Test anxiety and attitudes among Year 5 state school pupils

Abstract

The aim of this research is to investigate the relationship between test anxiety and scholastic achievement among year 5 pupils. It is also the concern of this study to establish the level of test anxiety and pupils' attitudes towards exams and school subjects. The relationship between pupils' level of anxiety and their attainment is measured, and the role of gender, age and stream in the relationship between pupils' attitudes and test anxiety and achievement and test anxiety is determined. The sample collected was made up of 600 year 5 pupils, consisting of 302 boys and 298 girls from 14 state primary schools, during the scholastic year 1997/98. The Test Anxiety Inventory, which is a standardised test, was adapted and administered, whilst a second Exam Attitude questionnaire was constructed for present purposes and administered with the TAI. The results obtained indicate that, on the whole, pupils have a low anxiety level, and demonstrate positive attitudes towards exams. Females have shown higher levels of test anxiety than males, although they seem to hold basically the same attitudes. Furthermore, anxiety has been found to be detrimental to performance, though attitudes do not seem to be influenced by performance. Moreover, results indicate that both genders perform relatively equally, whilst a relationship was found between age and performance. Streaming resulted as an important factor which influences anxiety, nevertheless it seems to have no correlation to attitudes. In conclusion, a strong relationship was found between test anxiety and pupils' attitudes. Coping strategies for test situations are also briefly outlined.