Prüfungsstress: Warum hat man Prüfungsangst?
Exam stress: Why do people have exam anxiety?
The reasons why some people suffer from test anxiety and some do not are very different and depend on many factors. Basically, it can be said that exam anxiety is not actually a fear of the exam itself. Rather, it is the fear of not being able to meet certain expectations and requirements, i.e. not being able to fulfill them. You are afraid of making a fool of yourself, failing and consequently being laughed at, bullied or rejected by classmates, teachers, parents or colleagues. This then leads to exam stress. Such expectations can be fueled by the environment, the job market, the meritocracy, parents or even the people themselves.
Bad or traumatic experiences and experiences with an exam situation can also be cited as a cause of exam anxiety / exam stress. Such failures are then also taken as a reference value for future exam situations or results, which can lead to a negative spiral of thoughts.
Finally, a pronounced perfectionism can also lead to test anxiety. You want to do everything perfectly and not only meet the high standards, but exceed them time and time again. This leads to enormous pressure to perform and meet expectations, which in turn leads to exam stress.
