Stress from Standardized Testing: Learn about the impact of stress on students and strategies to foster student resilience. This article provides an in-depth look at how standardized testing can add pressure and anxiety for students and what parents and educators can do to help ensure their success. Find out more about topics such as understanding test anxiety, developing healthy coping mechanisms, creating a supportive learning environment, and finding proactive solutions that minimize the impact of stress on student performance.
Standardized testing is a crucial aspect of the modern education system, measuring student capabilities and informing educational programs. While these tests can provide valuable information, their importance often generates stress among students, adversely affecting performance and overall well-being.
Chronic stress due to neighborhood violence, poverty, or family instability can impact how a student’s body responds to stress in general, including the stress of standardized testing. This can, in turn, affect the validity of standardized test scores as a measure of a student’s actual ability (Education Finance and Policy). Moreover, the high-stakes nature of these tests, with scores often tied to graduation and school funding, can exacerbate stress levels in students and potentially hinder their ability to showcase their true capabilities (American University).
Table of Contents
Impact of Stress on Student Performance
The impact of stress on students’ performance in standardized testing is a topic of concern for education professionals and researchers.
Physiological Effects of Stress
Chronic stress, often caused by neighborhood violence, poverty, or family instability, affects how individuals’ bodies respond to stressors, including those associated with standardized testing (Education Finance and Policy). When students experience chronic stress, their bodies’ physiological response may impair their performance on tests, making it difficult to measure their actual abilities accurately.
High stress levels may also cause physical symptoms, such as headaches, stomach aches, or difficulty concentrating, which can further decrease performance during standardized testing (Sacred Heart University).
Cortisol Levels
Cortisol, a hormone released in response to stress, plays a significant role in students’ performance on standardized tests. Research has shown that some students experience a spike in cortisol levels on testing days while others drop their levels (Harvard GSE).
A rise in cortisol levels can lead to heightened alertness and, in some cases, increased cognitive function. However, consistently high cortisol levels or a sharp decline in levels can lead to adverse effects such as anxiety, disengagement, or burnout that could, in turn, hinder students’ performance on these tests.
Understanding the interplay of stress and cortisol levels in the context of standardized testing can help educators, policymakers, and parents identify ways to support students better and ensure assessments accurately reflect their abilities and potential.
Standardized Testing in Education
Standardized testing plays a significant role in modern education systems, providing a means for measuring academic aptitude and achievement. These tests are administered and scored in a predetermined, standard manner, often using multiple choice and true or false questions as their primary format(American University School of Education). Familiar examples of standardized tests include the SAT and ACT exams.
History of Standardized Tests
Standardized testing has its roots in early 20th-century psychology, where researchers developed intelligence tests to evaluate individual abilities. The use of standardized tests in education gained prominence in the mid-20th century, with the launch of the SAT in 1926 and the ACT in 1959. Over time, standardized testing became more prevalent in schools, driven by the desire to assess student progress, evaluate teachers, and compare school performance.
High-Stakes Testing
High-stakes testing refers to standardized tests with significant consequences attached to their results. One notable example of high-stakes testing in the United States was the implementation of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act in 2002. The act required states to develop assessments in basic skills and to administer them to all students annually to increase accountability in the public school system.
The NCLB Act placed immense pressure on schools, teachers, and students, as performance on these tests could determine funding, school closures, and teacher evaluations. Over time, this emphasis on high-stakes testing has been criticised. Some argue that it contributes to a narrow focus on test preparation, potentially at the expense of other essential aspects of education.
Effects on Students, Teachers, and Families
Academic Performance
Standardized testing significantly impacts students’ academic performance, as test scores are often tied to important outcomes, such as graduation and school funding (American University School of Education). Chronic stress from high-stakes tests may lead to different responses among students, with some potentially experiencing adverse effects on their test performance (MIT Education). These disparities may exacerbate the achievement gap between low-income students and their peers.
Mental Health
The pressure that comes from standardized testing not only affects students but also teachers. Anxiety surrounding test scores and student performance has been linked to a decline in teachers’ mental health (Bethel University). The stress students experience due to these tests can also manifest in elevated cortisol levels on testing days, influencing their emotional well-being and engagement in learning.
