Stress Isn’t Always the Enemy – A Real Talk About LANTITE Numeracy

Written By Barbara Pupiec

Preparing for the LANTITE Numeracy test can feel overwhelming — especially if maths has never been your strong area.

Many students tell me:

  • “Maths just isn’t my thing.”

  • “I get too stressed, so I avoid it.”

  • “I’ll start when I feel more confident.”

But here’s something important:

Not all stress is bad.

In fact, a certain level of stress is necessary for growth.

Teaching Is Not a Stress-Free Career

As future teachers, you will:

  • Manage full classrooms

  • Deal with behaviour challenges

  • Meet curriculum deadlines

  • Communicate with parents

  • Adapt under pressure

Teaching is rewarding — but it is not stress-free.

Learning how to manage pressure now, during LANTITE preparation, is part of becoming a resilient professional.

Avoiding stress does not build confidence.
Facing manageable challenges does.

The Real Issue: Avoidance

There’s a big difference between:

✔ Healthy pressure that motivates preparation
❌ Avoidance disguised as “I’m not ready yet”

If maths feels uncomfortable, that’s exactly why you need to start early.

Delaying preparation might feel easier in the short term — but it increases anxiety as the test window approaches.

Preparation reduces stress.
Avoidance multiplies it.

If Maths Is Your Weak Area — Start Early

The LANTITE Numeracy test assesses:

  • Percentages

  • Ratios and proportional reasoning

  • Graph interpretation

  • Unit conversions

  • Financial maths

  • Basic algebra

It’s Year 9 level maths — but applied and under time pressure.

If you haven’t studied maths in years, it will feel unfamiliar at first. That’s normal.

But that’s also why starting early is essential.

You need time to:

  • Rebuild foundations

  • Improve speed

  • Practise under timed conditions

  • Develop exam strategy

Confidence is built gradually — not in the final week.

Growth Requires Discomfort

You don’t build confidence by staying in your comfort zone.

You build it by:

  • Attempting questions that challenge you

  • Getting some wrong

  • Learning from mistakes

  • Practising consistently

That manageable discomfort during preparation builds resilience.

And resilience is exactly what you’ll need — both for LANTITE and for your future classroom.

The Honest Truth

If maths isn’t your strength, give yourself more time — not more excuses.

Start early.
Work consistently.
Accept that some stress is part of growth.

Facing it now will make you stronger later — not just for LANTITE, but for your teaching career.

Barbara Pupiec
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🌟 LANTITE Numeracy Intensive Course Starting 25th March