Test anxiety, below-capacity performance, and poor test performance: Intrasubject approach with violin students

The study investigated the relationships of test anxiety to below-capacity performance in a test and to poor test performance. Students of the Music Conservatory were used as subjects. Their performance level during music lessons (low stress condition) and in a musical examination was rated; test anxiety was measured by a questionnaire. Below-capacity performance in the test (i.e. case, in which the subjectʹs performance was significantly worse in the examination than during the lessons) was related to high test anxiety and low educational level. Poor test performance as indicated by a low grade was associated with high test anxiety, low amount of practicing, and slow progress in studies. The findings are discussed in the context of the cognitive-attentional model and the dual-deficit model.