Does test anxiety affect the academic performance of IX standard students?

Abstract

The present study investigated the effect of test anxiety on the academic performance of IX standard students in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu. Using a stratified random sampling technique, 135 secondary school students were selected, and their test anxiety was measured using the Test Anxiety Scale developed by V. P. Sharma (1997). The study examined differences in test anxiety and academic performance with respect to gender, medium of instruction, type of school, nature of school, and locality. The findings revealed that there was no significant difference in test anxiety across any of the background variables. However, significant differences were found in academic performance, with female students, English-medium students, government-aided school students, and students studying in single-sex schools achieving higher academic performance than their counterparts. Further analysis showed no significant relationship between test anxiety and academic performance among male students, whereas a significant relationship was observed among female students. The study concludes that test anxiety can influence academic achievement, particularly among female secondary school students, highlighting the need for appropriate interventions by teachers, parents, and schools to help students manage anxiety and improve academic outcomes.

Keywords