Test Anxiety

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Test Anxiety

• By Christina Houser

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Definition

• Test Anxiety A continuum of responses ranging
  from a queasy feeling at the start of the test to
  an incapacitating phobia.
• Also known as evaluation anxiety.

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Components of Test Anxiety

• Worry The cognitive component that focuses on
  failure.
• Emotionality The affective component that
  produces some of the adverse physiological
  responses associated with test anxiety.
• Examples Cold sweats, rise in heart rate, and
  upset stomach

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Models

• The effect of test anxiety on performance is due
  to cognitive interference.

• States that test anxiety has a cumulative effect
  that begins with the studying of the material and
  the prior fear of the testing situation.

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Models (cont.)

• These models show that students are fearful of
  the test beforehand and therefore they do not
  fully learn the material.
• When it comes time to take the test, students
  have poor performance because of the cumulative
  fear and the corresponding poor study habits.

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Research

• Research indicates that, to some degree, people
  who have higher levels of general anxiety or
  trait anxiety tend to also have a high level of
  test anxiety.
• This research suggests that general anxiety and
  test anxiety may be linked in some way.

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Research (cont.)

• Some other factors that also appear to be related
  to test anxiety, include self-efficacy about the
  subject, the type of test situation, and gender.

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Research (cont.)

• If a student has a negative self-efficacy about a
  course or subject, they tend to have more test
  anxiety.
• The relationship between self-efficacy and test
  anxiety indicates that other variables can play a
  role as well
• Self-esteem
• Type of attributions

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Research (cont.)

• Low academic self-esteem and external
  attributions about success may predict test
  anxiety.
• The most common type of test situation to trigger
  anxiety is a timed test.
• Women tend to have higher levels of test anxiety
  than men.

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Methods for Reducing Test Anxiety

• Legitimize Anxiety It is ok to be anxious.
  Express and reflect on your anxiety.
• Deal with Expectations Know what is expected of
  you. This helps reduce the fear.
• Relaxation Training Paired with Imagery
  Techniques Desensitizing techniques can also
  help with reduction of test anxiety.

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Methods for Reducing Test Anxiety (cont.)

• Rational Cognitive Scripts Talk about your fears
  and help yourself or someone else to make it a
  positive experience.
• Time Management Use buddy systems to help manage
  study time together.
• Exam Sessions If possible wait until relaxed to
  start the test.

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Conclusion

• As future teachers, we need to make sure to
  minimize test anxiety as much as possible. Be
  positive about tests and quizzes and DO NOT make
  one test grade worth the entire semester grade.

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The End
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Reference

• Banks, Steven R. (2005). Classroom Assessment
  Issues and Practices. Boston Pearson.