Anxiety and Test Anxiety Effects on Learning and Testing: Instructional Solutions

Paul Nolting, State College of Florida

Paul Nolting, State College of Florida


Students are exhibiting more anxiety and test anxiety, not just in math, that affects their ability to attend class, take notes, complete homework, and demonstrate exam knowledge. High anxiety negatively affects working memory used during learning and testing. Anxiety causes are also bidirectional; some students may have a General Anxiety Disorder. Solutions being discussed and demonstrated include research, promoting self-efficacy, discussing anxiety facts, decreasing anxiety, short-term relaxation techniques, test-taking and test analysis strategies, and collaboration with the disability/access office.