Examination Anxiety as a Correlate of Public Senior Secondary School Students’ Achievement in Mathematics and English Language

Abstract

In this study, the researchers investigated examination anxiety as a correlate of public senior secondary school students’ achievement in mathematics and English language in Imo State Nigeria. To achieve the aims of the study, two research questions were asked and two corresponding hypotheses were formulated and tested. The study adopted a correlational design involving a simple and multiple linear methods. The population of the study is 94,963 students. The researchers drew a sample of 398 students from 18 selected secondary schools using multistage sampling technique involving purposive and simple random sampling techniques. Rating scale and achievement test were the instruments for collection of data. Five copies of the instruments were given to two specialists in the field of Education Measurement and Evaluation and three specialists in Educational Psychology, Imo State University, Owerri and Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri for validation. Reliability coefficients of 0.81 for PFS and 0.88 for MELAT were obtained using Cronbach Alpha and Kudder-Richardson Formula 20 (KR-20) respectively. The researcher used Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC) and multiple linear correlation statistics to answer the research questions while t-test of the significance of Pearson r’ and F-test of the significance of the coefficient of multiple correlation were used to test the hypotheses. The result revealed among others that examination anxiety has high but negative and non-significant coefficient of relationship with students’ achievement in Mathematics and English Language. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended, among others, that principals should implement strategies that foster a supportive and engaging learning environment in order to stimulate students’ interest, build confidence, and cultivate a growth mindset, ultimately enhancing motivation and academic achievement in Mathematics and English Language.