Addressing Test Anxiety in a High-Stakes Environment

"This fascinating, well-researched book makes a wonderful contribution to the field. It provides helpful information on what test anxiety is and what we can do about it. This topic is as important today than ever due to education reform initiatives across the country." -James Kelleher, Assistant Superintendent Scituate Public Schools, MA "The book offers answers to the most important question of all: If test anxiety can hinder our ability to make accurate inferences and good decisions for kids, what can we do to ease students' fears? As it turns out, researchers have answers, and the authors present helpful ideas for all of us-parents, educators, and students themselves." -Linda Wacyk, Trustee Grand Ledge Board of Education, MTWhat can we do about test anxiety that will help our students? Testing is expanding at every level of education and into every corner of social and vocational enterprise, and test anxiety can have devastating effects on students' test scores, confidence, and motivation to learn. Testing has become more extensive and more consequential at every level. The higher the stakes on tests, the greater the concern about the presence and effects of test anxiety. Addressing Test Anxiety in a High-Stakes Environment provides straightforward explanations, practical suggestions, and reasonable recommendations for addressing test anxiety. This practical resource offers: An overview of the concept of test anxiety A glossary of assessment and measurement terms Current research findings on test anxiety and which students it is most likely to affect Information on the prevalence, correlations, and effects of test anxiety Situations in which test anxiety can be helpful Suggestions for preventing and reducing the effects of test anxiety