An investigation of the reasons for test anxiety, time spent studying, and achievement among adolescents in Taiwan

ABSTRACT

Students of middling achievement who achieve intermediate results on the Basic Competence Test, a national high-stakes entrance examination in Taiwan, experience the highest test anxiety. The present study explored why such students experienced greater test anxiety and the source of that anxiety. A questionnaire survey was administered to 5,220 Taiwanese Grade 9 students in order to collect data on test anxiety, reasons for test anxiety, time spent on study, and frequency of cram school attendance. Data regarding students’ achievement on the Basic Competence Test were also collected. The research findings were as follows: First, students of middling achievement had higher test anxiety than their peers. Second, the reasons for their test anxiety also varied according to levels of academic performance – students with middling achievement experienced anxiety about the possibility of not being admitted to a state school (which are more prestigious than private schools in Taiwan). Third, students of middling achievement spent approximately the same amount of time studying as top students but more time studying at cram schools. The findings indicate that students of middle achievement might experience greater test anxiety because they spend more time studying but still run the risk of not being admitted to a state school.

KEYWORDS:

• Adolescents
• Examination Stress Scale
• test anxiety
• time spent studying
• uncertainty

Disclosure statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan [101-2511-S-003-058-MY3,102-2511-S-003-001-MY3,102-2911-I-003-301]; Higher Education Sprout Project of the Ministry of Education, Taiwan [HESP_2019].

Notes on contributors

Tzu-Yang Chao

Tzu-Yang Chao, Ph. D., is a Senior Research Faculty in the Research Center for Psychological and Educational Testing, National Taiwan Normal University. His research interests include measurement theory, test anxiety of adolescents, and teacher education.

Yao-Ting Sung

Yao-Ting Sung, Ph. D., is a Chair Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, National Taiwan Normal University. His research interests include computer assisted testing, psychological and educational testing, and career information analysis and application.