What is test anxiety?
Among UK students, exam stress is widespread, especially for those with anxiety, ADHD, or learning disabilities. Apprehensions about performance amplify the likelihood of anxiety. Research suggests that heightened test anxiety correlates with poorer exam performance, affecting cognitive processes like working memory capacity.
The repercussions of test anxiety are profound, impacting concentration, fostering worry, and encouraging procrastination. This issue is pertinent, given the importance of exams like GCSEs in the UK. A recent study found that 16.4% of 14-16-year-olds considered themselves highly test anxious. Causes include generalised anxiety disorder, fear of failure, and a history of poor test-taking. Understanding and addressing these issues is crucial for students navigating academic assessments. The good news there are many strategies to reduce test anxiety.
100,000 students face heightened levels of test anxiety every year.
Test anxiety hinders the initial acquisition of knowledge.
What causes it?
Are there internal and external influences? Is it more likely to appear in men/women, certain age groups, backgrounds, demographics? How do the people around someone make a difference?
When it comes to test anxiety, various factors contribute to heightened stress, including school pressure, personal expectations, and learning challenges. As a student, anxiety may arise from issues like ADHD or time constraints during tests. Concerns about underperforming or meeting expectations from school, family, or friends can intensify this stress. Additionally, an anxious temperament, self-doubt, and negative thinking can elevate anxiety levels during exams. Recognising causes like generalised anxiety disorder, fear of failure, or a history of poor test-taking is crucial. Addressing these behavioural, biological, or psychological aspects is essential for managing and alleviating test anxiety. Notably, female students reported a significantly higher proportion at 22.5%, compared to male students at 10.3%.
What are the symptoms & effects?
Recognising signs of exam stress in you or your child can be challenging, as they may hesitate to discuss their stressors. If dealing with anxiety and stress related to exams and schoolwork, they might express physical health complaints, experience disruptions in sleep or eating habits, and show mood changes like tearfulness, anger, or withdrawal. You may notice a reluctance to attend school or discuss tests, along with excessive work investment or avoidance. Heightened self-criticism, particularly regarding mistakes, could be evident, and there may be an obsessive approach to their work, with an unwillingness or inability to take breaks.
Our Test Anxiety Specialists
Benn Baker-Pollard
Sittingbourne
Carmen Harrington
Market Harborough
Caroline Prout
Thrapston
Chris Johannes
Spalding
Claire Noyelle
Maidstone East
Dawn Ibbetson
Chelmsford
Gary Johannes
Peterborough
Jill Whitehouse
Newcastle upon Tyne
Keeley Smith
Southend-on-Sea
Kerry Seymour
Weston-super-Mare
Peter Ely
Islington
Victoria Anderson
Sunderland
Why Choose Inspired To Change
Our solution focused hypnotherapists empower you to better understand your brain, helping to guide you towards solutions and achieve the outcomes you want. We have a team of fully trained hypnotherapists, giving you the choice of who to work with and how you want to work with them. Solution focused hypnotherapy is just as effective in-person or online in the comfort of your own home, so you can find the ideal therapist to help you reach your goals.
Every one of our hypnotherapists is recognised by governing bodies like the National Council for Hypnotherapy, the UK’s leading not-for-profit hypnotherapy professional association. They have all trained with Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy Training, one of the leading hypnotherapy schools in the UK.
