Timed exams have a big influence on students’ performance, sometimes in a good way and sometimes in a bad way, depending on the circumstances.

Does exam performance suffer as a result of test anxiety, boosted by timed testing? According to meta-analyses by the American Psychological Association (APA) published in Psychological Bulletin in 2016, students who experience higher levels of test anxiety typically do worse on exams. Additionally, we’re aware that worry can impact cognitive functions by impairing working memory. Consequently, the general view is that working memory is hampered by test anxiety, often triggered by time constraints when taking tests, which results in subpar exam performance.

This hypothesis of interference holds that worry tampers with our already finite capacity for working memory, making it more difficult to concentrate and absorb information during stressful events like timely-constrained exams. Strong support opposing the interference hypothesis, however, was revealed in a recent study involving German medical students, which found that anxiety regarding tests wasn’t predictive of performance on the exam when prior knowledge was adjusted for.

This result appears to contradict the conventional belief that otherwise competent kids are performing poorly on tests because of anxiety.

Timed tests can have the following effects on students:

• Stress and anxiety
• Time management skills
• Performance under pressure
• Equity concerns
• Deep understanding assessment
• Habits of preparation and study

Stress and Anxiety

Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock... Students may become more anxious during an exam as the timer counts down. From elementary school through college/university, timed exams are a common feature of classroom instruction. They serve as an essential tool for gauging a student’s speed and efficiency in processing material. The ticking clock makes it possible to evaluate many people quickly and effectively, enabling test-takers to compare their results uniformly. This is why time matters in certain assessment forms, and for IQ tests, if we take them as an example, it’s all explained here. However, some students may experience anxiety and tension due to timed exams.

Teachers and current or former pupils have their opinions on the benefits of timed exams. The audience is divided in two by the debate. Timed testing, according to one argument, is beneficial since jobs and life have actual deadlines with real repercussions for missing them. Students who are aware of an impending timed test are more likely to practice under time constraints, revisit material often, and adopt consistent study habits, all of which improve long-term memory.

On the other hand, some believe that the stress of a timed exam could cause cramming or other short-term learning techniques that are less beneficial for long-term memory retention. Scheduled exams paralyze students, messing with their cognitive processes and preventing them from learning more deeply. The latter group contended that since timed testing measures fear as much as aptitude, what use is it?

However, because timed exams are unlikely to disappear anytime soon, what can you do to reduce your anxiety and prepare for timed exams?

Nurture Home Prep

Students can help themselves prepare for test day at home by doing various things, including making sure they get a good night’s sleep and eat a nutritious pre-test meal.

Even while eating well and getting enough sleep are important on any given day of the year, make sure you practice these healthy habits in the days before the test to make sure you perform at your highest level.

Unleash the Wiggles

For students ranging from early elementary schoolers to teenagers and beyond, physical activity can be an essential means of releasing stored energy and lowering anxiety prior to exams.

Spend a few minutes doing mental teasers before the test, such as jumping jacks or stretches, depending on what works best for you.

Practice Is Everything

A student will be more prepared for the important examination if he or she has taken more timed exams in the past.

Before test day, give yourself lots of opportunities to practice with timed exams so you’ll know what to expect and how to maintain attention on the activities that are required during the timed section.

Join Forces

When practicing for timed exams, students can work in pairs. One student can run the timer while the other does the test.

This can foster peer cooperation, support, and encouragement, and works especially well for quick assessments like one-minute fact reviews.

Self-Care

During a timed test, remind yourself that you are in control of your body and brain.

A few mental boosts, such as “I can do this!” will aid you in approaching the test and lessen test anxiety. Slow, deep breaths can also help lower nervousness.

Steer Clear of Distractions

Particularly for timed exams, focus is crucial.

Make every effort to ensure that nothing around you distracts you, and if you think the space in which you take a test isn’t noise-free and quiet throughout the exam, address it to the tutor. Tutors, on the other hand, should think about permitting the use of headphones with noise cancellation during a timed test for those students who are extremely sensitive to noise or simply want additional assistance to stay on task.

Remember to Keep Moving Forward

Always stress in your mind how important it is to finish the test swiftly. Create a plan of action in advance for handling circumstances where you run into challenging or unsolvable problems.

Refrain from devoting too much time to a single issue. If you’re having trouble, move on to another task and, if time permits, come back and finish the one you’re having trouble with.

Honor Test Completion

Regardless of your performance on a particular test, passing it is always cause for celebration.

After a timed test, schedule something enjoyable for yourself, like more time outside, a movie, or a coffee shop.

Time Management Skills

On timed exams, a student's total score might be greatly impacted by poor time management. Pupils who fail to finish the exam in the allocated time may forfeit points and receive lower grades than their classmates.

Students may find it difficult to manage their time during these exams for a variety of reasons, including a lack of prior preparation or an ignorance of the kinds of questions that will be asked. Pupils who are still working on honing their time management skills could find it difficult to finish the entire test, which could result in hurried or incomplete answers. That’s the main harm that timed exams do to performance, whether it be academic or otherwise.

Before taking a timed test, students should practice effective time management strategies. This entails planning time for each segment, being aware of the format and possible questions, and making use of any breaks to go over questions and answers. Before taking a test, students should also have a successful study plan in place so they are aware of their strengths and shortcomings. Students can increase their chances of receiving higher grades and manage their time more skillfully during the exam by being aware of these variables.

Effective time management is crucial for both the preparation phase and the actual timed test.

