Introducing national tests in Swedish primary education: Implications for test anxiety

Abstract

Introduction: The Swedish government has decided to introduce national tests in primary education. Swedish pupils in general have few tests and a recognised possible adverse effect of testing is test anxiety among pupils, which may have a negative impact on examination performance. However, there has been little research on effects of testing on young children within the Swedish context. The current study explores the experience of test anxiety related to achievement in mathematics and Swedish in a sample of 40 grade 3 pupils. Method: A modernised standardised test for measuring children's test anxiety. Academic achievement in various mathematical and Swedish domains. Results: Test anxiety, in particular its subcomponent autonomic reactions, is related to poor performance in Swedish. In mathematics there is an especially marked relationship between the subtest Written arithmetic and test anxiety, particularly its subcomponent anxious thoughts. Conclusion: Test anxiety seems not to be a general problem in present Swedish young sample, however, cautions need to be taken regarding the acquiring of algorithms and number of tests given. © Education & Psychology I+D+i and Editorial EOS (Spain).