A Brief Discussion of the Social Impact of the IELTS in the Society of China

As one of the most commonly utilised assessment means of the English language, IELTS is attracting a sheer volume of test candidates in China, which unambiguously has social implications in China. This article briefly discussed the social impact of IELTS in China, including shift in profession, life-changing potential and test anxiety. At the end of this paper, there is a call for more body of knowledge on impacts of international examination such as IELTS towards social and economy in China as currently there is a dearth of studies in this topic.

Higher education blended learning: a network study of student learning paths

For the aim of this research, a model of students' learning pathways as a network that records time and sequence of learning events is introduced. These learning pathways networks also establish the online learning rate. Results demonstrate that pupils who passed learned more online than those who failed. The findings of the person-centered study demonstrate that only test anxiety affects the number of nodes and arcs of the individual learning pathway network, which was represented as an individual network. Also, the qualities of social networks are influenced by how active or inactive users are. There is evidence to back up the theory that pupils who are driven to learn do not necessarily study more information. As a result of exam anxiety, engagement, and disengagement, the learning pathways of individuals are shaped and reshaped throughout time.

Factors affecting test anxiety: a qualitative analysis of medical students’ views

Background Medical students are vulnerable to test anxiety (TA), which impacts their professional lives and jeopardizes the optimal health care of their patients. The qualitative exploration of TA among medical students is crucial to understanding the problem. Hence, this study examined medical students’ insights into TA and their suggestions on how to reduce it. Methods We conducted a phenomenological study on medical students at a public university. We utilized focus group discussions (FGDs) to investigate their experiences of TA. The FGDs were transcribed verbatim, and these transcripts were analyzed using Atlas.ti software. The thematic analysis followed the recommended guidelines. Results Seven FGD sessions were conducted with 45 students. Three major themes emerged: the students, their academic resources, and the examiner. Each theme comprised mutually exclusive subthemes. The “students” theme was divided into negative vs. positive thoughts and self-negligence vs. self-care, “academic recources” into heavy curriculum vs. facilitative curricular aids, and “examiner” into criticism vs. feedback and strict vs. kind approaches. Conclusion This study provides a solid foundation for policymakers and decision makers in medical education to improve current assessment practices and student well-being. Medical students will be able to significantly alter and reduce TA if they are provided with additional psychological support and their examiners are trained on how to deal with examinees.

Testing times: the association of intolerance of uncertainty and metacognitive beliefs to test anxiety in college students

Background Test anxiety has a detrimental effect on test performance but current interventions for test anxiety have limited efficacy. Therefore, examination of newer psychological models of test anxiety is now required. Two transdiagnostic psychological models of emotional disorders that can account for anxiety are the intolerance of uncertainty model (IUM) and the Self-Regulatory Executive Function (S-REF) model. Intolerance of uncertainty, the stable disposition to find uncertainty distressing, is central to the IUM, while beliefs about thinking, metacognition, are central to the S-REF model. We tested for the first time the role of both intolerance of uncertainty and metacognitive beliefs in test anxiety. Methods A cross-sectional design was used, with college students (n = 675) completing questionnaires assessing their test anxiety, intolerance of uncertainty, and metacognitive beliefs. Hierarchical linear regressions examined if intolerance of uncertainty and metacognitive beliefs were associated with test anxiety, after controlling for age and gender. Results Females reported significantly more test anxiety than males. Partial correlations, controlling for gender, found intolerance of uncertainty and metacognitive beliefs were significantly and positively correlated with test anxiety. Hierarchical linear regressions found metacognitive beliefs explained an additional 13% of variance in test anxiety, after controlling for intolerance of uncertainty. When the order of entry was reversed, intolerance of uncertainty was only able to explain an additional 2% of variance, after controlling for metacognitive beliefs. In the final regression model, gender, intolerance of uncertainty and the metacognitive belief domains of ‘negative beliefs about the uncontrollability and danger of worry’ and ‘cognitive confidence’ were all significantly associated test anxiety, with ‘negative beliefs about the uncontrollability and danger of worry’ having the largest association. Conclusions Both intolerance of uncertainty and metacognitive beliefs are linked to test anxiety, but results suggest metacognitive beliefs have more explanatory utility, providing greater support for the S-REF model. Modification of intolerance of uncertainty and metacognitive beliefs could alleviate test anxiety and help students fulfil their academic potential.

