Greg, we may be confusing two different focal points here. Students will have some level of anxiety going into a test due to the fear of the unknown. This is common and to be expected. Students should never however feel that an assessment is being used as a form of behavior modification. The result of any assessment should be to measure progress and provide direction for both student and instructor. Remember that assessment tools measure our success or failure as an instructor just as much as they measure student progress. I hope this helps. James Jackson