Test anxiety prevalance and related variables in the students who are going to take the university entrance examination

Abstract

Objective: Test anxiety is common among students and has adverse effects on their exam performance. This study firstly focused on finding the prevalence of test anxiety. The second aim was to identify the predictors of test anxiety and its related variables among students who are going to take the university entrance exam. Method: Totally 436 students (girls=220, boys=216) who were randomly recruited from four different schools to represent all the students who will take the University Entrance Examination in Sivas city centre participated in the study. The students filled in the Socio-demographic Data Form sociodemographic form, Test Anxiety Inventory (TAI), Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) and Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS). Results: Test anxiety was detected in the 48.0% of students (n=208). Additionally, exam anxiety was found in 40.3% of the males (n=87) and in 55.8% of the girls (n=121) and the difference between them was statistically significant (p<0.001). There was a statistically significant relation between test anxiety and WURS, ASRS, STAI-II (Trait anxiety), LSAS anxiety, BDI scores. The symptoms of depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), social anxiety avoidant behavior, and the state of taking additional courses were found as the independence factors that affect the exam anxiety. A lifetime rate of suicide attempts were significantly more in those with exam anxiety. There was a relationship between test anxiety and the time spent for internet. Conclusion: Approximately half of the students taking the university entrance exams feel a high level of test anxiety. It may be useful for the test anxiety prevention programs to include the screening and treatment of ADHD, depression and social anxiety.