Overcoming anxiety is important for students to perform better during the summative assessment. In this guide, we share 5 proven strategies to overcome anxiety that students feel during this assessment.
Have you ever experienced shaky hands, a knot in the stomach, and a foggy mind? Many students are familiar with this anxiety during their summative assessment. This assessment is any big task, final exam, or major project. This pressure can turn a normal academic challenge into a major problem for students.
This strong feeling of fear not only stops students from getting good grades anymore, but also creates hurdles for them to show what they actually know. When academic success heavily depends on this feeling, simply being told to be ‘relaxed ‘ is not enough. Students need practical strategies that help them deal with the intense anxiety caused by these big tasks.
In this article, created with input from research analysts at The Academic Papers UK, the best assignment writing service we reveal practical strategies to manage anxiety when grades matter most.
Important Points to Remember
- Summative assessment is an effective evaluation format to assess the learning of students at the end of an educational unit.
- Most students feel anxious while preparing for summative assessments. This stress can prevent them from achieving their academic goals.
- Fear of failure and lack of preparation are the key reasons for creating anxiety for students.
- Learning effective study techniques and studying in a group can help students to prepare for summative assessments and reduce anxiety.
- Students can also handle their anxiety by practising breathing techniques and making a personalised study schedule.
What is Summative Assessment? Why Students Experience Anxiety During This Assessment?
Carnegie Mellon University defines the summative assessment as, “This assessment is designed to assess the learning of students at the end of some instructional unit by comparing the grades against some defined standards or benchmark.” Typically, all the summative assessments are high-stakes, which means they have high point value in the academic grades.
However, students often get stressed out during this assessment. According to a study by ResearchGate, “30.5% percent of students are extremely anxious during their final exams.” Have a look at the key reasons for the anxiety that students face during this assessment.
- Fear of failure
- High-stakes academic setup
- Lack of preparation
- High academic expectations
- Low self-efficacy
- High cognitive interference
- Past negative experiences with tests
- Lack of control over the assessment process
- Fear of autonomy
5 Strategies for Students to Handle Anxiety During Summative Assessment
Here are proven strategies students can use to manage anxiety during summative evaluations.
1. Learn Effective Study Strategies
Many students get stressed out during the summative assessment because they don’t know how to prepare for the test effectively. These study techniques can improve the students’ learning and boost their confidence. Take a look at these effective study strategies.
- Self-Testing – The best study technique to retrieve information from the memory is to self-test. Students can use flashcards to test their knowledge about a specific topic.
- Feynman Technique – Students can explain complex concepts aloud using the Feynman technique to identify the gaps in their knowledge and recall these intricate concepts.
- Practice Sample Papers – One of the best study techniques is to practice the past tests under strict exam conditions. This strategy helps students to refine their learning skills and understand question formats.
2. Study in Groups
Collaborative learning for the summative assessment can make the entire process less stressful. These group study sessions allow students to remember the knowledge for a longer period. Further, when students explain complex concepts to each other, it builds confidence and reinforces their overall learning process.
Teachers can also promote collaborative learning during class to improve the overall learning process. For example, when professors form small study groups where students quiz each other on complex topics, it will ultimately make the project-based learning more engaging. Moreover, gamifying review sessions with interactive learning activities also helps students to retain information effectively.
3. Create a Personalised Study Routine
Creating a study routine is not just about managing your time; it is about studying smarter, not harder. This strategy will speed up the over learning process of students during the summative assessment. Further, a well-structured study routine boosts confidence and reduces feelings of stress.
Students must follow the tips below to create a personalised study routine.
- Break down your study material into small and manageable sections.
- Do not cram the information because it is the key reason for stress during the preparation of the summation evaluation.
- Incorporate visual aids, practice tests, group study, and anything that best fits with your learning style.
4. Practice Relaxation Techniques
Practising relaxing techniques is one of the most effective ways to handle the anxiety that students feel during their online summative assessment. Various relaxation techniques that students can practice to enhance their focus and relaxation.
Check out some of the most tested and proven relaxation techniques.
- Box Breathing – During this technique, students have to inhale 4 counts, hold for 4 seconds, and then exhale 4 counts. They can repeat this practice various times to regulate their nervous system and reduce anxiety.
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation – Students can use different relaxation tools for this technique. These gadgets allow them to exercise different muscles to promote relaxation.
- Mediation and Mindfulness Activities– Meditation and mindfulness activities play an important role in calming the mind and reducing anxiety which eventually helps students to perform better in summative assessments.
5. Get Help from Experts When You Need It
Students don’t need to go through test anxiety alone. They can seek assistance from a friend, a study partner, or a consultant. Getting assistance is a sign of strength, not a weakness. If students feel devastated, they can reach out for help and lighten their emotional load because talking with a trusted person can give them a fresh perspective and help them manage their stress.
Apart from this emotional support, students can get help from UK assignment writing services to complete their pending homework successfully. Professionals can reduce your academic stress and allow you to focus on preparing your summative assessment.
Conclusion
Summative assessment is the most common form of student evaluation, conducted at the end of each instructional unit. Due to the high value of this assessment, students often get anxious and even forget to write down what they already know during exams.
To overcome this anxiety, students can learn effective study strategies and learn in groups. They can also create a personalised study schedule to manage their time effectively and reduce stress. Practising relaxation techniques is another proven strategy to enhance focus during the summative assessment. Seeking support from a friend, instructor, or professional makes a summative assessment less overwhelming.
Frequently Asked Questions About Summative Assessment
How Does Summative Assessment Differ from Formative Assessment?
Formative assessment is conducted during the study session to provide ongoing feedback for improvements such as class discussion or small quizzes. On the other hand summative assessment occurs at the end of the study unit to evaluate the overall achievement such as final exams.
Have a look at the key differences between these two assessments.
| Key Differences | Formative Assessment | Summative Assessment |
| Purpose | To monitor the learning and provide continuous feedback during the ongoing session | To assess the students’ learning at the end of the instructional period |
| Timing | During the learning process | At the end of the unit |
| Example | Homework, quizzes | Final exams, final projects |
What Are the Main Purposes of Summative Assessment?
Conductive summative assessment is greatly advantageous for students during their educational sessions. Check out the key purposes of this assessment type.
- Measure Learning Outcomes
- Evaluate Teaching Effectiveness
- Guide Future Planning
- Inform Decisions
- Provide Accountability
- Motivate Students
What Strategies Improve Summative Assessment Results?
The results of summative assessment are significantly important for students in improving their academic grades. Students can follow the strategies below to improve their results.
- Create a study plan and start preparation early.
- Use active learning techniques instead of passive ones.
- Practice sample tests under exam environment to build confidence.
- Get the feedback on the formative assessment and utilise it for better learning outcomes.
- Set meaningful and realistic performance goals.
- Take short breaks to overcome the mental breakdown.
