancing, grocery shopping, working – you get the drift.  And this does not stop at the elementary level.

Succumbing to these pressures, several parents (including actors and actresses), school personnel, and agency representatives in the United States were indicted years ago for participating in an exam cheating network.  The offenders received jail time ranging from 6 months to 3 years in that country – a much better alternative to the earlier practice of being shot if caught teaching.  Not long ago, and after a two-year investigation, authorities thwarted the efforts of a network of parents and teachers to access upcoming exams. 

More tragically, rashes of student suicide break out all over China on the day the results of the gao kao test are announced – an annual 2-day exam taken by over 10 million students in China.  

2,982 km southwest of China, over 6,000 students in India commit suicide yearly due to exam stress – the number keeps growing annually.  The anxiety is so high that students have been known to jump off the Ghandi Bridge rather than face their parents with a B- after taking the IIT-JEE exam, considered by many the most challenging test in the world.

Whether it is the IIT_JEE, gao kao, SAT, GRE, SLEP,  ACT, to name just a few, the above paragraphs underscore the competitive pressures experienced by students, parents, and teachers.  It also illustrates the ethical lapse in judgment as we look to secure our child’s upward social mobility and financial security.

It’s easy to dismiss such actions as overreaching until one understands testing is a way of life in societies.  The implications of the test results impact your social standing for the rest of your life in some cultures.  They determine the next CJEP, college, university, or post-graduate degree.  And, like many parents, you will be right in the thick of it.  That is if you have not committed to an asylum by then.

Speaking of asylum, few realize the origin of testing stems from studies conducted in asylums.  But we can discuss that some other time. 

Rest assured that the pressures are real.  Some students commit suicide after receiving their results from the grueling 2-day gao kao news that they had failed the infamous Gaokko exam.  Some years Indian students commit suicide because they think the IIT JEE exam, the most difficult test in the world according to some.  The exam contributed to 93% of all suicides.

Testing has become a way of life.  Without taking a test, one cannot become a librarian, naval officer, travel agent, realtor, golf instructor, barber, or beautician.  Chances are this test will come from Educational Testing Service (ETS), a company with over a billion dollars is revenue, operating in 180 countries and having 9,000 locations.

This behemoth operation contributes to testing as the reality of life.

What’s a parent to do?  If you can’t beat them, join them.  Intuitively, parents have understood that the assistance given to their children has merit.  Instill good study habits, create a supportive environment, and provide additional materials and resources, and online practice, including test preparation courses.

Parents need to be positive and build their confidence, as a positive attitude towards testing can significantly impact their performance.