The anxiety level versus performance in mathematics for engineering undergraduates in UniMAP

Abstract

This study did a survey on the level of anxiety on a mathematics subject of 1274 first semester undergraduates in Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) using the established instrument of Abbreviated Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale (A-MARS) that was adjusted to fit with the Malaysia education environment. Due to this adjustment, reliability test was initially conducted. This was to make sure that the quality of the instrument is not affected and as expected, it shows a good reliability level. Then, this study proceeds with the main objective, which were to study the anxiety level of mathematics among the respondents of engineering programs based on some of their demographic nature (gender, race, and higher entrance qualification). Overall, the results indicated that the anxiety level of the respondents was moderate. In specific, male respondents have the same anxiety level in mathematics as female respondents. In terms of race, Malay shows the highest level of anxiety, followed by Chinese, Others, and Indian. As for higher entrance qualification, all respondents show a fair level of anxiety in Mathematics. As for correlation, high anxiety levels with low grade and moderate anxiety levels with moderate grade in the overall mathematics were having a positive and moderate relationship and low anxiety level with high grade shows a strong and positive relationship.