EFFECT OF TEST ANXIETY ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE: A SURVEY STUDY OF PUNJAB SECONDARY SCHOOLS

This research inquiry was conducted to probe the consequence of test anxiety on students’ academic performance. The research design was descriptive, while the quantitative research approach adopted for the purpose of collecting and interpreting the desired information. 504 students (252 male and 252 female students) of the 10th class were selected as sample from nine cities of Punjab. The Westside Test Anxiety Scale for measuring test anxiety which was prepared by Richard Driscoll, Ph.D. available on the American Test Anxiety Association web was used to gauge the test anxiety of the students. For statistical investigation and interpretation, Pearson r was exercised. The findings of the study supported the research hypothesis as a significant correlation (r= -.072*) in students with higher anxiety and their academic performance and in students with low anxiety with their academic performance (r= -.083*) was found. The study also hypothesized that as the degree of anxiety raisin the level of academic performance would decline and vice versa. The value of Pearson r showed a significant connection between test anxiety and academic achievement/ performance as p< .05. Thus the null hypotheses of the study were rejected.

Personality, Learning Strategies, and School Performance in Adolescents

The aim of this study is to analyze the relationships between personality factors, learning strategies and school performance in adolescents. The study was attended by 499 students enrolled in seven high schools in Constanța County, 240 boys (48%) and 259 girls (52%), aged between 14 and 18 years, M = 16.80, SD = .82. The instruments used were the Questionnaire for Learning Strategies and School Motivation Assessment, SMALSI (Stroud & Reynolds, 2006) and the CP5F Questionnaire (Albu, 2008) based on the Five-Factor Personality Inventory, FFPI (Hendriks, 1997). School performance was represented by the general grade obtained by the students in the previous year of study. The results showed that, among the personality factors, only agreableness and autonomy are positively associated with school performance. However, personality factors are positively associated with learning strategies, which mediate the relationship between them and school performance. Students' weaknesses (low academic motivation, test anxiety, attention difficulties) are negatively associated with academic performance and mediate its relationship with personality factors. The practical implications of the study address the need to provide students with appropriate learning opportunities and especially to teach them how to learn, in order to adopt the most appropriate strategies that will lead them to success.

Effect of Frequent Testing on Students’ Test Anxiety at University Level

This study was designed to find out the effect of frequent Testing on students’ test anxiety scores in research method course at university level. The study was expected to predict the worry and emotional factor scores of test anxiety on frequent testing. A quasi-experimental pre-test post-test control group design was used in this study. Two intact groups were selected from department of science education, University of the Punjab, Lahore. The researcher has adopted the test anxiety Inventory by Spielberger (1980) to find out the students’ test anxiety. The reliability was analyzed through the pilot testing of the instrument. The interventional group was manipulated by frequent testing. The control group was assessed by conventional method. Both groups were compared on test anxiety scores. After analyzing the data, it was observed that both groups experience the same test anxiety in regard to worry and emotional factor. Frequent testing did not effect the test anxiety of students in research method course. Stakeholders and evaluators will benefit from the information gathered on how to lessen test anxiety in order to improve the teaching-learning process in classroom. To strengthen the teaching and learning process in classrooms, it is necessary to increase confidence in prospective teachers.

THE EFFECT OF TEST ANXIETY IN IX CLASS STUDENTS

Test anxiety is a Psychological condition that the students face anxiety and stress in test performance. Test performance of the students leads to poor achievement, and phobia related to the examination. The researcher has chosen purposive sampling technique for the study with sample of 100 students (50 males and 50 females) studying IX class. The data collected from the students and t- test formulated for the analysis of data. The results show that signicant difference between female and male students on test anxiety.

Exploring anxiety awareness during academic science examinations

There is a developing interdisciplinary research field which has been trying to integrate results and expertise from various scientific areas, such as affective computing, pedagogical methodology and psychological appraisal theories, into learning environments. Moreover, anxiety recognition and regulation has attracted the interest of researchers as an important factor in the implementation of advanced learning environments. The present article explores the test anxiety and stress awareness of university students who are attending a science course during examinations. Real-time anxiety awareness as provided by biofeedback during science exams in an academic environment is shown to have a positive effect on the anxiety students experience and on their self-efficacy regarding examinations. Furthermore, the relevant research identifies a significant relationship between the students’ anxiety level and their performance. Finally, the current study indicates that the students’ anxiety awareness as provided by biofeedback is related to their performance, a relationship that is mediated and explained by the students’ anxiety.