Math test anxiety can cause underperformance

Looking for a reason to get out of that math test? Tell your teacher that new research has shown that stressful testing situations may not be the best way to evaluate mathematical ability.\nResearchers presented findings at the recent annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and revealed that math anxiety interferes with cognitive abilities by taking up precious memory resources.\n“Math anxiety occupies a person’s working memory,” said Mark Ashcraft, a researcher at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. “While they’re trying to do the math, all they can think about are their fears and anxieties.”\nAnother study compared students’ ability to do a set of mathematical problems in both a stressful, high-stakes test situation and a low-pressure practice session.\nThe results showed that “individuals who normally perform at the highest level are the ones who are the most susceptible to pressure-induced failure,” said Sian Beilock, a researcher from the University of Chicago. “The high-stakes testing situation is making the best students look like the worst.” \nIf math tests can’t be avoided, there are ways to cope.\n“My advice is practice, practice, practice,” Beilock said. “Practice not only the types of problems you’re going to see in the testing situation, but also practice being in the testing situation. If you’re good at being in the testing situation and showing your ability, you should be better off.”