Standardized college admission tests cause anxiety in some students

With the beginning of ACT and SAT college admission tests and Missouri Assessment Program tests, some students may develop test anxiety.

University of Missouri child psychiatrist Arpit Aggarwal on Thursday talked about the condition in a Zoom call with reporters.

Children can develop physical symptoms like a racing heartbeat, sweaty palms or feeling lightheaded or dizzy, Aggarwal said. Psychological symptoms can include fear or an overwhelming sense of imminent failure.

A student also can question what his or her future will be like if they don’t perform well on the test, Aggarwal said.

Not all anxiety is bad, Aggarwal explained.

“It can happen to anyone,” Aggarwal said. “You know, some amount of anxiety is normal for anyone who’s appearing for a test. It’s an adaptive method, anxiety. Actually, moderate levels of anxiety helps your body and your brain to prepare for a test or for something that’s upcoming. But when this level of anxiety starts getting more severe and then it starts negatively affecting your performance, and then it you know, you can call it a disorder.”

Parents can support their children, but it’s not always what happens, he said.

“Parents should be involved,” Aggarwal said. “They should not be putting any undue pressure, but they can help out the children. And making sure that they understand what this process involves helping them out, maybe selecting a list of colleges that they want to apply for. If they have the means go for some college tours, and you know helping them out emotionally and have a good financial plan. You know, help them fill out the financial aid forms if needed. To qualify for any kind of scholarship. Make sure they are aware of all their options.”

It’s a fine balance and too much involvement is counterproductive, he said.

“Don’t pressure them too much,” Aggarwal said. “Don’t tell them ‘hey, your future depends on this one exam.’ Be a supporter, be at the front with them and help them out along the way.”

Though not the same kind of pressure, the Missouri tests can also cause anxiety, Aggarwal said.

“That’s not the only thing in their life,” Aggarwal said is something students should try to understand.

The test-optional admissions, like the University of Missouri has, can help some students, Aggarwal said.

“Some universities are saying it’s not a requirement anymore,” Aggarwal said. “So that can be very helpful for a subset of the students who are more susceptible to have test anxiety. There are other ways to measure their performance. Which is like not as a snapshot, but more longitudinal assessment by the teachers and other staff. So, especially for students who are more prone to have test anxiety. The option of not taking the standardized test can be very helpful.”

Roger McKinney is the Tribune’s education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He’s on X at @rmckinney9