Videodisc Can Ease Students’ Fear of Tests, Maker Says
Educational Testing Service, the nation’s biggest test maker, unveiled a $150 videodisc Wednesday that it said can help students overcome anxiety about taking the Scholastic Aptitude Test and other exams.
The 26-minute presentation includes tips on how to prepare for the tests, when it is advantageous to guess at answers and how to interpret scores.
“The primary purpose is to reduce anxiety and improve test-taking skills,” said Larry Ellgars, director of field marketing for the testing service. “There is no one trick to raise your score,” he added.
The videodisc is being marketed to schools by College U.S.A., a Gaithersburg, Md., firm that began using laser discs three years ago to play recruiting messages from colleges to high school students.
Robert Whittaker, president of the parent Info-Disc Corp., said the videodisc, called “On Your Own,” will be available immediatedly to high schools in 20 states, mainly on the East and West coasts.
The testing service offers the same advice in booklets and has the film available in other formats. But the videodisc offers a way to get information to students who might otherwise miss it, Ellgars said.
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