Test anxiety is when a person experiences feelings of worry, stress, and pressure during a test or a performance. It is completely normal to feel a bit nervous before a test, but too much anxiety can limit a person’s ability to perform by causing them physical and emotional pain such as nausea, headaches, and/or stomachaches.
Test anxiety is caused by multiple factors such as general anxiety, poor study habits, and fear of failure. Test anxiety can happen to anyone, especially to those who are placed in a competitive learning environment. The majority of students who suffer from test anxiety are considered “perfectionists”. They feel the need to achieve high marks on their tests because they set an impractically high standard for themselves and rarely accept any mistakes. However, students who have poor test records and study habits can also experience test anxiety. These groups both experience the pressure to do well on a test as they receive high expectations from their teachers, friends, and parents.
Test anxiety can be reduced and controlled if the person learns how to develop more reasonable study and sleeping habits, as well as a more positive mindset. Students can do this by asking for help from their friends and teachers to help them study for their next tests. They can also develop study plans, study guides, and quizzes to review all the learning materials in an organized structure. All students should be encouraged to sleep for at least 8 hours before a test. Please keep in mind that grades do not define a person, a test is only a test. At the end of the day, what matters the most is the effort that you put in and what you learned from your mistakes.
Bibliography:
“Test Anxiety - Learning Center.” Learning Center, 2016, learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/tackling-test-anxiety/.
“Causes of Test Anxiety | School of Medicine.” Medicine.llu.edu, medicine.llu.edu/academics/resources/causes-test-anxiety.
Published December 2, 2021
Written by Angel Tran ~ Edited by Trisha Shukla ~ Graphics created by Denzel Gonzalvo
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