Assessment of Anxiety Levels Among Students Preparing for University Entrance Examinations in Lagos State

Examination anxiety among secondary school students preparing for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination is a significant psychological concern with implications for performance and wellbeing in South West Nigeria. This study assessed the levels and correlates of UTME-related anxiety among SS3 students in Lagos State. A descriptive survey was conducted among 350 final-year students from ten secondary schools in Ikeja and Alimosho LGAs, using stratified random sampling. The Test Anxiety Inventory adapted for UTME candidates was administered, along with a sociodemographic questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and one-way ANOVA. Results showed that 66.9 percent of students experienced moderate to high test anxiety. Worry was the dominant anxiety component (mean = 3.72 out of 5), followed by emotionality (mean = 3.41). Students with a history of UTME failure showed significantly higher anxiety than first-attempt candidates (p < 0.001). Parental pressure was identified as a significant exacerbating factor by 74.6 percent of high-anxiety students. Female students scored higher on the emotionality subscale than males (p < 0.05). Only 27.1 percent of students had accessed any form of test preparation counselling. The study concludes that UTME-related anxiety is prevalent and inadequately addressed in Lagos secondary schools and recommends structured examination skills counselling, relaxation training, and UTME preparation workshops delivered by qualified school counsellors in the final academic year. Keywords: examination anxiety, UTME, secondary school students, Lagos State, test anxiety