What 20+ years of research can tell us about test anxiety

In addition to exploring the impacts of test anxiety, researchers investigated effective strategies for addressing it. They found that simple interventions could make a real difference, ultimately boosting working memory, arithmetic skills, and overall performance.

Some effective strategies identified include breathing exercises, guided relaxation, and yoga—all of which, when practised before tests, can help students remain calm. Furthermore, messages that focus on growth, effort, and mastery of skills are more beneficial than high-pressure statements that stress the importance of the test (e.g., “This test is crucial for your future”). Encouraging positive self-talk and helping students reframe negative thoughts also proved helpful in managing anxiety.

Interestingly, the researchers noted some gender-based differences in response to interventions. For instance, girls seem to benefit more from structured colouring activities, while boys appear to respond better to free colouring and guided breathing. This suggests that activities may require some experimentation, as they may provide varying degrees of relaxation for different individuals, resulting in distinct effects on test anxiety.

Notably, physical activity-based interventions are found to be less effective, possibly because young children are already quite active. Similarly, writing-based tasks show limited effectiveness, likely because students view these tasks as too similar to schoolwork.