Exam anxiety levels among fourth-year middle school students in Algerian schools: A survey study of a sample of four middle schools in the Bouhadjar district of El Tarf province

Abstract

The current study aimed to reveal the actual level of exam anxiety among fourth-year middle school students preparing for the intermediate education certificate exam. Based on a number of observations indicating the presence of exam anxiety among students preparing for official exams (fourth year of middle school), this study sought to investigate its relationship to the variables of gender and repeating a grade, given that exam anxiety is a psychological phenomenon that warrants investigation from all angles. The descriptive-comparative method was used, and the study was conducted on a sample of (323) male and female students selected using a survey method from the research population, which is the same as the research sample: fourth-year middle school classes in the middle schools of Bouhadjar and Hammam Beni Saleh districts in El Tarf province. To achieve the objectives of this study the study used Sarason's Exam Anxiety Scale as a research tool. Students not repeating a grade were taking their first official exam, which could be a crucial decision for their academic future, while repeating students were experiencing the prior failure of the exam. The results showed that the majority of the students exhibited moderate levels of exam anxiety, with a relatively small percentage reporting high level. Low levels of exam anxiety were found among the research sample. Differences were also found in average exam anxiety scores based on gender, favoring females, and differences were also found based on whether the student was repeating a grade. The fourth group, those preparing for official exams, specifically the BEM certificate, had their results discussed in light of the study sample characteristics and previous research. This study can be considered a preliminary investigation into the problem of exam anxiety.