Test Anxiety

Running head : ANXIETY

Test Anxiety : An Extreme Response to an Academic Stressor

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Test Anxiety : An Extreme Response to an Academic Stimulus

Stressed out ? Feeling anxious ? Worried about the final exam ? It comes as no surprise that students , especially those facing midterm or final exams , would probably answer yes to these few questions . However , the levels of stress induced by tests can escalate and last so long that they produce crippling anxiety for some individuals . Such powerful stress responses to tests can leave students with

detrimental grades and low self confidence . The students receive poor grades even though they have studied hard and are familiar with the material they are being tested on . How exactly does this happen ? Most students feel some degree of nervousness before a test , but do not have such a strong reaction This essay will thus look at the various causes and effects of test anxiety , as well as some of the techniques available to overcome such obstacles

Stress occurs in a series of stages . The first stage happens when the body reacts to an external stimulus , or stressor , that is perceived as threatening . In the case of test anxiety , the test itself becomes the stressor . While a piece of and questions about study material may not seem intrinsically threatening at first glance , the consequences of failing said test can induce a great deal of worry . As Greenberg (2002 mentions , such symbolic stressors hold threats to an individual 's loss of status , threats to self esteem , [creates a sense of] work overload . Students with test anxiety will start to wonder and agonize over what types of questions will be on the test , whether or not they are studying the right material or just trying to memorize unimportant details

Similarly , stress turns into anxiety when the state of biological arousal remains for an extended period of time and results with an unrealistic fear response accompanied by behavioral symptoms of trying to avoid or escape a situation (Greenberg , 2002 . The Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence states that specific symptoms of test anxiety include rapid heartbeat , dry mouth , sweating , stomach ache dizziness , and desire to urinate (Gale Research , 1998 . These symptoms come as a result of the body 's flight or fight ' response , which prepares an individual to either stand ground and face a threat or turn and run from the problem

In a brief summary , the biological response to a test occurs as the stressor is cognitively appraised in the person 's mind as a potential threat . Understanding the exam as a threat the cerebral cortex releaseas neurotransmitters so that hormones and adrenaline are then released into the body . The adrenaline speeds up the heart , and heavier breathing comes from increase in dialation of bronchial tubes which feel greater need for oxygen consumption . Also the thyroid gland secretes thyroxin This paricular substance increases gastrointestinal motility , which can result in stomach ache or diarrhea . The gastrointestinal system is affected too ,with a decrease in...