The test is here – and with it panic, heart palpitations, sweating and blockages. According to a study, many people suffer from test anxiety. Ultimately, this can even stand in the way of your dream job. However, hardly anyone asks for help.
Fear of exams can have a significant impact on your professional future. According to a survey by the International University in Erfurt, around 26.8 percent of those affected were unable to take their dream job because of fear. 41 percent of those suffering from exam anxiety missed a certain school or university degree because of this – for example, because they dropped out of school or their studies.
42 percent of those affected incurred additional costs, for example due to chargeable repeat tests. As the study shows, nine out of ten Germans (86.8 percent) have suffered from test anxiety at some point. For almost two thirds of those surveyed, this related to their school days or studies. At 47.1 percent, almost every second person felt exam anxiety when applying for an application, and at 45.9 percent almost as many reported fears during vocational training.
Although the fear of exam situations is so widespread, hardly anyone seeks help. Just 14.1 percent of those questioned with test anxiety sought support, most of them from friends and family. Almost 40 percent went to psychological psychotherapy. A total of 1,600 people between the ages of 16 and 65 were surveyed.