Anxiety Problems with Assessment

While reading this cluster on assessment, I learned a lot of material I had previous knowledge of based on my psychology background. Although my psychology background identified the statistical portion of this chapter it did not approach the standardized testing and accountability which I found to be quite interesting.

I grew up in the public school system so I am well aware of the pressures of standardized testing on students. I remember being in elementary school coming home anxious over the ELA test four months away. My mother would always tell me to calm down but I always still had horrible anxiety. All through high school I had anxiety when it came to conventional testing. Even if I complete understanding of the topic I would feel unsteady.

The educational world makes decisions based on these standardized tests and conventional testing. So many students feel the pressure to succeed in order to get into that perfect college or the receive the honor of valedictorian. The pressure to pass these tests is not only on the students but it is also on the teachers because it effects their lively hood possibly or the schools funding. So the anxiety during those few months of testing is particularly high.