Examination of the Relationship Between Test Anxiety and Selective Attention Among Adolescents

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the predictive level of test anxiety and selective attention skills on test performances of adolescents, who are studying in public and private schools and took high school entrance exams in 2015-2016. The sample of this study consists of 258 8 th grade students in total, including 134 boys and 124 girls, between 13-14 ages. The data of the study were obtained from d2 Test of Attention, Test Anxiety Inventory and from TEOG exams. After examination of the results of the study, it has been indicated that there is a significant relationship between students’ performance on high school entrance exams and selective attention skills. As the quality of student’s visual scanning accuracy, rule compliance and attention performance increase during the exam, test performance increases as well. Likewise, as the students’ negative thoughts about themselves and negative assessments about failing their exams increase, then test performance decreases.