Examination anxiety among secondary school students in Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Examination is usually a major source of concern to students. This study therefore, investigated examination anxiety among secondary school students in Edo State, Nigeria. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The participants were 2,052 secondary school students aged 10-18 years randomly sampled from the population of 151,239. The instrument employed was an adapted questionnaire titled: Examination Behaviour Assessment Scale (EBAS). The percentage and bar chart methods were employed to analyse the collected data and it yielded the following results: Secondary school students in Edo State experienced moderate level of examination anxiety, such as rapid heartbeat, sweating palm, feeling of vomiting, feeling like fainting, trembling, frequent urination and restlessness. The study recommended, among others, that government should adapt a new approach to testing that will focus on evaluating students through progress report that describe their efforts, achievements, strengths and weaknesses without necessarily using grades. Other assessment procedures apart from progress report that may be employed include: formative assessment, informal assessment such as checking for understanding, quizzes and summative techniques. Also, there should be school intervention programmes that will involve all stakeholders in education processes such as the government, students, teachers, psychologists, parents, guidance counsellors and the ministries of education in order to remove factors that inhibit learning. The school Guidance Counsellors and Psychologists should encourage stakeholders in the learning process to promote good study habits, provide learning materials and facilities that will build self confidence in the students, thereby reducing anxiety over examination.

Keywords: Examination Anxiety, Adolescents, Secondary School Students, Examination Phobia, Test Anxiety