2008 Woodie Awards
Test Anxiety Looms Large
Katherine Spitz
Issue date: 11/13/06 Section: Holt News
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For some college students, test anxiety is as predictable as the spring flowers blooming on campus. Not that these students would notice the flowers, or anything else, as they get ready for finals.
When University of Akron student Raj Nandi takes an exam, it becomes an all-encompassing experience.
"I'm antsy," said Nandi, 31, a University of Akron graduate student in business administration. "My wife stays away from me. And I have a little trouble sleeping."
No matter that Nandi completed a rigorous engineering undergraduate major, and has successfully taken test after test and has done well; he still gets nervous.
It is a problem that affects many students. As finals near, it is the busy season for those who provide counseling or academic support for college students who have trouble dealing with the stress of exams.
Common symptoms of test anxiety include: trouble sleeping or waking up in the night, worrying, having a rapid heartbeat, sweaty palms, or feelings of nausea, say experts and area students. Perhaps the most distressing symptom is completely blanking out during the test.
"Test anxiety comes up, more so than you would ever imagine," said William Hale, Ph.D., assistant director of the University Counseling Services at Case Western Reserve University.
Test anxiety occurs in various degrees. Not all anxiety is bad, because it can motivate a student to hunker down and study, experts said.
"A bit of that sharpens your attention and makes you more alert," said Ronnie Love, a reading and writing specialist at Kent State University's Academic Support Center. Love, who works with students of all skill levels, said many students who suffer from test anxiety feel that way because they simply have not put in the hours they need to master the material.
"It's justified anxiety," she said.
For those who feel anxious because they are not prepared, the answer is obvious: Prepare better.
However, Hale said the students he treats for test anxiety have almost always put in the study time, obviously know their stuff and still have problems.
When University of Akron student Raj Nandi takes an exam, it becomes an all-encompassing experience.
"I'm antsy," said Nandi, 31, a University of Akron graduate student in business administration. "My wife stays away from me. And I have a little trouble sleeping."
No matter that Nandi completed a rigorous engineering undergraduate major, and has successfully taken test after test and has done well; he still gets nervous.
It is a problem that affects many students. As finals near, it is the busy season for those who provide counseling or academic support for college students who have trouble dealing with the stress of exams.
Common symptoms of test anxiety include: trouble sleeping or waking up in the night, worrying, having a rapid heartbeat, sweaty palms, or feelings of nausea, say experts and area students. Perhaps the most distressing symptom is completely blanking out during the test.
"Test anxiety comes up, more so than you would ever imagine," said William Hale, Ph.D., assistant director of the University Counseling Services at Case Western Reserve University.
Test anxiety occurs in various degrees. Not all anxiety is bad, because it can motivate a student to hunker down and study, experts said.
"A bit of that sharpens your attention and makes you more alert," said Ronnie Love, a reading and writing specialist at Kent State University's Academic Support Center. Love, who works with students of all skill levels, said many students who suffer from test anxiety feel that way because they simply have not put in the hours they need to master the material.
"It's justified anxiety," she said.
For those who feel anxious because they are not prepared, the answer is obvious: Prepare better.
However, Hale said the students he treats for test anxiety have almost always put in the study time, obviously know their stuff and still have problems.
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