Test Anxiety A Drag on Performance

Anxiety can account for

A 12% deviation in scores

Affecting over 40% of all students

Test Anxiety

Some anxiety is normal during testing situations.

Excessive anxiety is when it affects test performance —before, during, and after testing.

Previous estimates of TA of 20% - 30% of school-aged students is now higher as

recent years have yielded tests with even higher stakes for students, teachers, and administrators.

Test Anxiety (TA)TA is part of “evaluation” or “performance” anxiety.

Previous research suggests that TA begins in 3rd/4th grades, but now it’s likely to start earlier by 2nd grade and can continue throughout life.

As testing become more and more “high stakes” for adults, students with TA will be more affected.

Without interventions, many students do not overcome TA even as adults.

But…intervention will make a difference (especially in elementary school as testing habits and attitudes are formed)!

Some Common Reasons for Test Anxiety

(Even with Preparation)

Students become anxious at the thought oftaking a test and convince themselvesthat they will fail (low self-efficacy).

They panic because the questions on the test don't look reasonably close to what was studied in class or at home.

It may be due to negative test taking experience, a negative attitude about testing, or a combination.

Students become more anxious due to anxiety of teachers and parents.

These common reasons are exaggerated in students with special needs who may lack confidence and skills: poor readers, under developed motor skills, etc.

A Word About Self-Efficacy

Self-efficacy is commonly defined as the belief in one's capabilities to achieve a goal or an outcome. I.e. If you think you are not going to be successful OR if you think you’ll likely fail at something that would affect your engagement and effort of an activity.

It’s important to raise students’ efficacy.

It’s possible because self-efficacy is a perception!

Understanding Test AnxietyCognitive Aspects

WORRYExcessive thinking about upcoming test

Concerns about consequences of failure

Worry that own ability is inadequate

SELF-PREOCCUPATIONSelf talk becomes self-focused instead of task oriented

Believes one has fewer positive self attributes

Understanding Test Anxiety

The ExperienceMIND INERFERENCEStudents get caught up in thoughts that serve no purpose and interfere with processing information (e.g., spending 60% of mental energy on test, and 40% on other thoughts)

Students obsess about the time left on test

Inability to leave unsolved test items

Understanding Test AnxietyEmotionality Aspects

PHYSIOLOGICAL REACTIONSPhysical responses include

Increased heart rateSweaty palmsShakingNeeding to urinateCold clammy hands

Minimal signs can trigger more intense reactions

TA works at 3 levels

Study or Preparation levelTA affects effective & efficient use of time/strategies and overall processing of information

Test taking levelTA interferes with retrieval of

information and usage of available mental energy

After testing levelLeaves student feeling deflated and uncertain and affects future endeavors

The Working Memoryand Test Anxiety

Working memory refers to a brain system that provides temporary storage and manipulation of the information necessary for such complex cognitive tasks as language comprehension, learning, and reasoning.

It is also involved with anxiety.

There is limited bandwidth.

Self-TalkAnd Test Anxiety

Self-Talk is a pattern of thinking that manifests itself in what we say to ourselves in our own minds.

This steady stream of words can be positive or negative.

What we say to ourselves determines how we view each experience and the world.

The voice that is developed in elementary school can affect beliefs and achievements for a lifetime.

Teacher Contribution to TA

Over-emphasis on competition

Significant emphasis placed on ranking of students

Unconscious connection of test results with students’ self-worth

Public display of test results

In this era, constant talk about test and its impact

Teacher’s own anxiety

Praise test results - not the effort in preparation and doing one’s best

Parent Contribution to TA

(Unrealistic) high expectation

Low support for positive achievement

Constant emphasis on high performance

Comparison of child’s performance with others

Modeling from own anxiety

Student Contribution to TA

Being unpreparedPoor study and test-taking skills

Procrastination and delays in getting ready

Previous negative experiences build on themselves

“Performance Goal” orientation – pressure to reach a specific level or score

Helping Students

Cognitive InterventionsCognitive-Behavioral Modification (self-talk)

Attentional Training

Emotionality InterventionsRelaxation Techniques

Systematic Desensitization

Anxiety Management Training

The Mooloos Test Day

The Mooloos Test Day is a full curriculum of activities, stories, and games designed to eliminate TA in elementary students.

It supports good testing habits and attitudes that will last a life time.

It builds confidence and self esteem.

It helps every student perform to his or her personal best.

The Mooloos Test Day Movie

This story sets the stage. It helps students identify test anxiety and understand what it is.

They discover what can be done to overcome these feelings.

The story personifies anxiety, making it easier for young students to focus corrective behaviors and eliminate anxious feelings.

The Little Bird Sang

This four-minute story video makes students aware of self-talk and how important it is.

The story gives them a frame of reference, showing the results of good and bad self-talk.

The activities allow the teacher to integrate positive self-talk into every day class activities.

You Be A Test Maker

Students read and listen to stories. Afterwards they become test makers using the Mooloos test builder program to create and print out tests they can give to their study partners. Students are always taking test but seldom, if ever, get to make a test.

Count Down To Game Day

Students create a 10-day count down to an important test by building a personalized schedule to include bed time, positive self-talk, nutrition, reading practice, and exercise.

Animated Test Games

•Students play animated games that are fun and at the same time reinforce tests as games and test preparation knowledge. These types of games assist students with attention, sensory integration, and visual processing.

• Research recognizes the value of games as a source of cognitive development. Gaming can exercise the mind the way physical activity exercises the body.

4th - 5th Grade Readers Theater

The 4th and/or 5th grade present a play to the second and third grade students. The play features great test takers and their success tips.

Mooloos Test Day Music

The Mooloos Test Day songs are easy and fun to sing. They support good test taking attitudes and behaviors.

WARNING: They can become habit forming!

Final Comments

Test Anxiety will not go away, especially nowadays!

We each have a part in helping students overcome test anxiety and teaching every student how to do his or her best especially when under stress.

Combination of cognitive, emotional, and skill focused programs work best.

In this era of high-stake testing, TA programs should be integrated into the school culture.

ReferencesErgene, T., (2003). Effective interventions on test anxiety reduction.

School Psychology International, 24(3), 313-329.

Stipek, D., (2002). Motivation to Learn. Integrating Theory and Practice (4th ed.).Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

Supon, V., (2004). Implementing strategies to assist test-anxious students. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 31(4), 292-297

Some slides were modified from:

Julie Vidal, Presentation as SP intern, El Segundo SD.

Stephanie Domzalski, Debbie Glezer, Diane Huynh, Jennifer Walsh. 2nd Year SP Cohort. Presentation at 05 CASP convention.

Brian P. Leung, Ph.D, presentation School Psychology Program Loyola Marymount University