What effect can test anxiety have on student performance?

Test anxiety can significantly impact student performance, particularly through its negative influence on concentration and overall ability to perform during assessments. When students experience anxiety, they may find it difficult to focus on the questions or the material they've studied. This heightened state of stress can lead to a decrease in cognitive functioning, making it challenging to recall information or think critically in the moment.

Additionally, anxiety can prompt physical symptoms like increased heart rate, sweating, or gastrointestinal distress, further distracting the student from the task at hand. As a result, students who struggle with test anxiety may not perform to the best of their abilities, as their minds are preoccupied with worry rather than the content they need to demonstrate their knowledge.

The incorrect options suggest that test anxiety enhances performance or has no effect, which overlooks the substantial body of research indicating that anxiety typically hampers academic performance. There is also a misconception that test anxiety primarily affects only introverted students, while in reality, students of various personality types can experience anxiety during testing situations.