Test Anxiety

Test anxiety is a state of intense worry, fear, or stress experienced in an exam or evaluation situation. The child or adolescent thinks that they will not be able to do what is expected of them during the exam and will not be able to solve the problem they encounter. These thoughts cause their attention to be distracted. Worldwide, it is reported that test anxiety exists at rates varying between 10-40% in school-age children. Genetic predisposition, temperamental characteristics such as behavioral inhibition, perfectionism, fear of failure, catastrophizing, low self-efficacy, past failure experiences, presence of anxiety disorder history in the family, high parental expectations, overly critical and overprotective parenting style, and school environment that places excessive emphasis on academic success are effective risk factors in the emergence of test anxiety.

We can observe symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, mind going blank, repeated negative thoughts such as “I won’t succeed,” “everyone is better than me,” difficulty recalling information, heart palpitations, sweating, trembling, nausea, headache, dizziness, rapid breathing, decreased appetite, sleep problems, and muscle tension. Other symptoms include restlessness before and during the exam, not wanting to go to school, not wanting to take the exam, procrastination, excessive preparation or not preparing at all, excessive worry, feelings of panic, helplessness, anger outbursts, and crying spells.

The most effective treatment method is psychotherapy. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is the type of therapy with the highest level of effectiveness in test anxiety among psychotherapies. It focuses on recognizing and restructuring negative automatic thoughts, reducing catastrophizing, and setting realistic goals. Other effective methods include relaxation techniques, systematic desensitization, mindfulness, and acceptance-based approaches. In severe cases that seriously impair functioning and in situations that do not respond to psychotherapy, medication treatment may be added. Among medications, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the first choice. Additionally, psychoeducation should be provided to both the family and the child about the nature, symptoms, and coping methods of test anxiety.