Here are some pointers for efficiently using your time throughout the test:

• Sort your questions according to priority: Start by answering the questions you’re confident you can correctly and readily answer. You’ll be able to save time and possibly get bonus points by doing this.
• Take it slow: Maintaining a constant pace during the test is crucial. While you don't want to go through questions or sections too slowly and make negligent errors, you also don’t want to spend too much time on them.
• Make use of any breaks: If there are allowed breaks during the test, make use of them to review your answers, double-check your work, and refocus before going on to the next area.
• Never get stuck: Don’t give up if you find that answering some difficult questions properly takes longer than others. If a question seems like it will take up too much of your precious time, mark it for review and go on to the next one, which might be simpler for you.

Since they have to manage their time well in order to finish the test, timed exams push students to learn and practice time management skills. This ability can help you in the classroom and in your future career.

Performance Under Pressure

The pressure to perform well academically can occasionally become unbearable to the learning process due to the pursuit of top grades, college acceptance, and potential employment opportunities after college. Expectations from educators, parents, and even ourselves can lead to an intense drive to achieve and push ourselves, sometimes to the detriment of our general physical and mental well-being.

Envision yourself in the test room, your heart thumping like a drum, and your memory going blank on what you’ve been studying for weeks at a time. This is a classic example of test anxiety, particularly in the context of a timed exam. The stress of having to do well on tests can lead to extreme anxiety and physical symptoms that impair your memory of the material you have carefully studied. A negative feedback loop resulting from this stress cycle might make subsequent exams even more nerve-wracking due to the fear of performing poorly on exams.

Certain students do better in a timed atmosphere and thrive under pressure. They can stay focused and move at a steady pace the entire test with the aid of the framework. On the other side, pupils who struggle under pressure might notice a decline in their performance. They could fail to think clearly, answer questions quickly, or make thoughtless mistakes.

Equity Concerns

Timed exams have long been a divisive issue in the educational system, with opponents claiming that they impede efforts to promote fairness, diversity, and inclusion and reinforce inequality. Since these tests frequently overlook the particular difficulties and experiences that students from different backgrounds confront, this problem is especially troubling for marginalized communities. On the other hand, timed exams can be advantageous for pupils who assimilate knowledge quickly since they let them show off their skills.

The inherent bias of timed testing is one of its fundamental issues. Usually, these exams are created using a one-size-fits-all methodology, ignoring the fact that pupils have varying educational, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds. Because of this, marginalized kids are significantly disadvantaged and may not have had access to the same opportunities or resources as their more fortunate peers. Students who have concentration issues, learning difficulties, or who need extra time to process material may find it difficult to do well on timed exams. Because disadvantaged students are less likely to do well on these tests and, should these timed exams be accepted for admissions to educational institutions, for example, have fewer options for further education or work, this feeds the cycle of inequality.

Reevaluating the function of standardized examinations is essential if fairness, equity, and inclusion in education are to be genuinely promoted. In the absence of adjustments, these students might face unjust consequences, which would result in a less accurate evaluation of their actual skills.

Deep Understanding Assessment

The use of timed exams to evaluate student learning has long been questioned. While summative assessments, such as tests, exams, quizzes, and midterms, are important tools for evaluating students’ comprehension and demonstration of skills, an over-reliance on timed assessments leads to a significant problem that, in some cases, renders the assessments unreliable as measures of learning. Because time-restricted tests emphasize speed over comprehension, they might not be the most useful or equitable way to evaluate students’ learning. It could result in a shallow education. Instead of gaining a thorough comprehension of the subject matter, students could prioritize memorization and rapid recall.

Morton Ann Gernsbacher from the University of Wisconsin–Madison showed in “Four empirically based reasons not to administer time-limited tests” that the speed at which students complete untimed tests doesn’t predict their performance. Consequently, adding a time limit to a test suggests that it’s measuring speed in addition to subject matter knowledge. Students may memorize and repeat facts during timed exams instead of applying critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The stress of finishing the assignments within the allotted time may discourage students from thoroughly examining concepts, which may ultimately impair their capacity to apply and recall knowledge later.

However, in certain situations, timed exams can be a useful tool for evaluating students’ critical thinking and ability to apply knowledge quickly under pressure—qualities that are important in many professional domains.

Habits of Preparation and Study

The good effects of timed tests on study habits stem from their ability to motivate students to practice under time constraints, review material often, and adopt consistent study habits that improve long-term recall.

On the other hand, the stress of a timed exam could cause people to cram or use short-term learning techniques, which are less beneficial for long-term memory retention.

Yes to Timed Tests or No to Time Tests?

Given the circumstances, we think a compromise is possible. Educators have discovered that all students benefit from practice when timed exams are used. The effects of timed exams on student performance are complex and vary depending on factors such as stress response, time management abilities, and, above all, individual variances in cognitive processing. They shouldn’t, however, be graded for admissions or final assessments.

Although timed exams have the potential to promote productivity and readiness, they run the risk of punishing pupils who struggle when faced with deadline pressure. They should give students a great chance to practice their skills and aim to beat their own time without having to worry about how they compare to the other students in the class. Additionally, it makes a task that can be difficult for students with slower thinking enjoyable.

Some instructors and institutions offer accommodations, alternate or untimed exams, or a combination of testing techniques to produce a more fair assessment of students’ learning in order to lessen the negative impacts. After all, grades need to indicate how well students understand the subject matter, not how quickly they finish it.