How Common Is Test Anxiety In Students?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Test statistics

Anxiety disorders affect an

estimated 25 percent of 13- to 18-year-olds

. Untreated childhood anxiety can cause children to perform poorly in school and on tests. According to a 2010 study, text anxiety can affect anywhere between 10 to 40 percent of all students.

What is student test anxiety?

Test anxiety is

a combination of physical symptoms and emotional reactions that interfere with your ability to perform well on tests

. Many students experience varying levels of test anxiety for a number of difference reasons.

Why do students experience test anxiety?

For many students, it can be a combination of things.

Poor study habits, poor past test performance, and an underlying anxiety problem

can all contribute to test anxiety. Fear of failure: If you connect your sense of self-worth to your test scores, the pressure you put on yourself can cause severe test anxiety.

How do students experience anxiety?

4.3 Emotional symptoms

Some students who suffer from anxiety experience

painful emotional symptoms

such as depression, sadness, nervousness, anger, and loneliness. Students may feel unhappy about coming to a university or become very nervous around people, such as friends and peers.

How does test anxiety affect learning?

Test anxiety doesn't just affect students during their test; test anxiety can also affect

students as they prepare for the exam

. This can cause poor understanding and association of content, which inhibit the student's ability to recall information.

Is test anxiety a mental illness?

To be covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, test anxiety must pass two legal tests. First,

it must be a “mental impairment

.” As a form of Social Phobia, a mental disorder included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, it meets this first test.

How do you fix test anxiety?

  1. Learn how to study efficiently. …
  2. Study early and in similar places. …
  3. Establish a consistent pretest routine. …
  4. Talk to your teacher. …
  5. Learn relaxation techniques. …
  6. Don't forget to eat and drink. …
  7. Get some exercise. …
  8. Get plenty of sleep.

What causes test anxiety?


Poor study habits, poor past test performance, and an underlying anxiety problem

can all contribute to test anxiety. Fear of failure: If you connect your sense of self-worth to your test scores, the pressure you put on yourself can cause severe test anxiety.

What is bad anxiety?

They're a group of mental illnesses that

cause constant and overwhelming anxiety and fear

. The excessive anxiety can make you avoid work, school, family get-togethers, and other social situations that might trigger or worsen your symptoms. With treatment, many people with anxiety disorders can manage their feelings.

How can I control my worrying thoughts?

  1. Create a “worry period.” Choose a set time and place for worrying. …
  2. Write down your worries. …
  3. Go over your “worry list” during the worry period.

What does anxiety look like in the classroom?

Anxious students may express their

fears by crying or throwing tantrums

, and it may be very difficult for them to calm down. Some students may seek constant approval or reassurance from others. Students may describe feeling physical symptoms, like headaches, stomachaches, racing heartbeat, or difficulty breathing.

What percentage of students suffer from anxiety?

Anxiety is the top presenting concern among college students (

41.6 percent

), followed by depression (36.4 percent) and relationship problems (35.8 percent).

How do I know if my students have anxiety?

  1. Emotional Changes. When a student is experiencing anxiety, it is common for them to constantly feel on edge and uneasy. …
  2. Social Changes. …
  3. Physical Changes. …
  4. Sleep Disturbance. …
  5. Poor School Performance. …
  6. Panic Attacks. …
  7. School Refusal. …
  8. Tantrums.

How do tests affect students?


Standardized test scores

are often tied to important outcomes, such as graduation and school funding. Such high-stakes testing can place undue stress on students and affect their performance. Standardized tests fail to account for students who learn and demonstrate academic proficiency in different ways.

What are the impacts of test anxiety?

Test anxiety

can interfere with the students' ability to perform adequately and prevent students from demonstrating their knowledge on examinations

. Some students have the skills and knowledge to do very well in testing situations, but their excessive anxiety impairs their performance.

Does anxiety cause lower grades?

Anxiety and depression negatively influence academic progress and encourage under-achievement. Students with a high level of

anxiety score lower on IQ and achievement tests

than their peers.

Leah Jackson
Author
Leah Jackson
Leah is a relationship coach with over 10 years of experience working with couples and individuals to improve their relationships. She holds a degree in psychology and has trained with leading relationship experts such as John Gottman and Esther Perel. Leah is passionate about helping people build strong, healthy relationships and providing practical advice to overcome common relationship challenges.