Simulating Test Anxiety with 360° VR: A Phenomenological Investigation of Presence and Emotional Intensity in High School Students

Abstract

This study investigates students’ lived experiences of 360° exam videos designed to simulate test anxiety in high school students preparing for university entrance exams. Adopting a phenomenological design, individual interviews were conducted with nine students to explore their subjective experiences of immersion, realism, and emotional intensity. Data were analyzed through content analysis. The findings indicate that exposure to 360° videos was associated with students’ reports of a strong sense of realism and “being in an exam” in the mediated environment. Participants reported that the videos triggered anxiety symptoms similar to real exams and increased emotional engagement, particularly in students with higher baseline anxiety. Key limitations include the small sample size and the lack of interactivity in the video format. Reproducing high-stakes exam conditions for in vivo exposure is challenging. Our findings highlight 360° exam videos as an accessible alternative to elicit exam-related experiential responses under controlled conditions. Importantly, this qualitative phenomenological study does not test clinical efficacy or anxiety reduction; rather, it informs design considerations and motivates future quantitative efficacy research.