Before students sit down to take their next big exam, they should remember one thing: Beware of the kid in the red.

According to a recent study conducted by a team of U.S. and German scientists, seeing even the smallest trace of the color red before taking an exam can increase one's level of anxiety and significantly lower test performance.

Andrew Elliot, lead author of the research and University of Rochester psychology professor, said the main theory of the study is that in a competitive situation among primates, the more dominant primate in the situation will be the one who displays the color red.

The same idea can be related to taking an exam. When people are exposed to the color, it gives individuals the sense the test will dominate them in some way, Elliot said.

Another idea is that people tend to associate the color red with mistakes and failure, an association schoolteachers may have created by grading students work in red ink, Elliot said. In addition to red ink being equated with mistakes, the color in any form may lead people to errors en route to any type of achievement, he said.

While the color blue is seen as having a calming effect, exposure to red can "adrenalize" and agitate people, said Mary Anne Knapp, a clinical social worker for Counseling and Psychological Services at Penn State.

"If a student is already anxious, sitting in a red room to take a test could make them more hyper-vigilant and interfere with their ability to focus," she said.

According to a University of Rochester press release, experiments that demonstrated the brief perception of red prior to an important test -- such as an IQ test or a major exam -- actually impaired performance.

Further experiments completed by Elliot also established the link between red and avoidance motivation -- a theory based on the idea that all people have an ultimate goal to avoid failure, making it difficult for them to complete tasks.

Those who experience avoidance motivation worry to the point where they can no longer be successful in any situation, he said.

"It's like trying to shoot a free throw and you're worried that you'll blow it. So you start to shake and your hands get sweaty until finally you don't make the shot. It's the same academically," Elliot said.

Some students even chant to themselves during exams about how they don't know anything, Knapp said. While it's OK to have a moderate level of anxiety, students need to get these kinds of thoughts out of their heads, she said.

Although Knapp agrees color can certainly be a factor in testing situations, she said it is not where she believes most test anxiety lies. While seeing red could cause some individuals to be more anxious, she said someone feeling lethargic at the beginning of an exam may benefit from seeing the color red.

There are multiple levels of test anxiety, but the type of anxiety experience depends on the student, said Faith Miller, learning skills coordinator at the University Learning Center at Penn State.

Students are more likely to become anxious going into an exam if they don't get enough sleep or aren't eating well, Miller said, adding that students in general need to remember to take care of themselves.

Both Miller and Knapp suggest relaxation techniques and exercise as great outlets for anxiety that can also help boost confidence levels before an exam.

"A lot of students tend to cram before an exam which is stressful in itself," Miller said. "So when studying, use your time effectively."

Students who are aware of the possible effects the color red might have on their anxiety may be able to avoid any negative outcomes of seeing the color before an exam, depending on how they handle anxiety, Elliot said.

Knapp said students should not fall back on attitudes such as procrastination, perfection and panic, emphasizing that test results are not life and death. Instead, she recommends students challenge their way of thinking by focusing on the task at hand and studying ahead of time.

"Find a question that you do know to help build a feeling of success," Knapp said. "Try to separate yourself from your sense of self worth."