Can the Color Red Hurt Test Results?

Can the color red hurt test results?

We all know that when a student gets a test back they never want to see it covered in red marks, but a new study shows that seeing the color red before a test can actually hurt a student’s test scores. Red is the color most associated with failure or something wrong, therefore making the viewer doubtful of what they doing or going to do. Red has also been proven to be a threatening, arousing, or exciting color. A study was done on college students to see if viewing the color red before a test could be harmful to their grades, even if it is just briefly.

Six total experiments were done, all with similar results. Seventy-one college students from across America were chosen to take a five minute test. No one was expected to finish the test in the allotted time. The students were told to get as many problems completed before the five minute period was up. Before the test the students were given a card with a participant number written on it. The number was written in black, green, or red. The test