What term describes the anxiety or stress experienced before or during an exam?

The term that best encapsulates the anxiety or stress experienced before or during an exam is "Test anxiety." This condition specifically refers to the feelings of panic, fear, and apprehension that can hinder a student's ability to focus, perform, or recall information during tests.

While "exam nerves," "performance anxiety," and "pre-test jitters" might describe related experiences, they do not encompass the specific context of anxiety tied to the act of taking a test as clearly as test anxiety does. "Exam nerves" is often a more colloquial or informal expression, lacking the clinical focus that "test anxiety" holds. "Performance anxiety" can be broader, applying to various performance situations beyond just tests, and "pre-test jitters" describes a more casual, less intense form of anxiety. Therefore, the precise definition and understanding of test anxiety highlight its significance in the context of examinations, making it the most appropriate term for the situation described.