Hypothesizing Cognitive Test Anxiety and Academic Performance by Gender and Grade Levels of Colleges of Education Students in Ghana

Abstract:

Psychologicalfactors such astest and examination anxiety and stress are important indicators of students’ learning outcomes and academic performance. This surveylooked at cognitive test anxiety and examination scores of college of education students by gender and grade level differences. A total of 236 teacher trainees were selected via stratified and random sampling techniques for the survey. The cognitive test anxiety scale [CTAS] (α=0.91) by Cassady and Johnson (2002) was used to conduct the survey.Frequency count, percentage and independent samples t-test were computedwith the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. The study revealed high levels of examination anxiety among female students (p=0.004), but the cognitive test anxiety between level 100 and level 200 studentswas statistically insignificant (p ≥ .05). It is recommended that teachers, parents and educational administrators should support and boost the self-esteem of college of education students through cognitive, affective, motivational and behavioural strategies.