The Sarason Test Anxiety Scale (TAS) was compiled in 1978 by Professor Irwin G. Sarason, a famous clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychology at Washington University in the United States. It is currently the most famous test anxiety test widely used internationally. A scale designed to assess the level of anxiety an individual experiences during exams or testing situations.
Test anxiety refers to the anxiety and nervousness produced when dealing with exams or testing situations. Many people experience some level of anxiety when facing exams or tests, but for some, this anxiety can significantly interfere with their learning and performance.
Here are some common characteristics and experiences associated with test anxiety:
-
Psychological aspects: Worry about test scores, fear of failure, worry about not being able to cope with test requirements, doubting one’s own abilities, fear of others’ evaluation, difficulty concentrating, forgetting what has been learned, etc.
-
Physiological aspects: rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, sweating, trembling, headache, muscle tension, stomach discomfort, insomnia, etc.
-
Behavior: Avoiding exams or tests, procrastinating studying, avoiding taking exams, being unable to complete exam questions, avoiding discussing exam topics with others, etc.
Test anxiety can negatively impact an individual’s learning and performance. High levels of anxiety may interfere with memory, thinking and problem-solving skills, reduce concentration and information processing efficiency, cause psychological stress and physical discomfort, thereby affecting test performance.
TAS uses a self-report method, and individuals rate each item based on their own experiences and feelings in the test situation. The scale contains multiple items covering various aspects related to test anxiety, including emotions, cognition, and physiological responses. This scale is used to measure students’ anxiety levels during exams. The test questions describe people’s feelings about taking the exam. TAS has a total of 37 questions, which involve the individual’s attitude towards the exam and the individual’s various feelings and physical tension before and after the exam. Please read each question, and then choose yes or no according to your actual situation (feelings). There are no right or wrong answers, good or bad. Just fill in the questions according to the actual situation. Answer as quickly as possible, but do not miss anything.
Individuals need to rate each item based on their actual feelings, usually using a 5 or 4-point scale, where 1 means ’not at all consistent’ and 5 or 4 means ‘completely consistent.’ The higher the score, the higher the level of anxiety an individual experiences in exam situations.
The total score of the TAS can be used to assess an individual’s overall test anxiety level. A high score may indicate that an individual experiences higher levels of test anxiety, whereas a low score may indicate relatively little experience of test anxiety.
TAS is widely used in research and clinical practice and can help psychologists, educators and counselors understand and assess individuals’ psychological states in exam situations, thereby providing them with corresponding support and intervention measures.
It should be noted that the TAS is an assessment tool and only serves as one of the tools to measure and evaluate test anxiety. When interpreting and applying, it is recommended to combine it with other information and professional judgment to obtain a more comprehensive understanding and evaluation.
Test anxiety is a characteristic psychological reaction that occurs when people face exams. It is stimulated by test-taking situations and affected by personal cognition, evaluation, personality, characteristics, etc., and has an impact on the success or failure of exams. A psychological reaction state characterized by worry and emotional tension. Test anxiety includes pre-test anxiety, on-the-spot anxiety (fainting) and post-test anxiety.
A certain degree of tension and anxiety can motivate us to study hard and keep our brains active and alert, but excessive tension and anxiety will affect our on-the-spot performance, especially for a difficult exam. So, today we will test how much test anxiety you have? How to deal with test anxiety?
If you’d like to know your test anxiety levels, we have a free testing tool you can use. This short test will help you assess your level of anxiety in exam or testing situations. Please click the button below to start testing.
The test results will give you some initial insight into your test anxiety levels. Please remember that this test is only a reference tool and is not a substitute for a professional psychological evaluation. If you are troubled by your anxiety, we recommend that you seek support and advice from a professional counselor or doctor.
Regardless of the test results, remember that anxiety can be managed and coped with. Asking for help and adopting positive coping strategies can help you better cope with anxiety during exams and improve your learning and performance.
