Math Test

Vincenzo Galasso Paola Profeta

Women are underrepresented in STEM subjects, and thus is STEM careers and industries. These subjects use math entry tests in the initial selection process. We investigate the role of time pressure featured by these math tests in originating gender gaps. In a randomized experiment, college students take a 20-question math test under three different scenarios: high (45 seconds per question), low (20 minutes overall) or no time pressure. There is no competition and individuals are paid according to their own performance. The experimental evidence shows that reducing or eliminating time pressure decreases the math gender gap up to 40%. We explore two explanatory mechanisms: time pressure may provoke anxiety in individuals and it may modify students’ test taking strategies. Our findings suggest that larger math gender gaps under time pressure are mostly due to anxiety. The predictive power of the math tests for university performance is equally high under the different time scenarios. Hence, reducing or eliminating time pressure from math tests increases gender equality in subjects (and careers) without reducing the effectiveness of the selection process.