Hi all,
This is my first time posting here. I’ve found this sub really helpful, especially as I’m only in my second year as a professor.
I’m looking for guidance on a situation with a student. We are finishing finals, and I have one student who has attended every office hour and review session. In those settings, they consistently show a strong understanding of the material and can execute it well.
However, they have demonstrated severe testing anxiety. During exams, they visibly sweat, their hands shake, and they panic and run out of time. This has happened on the last three exams. Since exams are heavily weighted, they are currently not passing.
I’ve spoken with the student and learned they have significant stress at home, which likely contributes to the anxiety. I’ve shared strategies to manage it and tried to help them get accommodations such as extended time or a quiet testing space, but the university denied the request due to lack of documented disability. The student is trying the strategies, but it’s still affecting their performance.
I really do not want to fail this student. I’ve discussed this with colleagues, but most have dismissed the situation, saying they’ve seen it before and that students are often just looking for exceptions. That doesn’t feel accurate here. This student is engaged, works hard, and performs well outside of exams. Even on exams, their work is often correct, but they do not finish due to oncoming panic.
I’m conflicted because I want to be fair to the rest of the class and not offer something to one student that others don’t receive, but this situation feels different.
Has anyone dealt with something like this? I would appreciate any advice on how to handle it.