Test Anxiety

Question 1

What is an anxiety state?

Answer 1

Temporary feelings of anxiety triggered by specific events

Question 2

How much of the population suffer from test anxiety?

Answer 2

25-40%

Question 3

What are the effects of test anxiety on cognitive performance?

Answer 3

1. Deficits in information processing
2. Increase in emotional arousal
3. Moderately negative correlation between test anxiety and academic measures

Question 4

What are the effects of test anxiety on mental health and wellbeing?

Answer 4

1. More negative self-perception
2. Low subjective wellbeing
3. Risk factor for more severe forms of anxiety

Question 5

What are moderating features of test anxiety ?
(they increase the negative relationship between test anxiety and performance)

Answer 5

Evaluative settings
Speeded timed conditions
Negative feedback
Difficulty of task

Question 6

What helps eleviate the negative relationship between test anxiety and perfomance?

Answer 6

Structured setting
Social support
Provision of reassurance

Question 7

What ar the two personal factors in test anxiety?

Answer 7

1. Biological predisposition
2. Primary socialisation

Question 8

What are the situational factors in test anxiety?

Answer 8

Social reference group
Group reference norms
Competitive environment
Percieved control

Question 9

Primary socialisation - what can affect test anxiety?

Answer 9

Negative parental control/parenting style
Parental/adversiveness/lack of warmth

Question 10

Group reference norms

Answer 10

Being compared to others has a negative impact on student’s motivation and self-perception

Question 11

Individual refernece norms - what is it and is it better than group reference norms?

Answer 11

Yes its better. Where an individual’s performance is compared to own past performance - highlighting progress and room for improvement

Question 12

Test anxiety effects on test performance

Answer 12

1. Intrusive thoughts
2. Failure to retrieve info
3. Distractibility
4. Biased judgement of test difficulty