Most students say tests cause them some level of stress.
In a recent survey of 10 Morton East students, six said tests do cause them stress, while four said they do not. According to Google’s AI overview, students are affected by standardized testing in different ways. Some experience a spike in cortisol levels on testing days, while others show a decrease, which may lead to disengagement. Many students also report a fear of failure and pressure to meet personal or parental expectations.
“I get stressed with time limits. It makes me nervous, especially when I’m not sure about some questions,” junior Alizah Perez said.
Teachers suggest that creating a supportive testing environment can help reduce student stress. They recommend a quiet, calm setting with strong Wi-Fi, as well as having a test administrator the student feels comfortable with.
“A quiet, calm environment with strong Wi-Fi is important. Preferably, the adult administering the test is someone the student feels comfortable with. Low-stakes practice tests also help students become familiar with the format,” English teacher Mary O’Donnell said.
winduri • Apr 16, 2026 at 11:10 am
I agree with this article because some students do tend to have stress on test, also if they do not study on it they will be worried about grades decreasing instead of gong up.