5 Reasons Students Get Test Anxiety
Test anxiety is a pervasive issue that many students face, impacting their ability to perform at their full potential during exams. At LearningRx, we understand the importance of addressing the root causes of test anxiety to unlock a student’s true learning potential. In this blog post, we’ll explore five common reasons why students experience test anxiety and provide insights into how cognitive training may be a valuable tool in overcoming these challenges.
1. Just knowing the content, not being able to apply it
One of the leading causes of test anxiety is the gap between knowing the content and being able to apply it effectively. Students may grasp concepts during studying but struggle to transfer that knowledge to real-world scenarios or exam questions.
This is a big gap that we see often in studying skills. Students “review their notes,” and in so doing, they “know” the concepts. However, they haven’t mastered it in many cases because they have simply memorized it instead of understanding it.
What to do about it: Focus on active studying techniques that require you to manipulate the information that you’re learning. This can include creating a practice test for yourself so you can think through different ways of using the content!
2. Slow processing speed
Slow processing speed can significantly contribute to test anxiety, especially in timed exams. Students who struggle to process information quickly may find themselves unable to complete the test within the allocated time, leading to stress and suboptimal performance.
You may think that the logical conclusion would be to give the student more time. While this will help them in the short-term, accommodations like this often do not carry over into post-school occupations, setting them up to continue to struggle.
What to do about it: Instead of just accommodating a slower processing speed by giving more time, you can train this skill so the brain can work faster. Cognitive training exercises targeting processing speed can help improve the brain’s efficiency, enabling students to process information more rapidly and perform better in time-sensitive situations.
Read more: Signs of Slow Processing Speed + How to Think Faster >>
3. Poor working memory or attention
Students with poor working memory or attention issues may struggle to concentrate during exams, leading to difficulty recalling information or maintaining focus throughout the test. This often looks like:
- Having to re-read the question several times because you forgot what it says
- Struggling with multiple choice tests
- Getting easily distracted by other things going on around you
- Struggling to get started again after being distracted
- Asking for repeated instructions
- Losing your place or skipping around, meaning you often miss important things
What to do about it: Working memory and attention are critical skills for life. These are automatic processing skills that everything we perceive has to go through, so we want them to be as strong as possible. Being distractible or struggling to hold onto information long enough to use it can be extremely challenging for students of all ages, but brain training has been a helpful tool for many individuals to overcome these struggles.
4. Perfectionism or a fear of failure
The fear of failure or perfectionist tendencies can create a toxic cycle of anxiety that hinders a student’s ability to perform optimally in exams. Your student may know the content inside and out yet still struggle on test day because of this inner battle they’re fighting.
What to do about it: It’s important to address these issues by promoting a growth mindset, fostering resilience, and helping students develop a healthier perspective on success and failure. By shifting the focus from fear to growth, students can approach exams with greater confidence and reduced anxiety.
5. Weak reading and comprehension skills
Test anxiety can also stem from weaknesses in reading and comprehension skills, making it challenging for students to understand and respond to test questions effectively. Reading is important for all areas of learning (especially tests), so if your child continues to fall behind, it’s important to dig deeper and find out why.
What to do about it: Not all reading struggles are created equal. It’s important to dig into your student’s unique cognitive profile to find out where their mental hangup may be. LearningRx offers programs that specifically target reading and comprehension skills, enhancing a student’s ability to process written information accurately and efficiently to ultimately boost their confidence in exam situations.
