Successful Student Series Step 1 – Overcome Test Anxiety

Overcome Test Anxiety!

Welcome to the first in our Student Success series, focused on how to quickly help students and test takers improve grades and exam scores.

The first essential skill to learn is how to keep your cool during class, while studying, and on the all-important exam. No small challenge if you are one of the many students that suffer from test anxiety.

Let’s have a look at the facts, as reported by some of the leading experts and researchers on test anxiety and academic performance…

Over 60% of students have test taking anxiety!

In a 2007 study performed by Bradley, a well-known expert on the subject, sixty-one percent of all students reported being affected by test anxiety, with twenty-six percent experiencing high levels of test anxiety often or most of the time (Bradley et al., 2007, p xii).

Test Anxiety can definitely hurt your test scores and grades!

Numerous studies have shown that the higher the anxiety, the harder it is to learn and remember information (Zeidner, 1998, p. 215). Sure, a little bit of stress can actually help get your attention and motivation to study, but if you have testing or academic anxiety, you know the fears and apprehensions are definitely more than just “a little bit of stress,” and can be detrimental to your efforts.

Learning specific skills can often quickly help you overcome test anxiety and improve academic performance.

For those a little more scientifically minded, here is a quote from an exhaustive study of anxiety and student performance titled “Test Anxiety, The State of the Art,” by Moshe Zeidner:

“Meta-analytic data indicate that CBM (cognitive behavioral methods) raises test performance, on average, by about half a standard deviation (d = .52) in school-aged samples, and elevates grade point average by close to three quarters of a standard deviation (d = .72) in postsecondary students” (Zeidner, 1998, p. 377).

In layman terms, Zeidner explains the effectiveness of “cognitive behavioral skills” in improving test-taking and study performance. These skills are a key part of our online program – www.wisdomoflearning.com. And yes, the progress described could make the difference in getting admitted to the school you want or the major you love.

Don’t wait!

If fear is holding you back and hurting your grades and scores – you are not alone and you can get help! We created Wisdom Of Learning to help students like you quickly improve academic performance with proven  skills, taught online, in an easily accessible multi-media  format.

Take a look at our free evaluation to see if WisdomOfLearning can help you (or someone you care about) improve grades and test scores. Or, take a tour of our online program by clicking here.

REFERENCES

Bradley, R. T., McCraty, R., Atkinson, M., Arguelles, L., Rees, R. A., & Tomasino, D. (2007). Reducing test anxiety and improving test performance in America’s schools (p. xii). Retrieved from http://www.heartmath.org/templates/ihm/section_includes/education/pdf/tends_report.pdf

Zeidner, M. (1998). Test anxiety: The state of the art. New York: Plenum Press (pp. 215, 377, 383, 384).