An investigation of possible correlation of general anxiety with performance in eleven-plus scores in year 6 primary school pupils

Abstract

This study focuses on measuring levels of anxiety experienced by 11‐year‐olds in their last year at primary school and aims to investigate the effect of anxiety on pupils’ performance in eleven‐plus tests. The Taylor Manifest Anxiety Test was used to determine individual levels of anxiety amongst a Year 6 cohort. Their final test scores in the eleven‐plus examination were used as a measure of their overall performance. Correlations were carried out to see if there was any link between levels of anxiety and performance in eleven‐plus for the group as a whole and in terms of gender. There appeared to be no significant link between levels of high anxiety and poor exam performance. However, although there seemed to be no apparent correlation, highly anxious boys performed well in the eleven‐plus examination, as did highly anxious girls.