Effects of High-Stakes Testing on the Stress and Anxiety Levels of Middle School Students in Saudi Arabia

This inaugural study explores high-stakes testing (HST) and students' levels of stress and anxiety in middleschool students, Grades 7, 8, and 9, in Saudi Arabia. The survey results show that participants experienced anxiety in three dimensions related to HST: test anxiety, psychological anxiety, and classroom anxiety. The students experience the most anxiety related to the test dimension. While the results indicate minimal differences in anxiety across demographics, 9th graders, female students, and students in international schools exhibited more anxiety than their peers. Related to grade level, as students aged each year, the results also showed a statistically significant increase in anxiety. A national discussion and examination of the effects of HST on students along with teacher awareness, testing anxiety education, and varied use of learning and assessment strategies are needed to support and minimize students' stress and anxiety and maximize their wellbeing and performance.