Academic Achievement of University Undergraduates Correlated with their Test Anxiety: A Study Among Medical Students in Public Universities, South-East, Nigeria.

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate test anxiety and academic achievement among medical students in public universities in Anambra State, South-east Nigeria. Two research questions guided the study. The design of the study was cross-sectional correlation designs. Nine hundred medical students from the two public universities in Anambra State was the population; hence, the method of Yamane, 1976 was used to draw out 400 students as a sample from the population. Test anxiety data were collected from the students, using adapted questionnaire from Spielberger Merit Anxiety Inventory. The sample consists of 200 males and 200 females. Each student’s last professional examination average score was collected. The collected data were coded and analyzed, using Pearson Moment Correlation (r) as statistical tool. Correlation analysis revealed that there was positive relationship between student’s test anxiety scores and their academic grade scores (GS). Further, Pearson moment correlation test analysis indicated that there was non-significant relationship between test anxiety and academic achievement of medical students. However, when gender was considered, there was negative, but non-significant correlation between test anxiety and academic achievement of male medical students. It was recommended among others that the university authorities should create test anxiety awareness in the university and provide learning environment that promotes tolerable level of test anxiety that will stimulate students to learn well and keep learning.