Tests can have a significant effect on students. On one hand, they can create a lot of stress and pressure, especially when we feel like our whole academic future is riding on them. On the other hand, tests are a valuable tool for assessing our knowledge and understanding of a subject. They can help identify areas where we need to improve and give us a chance to showcase what we’ve learned. It’s all about finding a balance and managing stress levels so that we can perform our best.
According to the 2019 New York Times article, “Helping Students With Test Anxiety,” the connection between test anxiety and poor performance is strongest in middle grades.
The article looked at a University of Florida study reviewing 30 years of test anxiety prior to 2018.
“The review showed that test anxiety is correlated with negative educational outcomes,” wrote the author, Perri Klass, M.D. “This correlation does not show cause and effect; children may do badly because they’re anxious, or may be anxious because they do badly. But one major worry is that it goes both ways, setting up a kind of cycle of anxiety and poor performance.”
Longfellow students stated several reasons they find tests stressful, but the most common was a kind of snowball effect.
“I get really nervous for tests because they reflect onto my grade, then to what college I get into, which determines my future,” said 7th grader Naomi P.
According to the 6 students we spoke with, the average level of anxiety experienced when testing was a 7, with students getting most nervous before and during the test. They also reported an average of about 2 tests or quizzes a week.
The NYT article cited research showing that one of the most successful ways to overcome students’ stress towards school and tests is studying. However, the students we talked to suggested that many students only study the night before tests.
The thinking here is that studying the night before will help students remember the things they need to know right before the test. However, this approach does not cement things in our long-term memory but relies instead on short-term memory. According to the YouTube video, “11 Secrets to Memorize Things Quicker Than Others,” people only remember 30% of the information they learned the day before unless they study repeatedly over time.
We also discovered that students find History tests easiest and math tests the hardest. They also prefer online tests as they can see their test scores right away, thus reducing continued anxiety once completed.
“School is definitely helpful for our future as we can’t get a job without knowing basic academics,” suggested 8th grader Jolyann M. “But tests just add stress and make it unenjoyable to come to school.