Family and Neighborhood Influences
Family income and neighborhood context play a role in how students respond to the stress of standardized testing. Low-income students tend to fare worse on high-stakes tests, possibly due to the cumulative effects of stress and socio-economic challenges that influence their learning environments (Harvard Graduate School of Education). Given the high stakes attached to test scores, families and neighborhoods may also experience increased pressure and a heightened focus on academic performance, which can contribute to the overall stress experienced by students, teachers, and families alike.
Policy and Testing Reforms
The connection between standardized testing and stress has become a significant concern for educators and policymakers. Implementing policy and testing reforms can help mitigate the detrimental effects of stress on students and teachers.
Alternatives to Standardized Tests
Some experts argue it’s time to shift away from standardized testing and explore alternative assessment methods. Alternative forms of testing often eliminate high-stakes environments that can cause anxiety while encouraging creative teaching and critical inquiry that standardized tests may stifle.
Examples of alternative assessments include project-based learning, performance assessments, and portfolio evaluations. These options provide a more comprehensive view of students’ progress and allow them to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in authentic contexts.
Reducing Stress Around Testing
Reducing the stress associated with standardized testing requires addressing how tests are administered and their importance in outcomes. A study conducted in New Orleans found that students from more stressful neighborhoods, with lower incomes and more incidents of violence, were most affected by changes in cortisol levels (a hormone associated with stress) during testing weeks.
To alleviate this stress, education policies should focus on providing adequate resources, such as technology and support for teachers, as well as addressing the underlying issues that contribute to students’ stress in the first place. This may involve understanding the specific needs of each student and adapting testing practices accordingly.
Additionally, placing less emphasis on test outcomes in school and teacher evaluations could help reduce pressure on students and teachers. According to educator Robert Pondiscio, emphasis on test scores has resulted in a dangerous obsession with standardized testing in schools, adversely affecting students’ and teachers’ mental health.
In conclusion, addressing the stress associated with standardized testing requires a comprehensive approach, including adopting alternative assessment methods, adapting testing practices to meet individual needs, and reevaluating how tests are used in evaluating schools and teachers.
Studies on Stress and Standardized Testing
Course Placement and Homeroom Period Effects
Research has shown that standardized testing can lead to stress among students, especially when test scores are tied to important outcomes such as graduation and school funding. This stress can negatively affect student performance, severely impacting children from more challenging backgrounds (Harvard Graduate School of Education).
A study by Jennifer A. Heissel and colleagues investigated the effects of course placement on test-related stress. They found that male students, particularly those from lower-income households, were more likely to experience stress during high-stakes exams (MIT).
Saliva Samples and Crime
Researchers Emma K. Adam, Jennifer L. Doleac, and David N. Figlio collected student saliva samples to measure stress levels associated with standardised testing to analyze cortisol levels. Cortisol is a hormone associated with stress, and its levels can indicate how students react physiologically to testing situations (NBER).
The study found that increased cortisol levels during testing weeks had a negative effect on student performance. Students from more stressful neighborhoods, with higher poverty rates and more incidents of violence, were most affected by this stress. Researchers also found a connection between crime rates and student stress. They analyzed 911 calls to determine the relationship between neighbourhood crime and test-induced stress Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Mitigating stress from standardized testing is essential for ensuring students can perform to the best of their abilities. By understanding the factors contributing to test-related stress, educators and policymakers can better support students to manage this stress and succeed academically.
Conclusion
Stress from standardized testing can have a negative impact on student performance, particularly for those in lower-income households and neighborhoods with higher poverty rates. To mitigate this issue, educators and policymakers must take a comprehensive approach, including adopting alternative assessment methods, adapting testing practices to meet individual needs, and re-evaluating how tests are used to evaluate schools and teachers. By doing so, we can ensure that students receive the support they need to manage their test-related stress and succeed academically.
By understanding the factors contributing to test-related stress, educators and policymakers can better support students to manage this stress and succeed academically. A comprehensive approach lets students focus on learning rather than worrying about testing outcomes. This will create an environment where all students can reach their full potential. By supporting students in managing their stress, we can create a healthier and more equitable education system.
