Understanding Test Anxiety: Symptoms, Causes & Coping Strategies

Test anxiety is being so anxious and stressed about taking an exam that it leads to a poor performance and interferes with learning. While slight anxiety before an exam is normal, too much anxiety can cause a "crash and burn" scenario at test time. The grades students with test anxiety receive may not accurately reflect their knowledge or ability.

Causes

• Causes of test anxiety include having a poor test history, bad experiences taking tests and a fear of failure. It can also be caused by not studying for the test or waiting until the last minute to study.

Physical

• Physical symptoms of test anxiety include a rapid heartbeat, being nauseous and light headed, heavy sweating, dry mouth, headaches, diarrhea and fainting.

Emotional

• Feeling helpless, depressed, angry and disappointed are all emotional symptoms of test anxiety. Other emotional symptoms include being fearful and laughing or crying uncontrollably.

Behavioral

• Behavioral symptoms of test anxiety include pacing and fidgeting, and the more serious and dangerous symptom of substance abuse.

Cognitive

• Difficulty concentrating, difficulty organizing thoughts and racing thoughts are cognitive symptoms of test anxiety. Other cognitive symptoms include having feelings of dread and talking negatively about oneself.