Another hidden barrier is the role of working memory. Working memory is like a mental scratchpad where you hold and manipulate information. When students are anxious, their working memory becomes overloaded, making it difficult to think clearly.
This explains why a student who understands a concept perfectly at home might blank out during an exam. The anxiety takes up valuable mental space, leaving little room for actual problem-solving. The solution is twofold: reduce anxiety through relaxation techniques, and reduce cognitive load by mastering foundational skills until they become automatic.