Test anxiety

Stephanie Bemboom, California State University, Monterey Bay

Capstone Project (B.A.) Liberal Studies Department

Abstract

Many children suffer from severe test anxiety that inhibits their performance throughout many years of their education. Personal and parental pressures, a bad testing experience, as well as high-stake testing formats are just some of the causes of student anxiety. We looked at anxiety on two levels: student stresses and teacher prevention. To help students cope with their anxiety, we made a flipbook of fun and engaging physical and mental activities that help lower student stress levels before a test. We interviewed students about their stresses to see if the activities we implemented helped to calm student stresses. We then compiled the information into a pamphlet to provide to teachers for further use in their classrooms. The pamphlet held the findings of our activities, research on alternate test forms and the benefit of immediate feedback. Our goal is to help students feel more confident about taking tests and to help teachers better understand test anxiety.