Were You Born a Good Test Taker?

Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman wrote an article for the New York Times Magazine, "Why Can Some Kids Handle Pressure While Others Fall Apart?", focusing on test taking, the stresses involved, and how genetic makeup may be responsible for how an individual handles this pressure.

The article mentions a study conducted in Taiwan which measured a particular gene in students taking a high school entrance exam and it showed that stress manifests differently depending on what type of gene test takers possess.  However, other ongoing studies looking into this gene suggest that stress can be managed with training.

This isn't the first time Bronson and Merryman have put their journalistic heads together. In 2009, they collaborated on a book about how certain nurturing techniques that parents use on their children can backfire.  If you are interested in reading more about this, check out NutureShock from the library.