The Negative Effects Of Testing Anxiety

Many students hate the thought of taking a test. They set their self-up for failure when they tell themselves that they are not going to pass the test because they hate taking test. This starts in elementary schools when they are forced to take standardize test and told that if they do not pass the test then they are not going to be able to go to the next grade. It then leads to test anxiety and stress in middle school and high school students when they learn that finals are a big part of their grade and that they need to do well or they won’t pass. Studies have shown that “between two and three children in typical classrooms, or approximately 10% of children, are highly test-anxious.” (Segool, Natasha K) Although testing is required in the …show more content…
“It has been estimated that 25–40% of the U.S. population suffers from test anxiety “(Gibson, Heather A). Test anxiety has a negative effect on many students, studies have shown that “testing anxiety is related to reductions in academic performance as indicated by grade point average and final course grades.”(Salend, Spencer J) Student who have test anxiety show symptoms of headaches, rapid heartbeats, fear, anger , disappointment and have trouble concentrating and sometimes think negatively of themselves. Students also develop test anxiety due to lack of preparation, “With more time testing and less time learning, Texas students are being short-changed. With testing activity now taking from 28 to 45 days each school year, testing is out of control.”(Save Texas Schools) Even when a student has prepared themselves for the test and they do badly they compare themselves to others claiming that they are not as smart as the other students. Testing anxiety can also lead to students cheating on test. Testing is supposed to test student’s ability to understand the curriculum being taught instead of causing stress on a …show more content…
Allotting students the time to take a test to be limited to only during the class period. Restricting to only a certain number of topics being covered would allow more time for students to take an exam, and they will not feel the urge to rush and guess on questions that seem more difficult. Students will be able to use all of their test taking skills and use them to their fullest potential. Cutting the test can lead to teachers having to take away more difficult problems or easier problems. If teachers decide to cut back on the difficult problems on a test students can become lazy and choose to only memorize what will be covered on the test. This will lead to students not learning and comprehending and just a game of memory. Cutting back on more difficult questions incorporated on a test could also lead to students choosing not to pay attention in class, a drop in student’s attendance, and they stop going the extra mile to do great in class. Cheating can also arise in the classroom because students stop trying to prepare for class. But if teachers increase the more difficult test questions students will find themselves right back to where they started. Or it can have a positive outcome and students choose to take advantage of all the resources provided for them to do well on the test. If teachers choose not to cut back on questions but they try to increase the amount of time given to take a test it can cause an infliction within