Product Overview

Test anxiety is a type of anxiety that occurs in situations where performance is being evaluated, such as an annual state test, although the source of anxiety may vary. Upwards of 30% of students will experience significant test anxiety during their academic careers (von der Embse et al., 2018). Test anxiety is usually expressed through three types of symptoms: cognitive–behavioral (persistent worries about upcoming exams), physiological (physical pain, upset stomach), and emotional (feelings of hopelessness). Not only is test anxiety unpleasant for students, it can also lead to a number of negative academic outcomes. Students with high levels of test anxiety may perform lower on exams due to the substantial amount of cognitive resources applied to non-test-related tasks (e.g., distractions during the test). Most important is that a negative cycle can occur with lower achievement on exams, leading to higher levels of test anxiety and thus even lower levels of test performance (Putwain et al., 2025).

About the Authors

Nathaniel von der Embse, PhD, is professor of school psychology at the University of South Florida. His research examines school mental health and teacher and student anxiety.

David W. Putwain, PhD, is the director for the Centre of Educational Research at Liverpool John Moores University. His research examines student motivation, emotion, and engagement.

Wendy Symes, PhD, is a researcher at the University of Muenster. Her research interests include test anxiety, student motivation, and the impact of high-stakes testing on the behavior of teachers and students.

This NASP Laminated Guide is an updated version of a resource from Helping Handouts: Supporting Students at School and Home, an online digital publication featuring more than 80 handouts for educators and caregivers. To learn more about Helping Handouts, visit https://apps.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/book-store.aspx.

ISBN: 978-0932955-45-6

This 6-page, laminated quick-reference guide is must for any School Psychologist or educator. This guide includes information on:

- What to Consider When Selecting Interventions and Supports
  - Individual Student Characteristics
  - Teacher and Classroom Practices
  - Parenting Practices
  - Situational Factors
- Recommendations for the School
- Recommendations for the School and Home
  - Test Preparation Phase – Helping Before the Test
  - Test Performance Phase – Strategies to Use During the Test
  - Test Reflection Phase – Preparing for the Next Test