INFLUENCE OF STUDY SKILLS AND TEST ANXIETY ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE TAMALE METROPOLIS

This study was conducted to examine the influence of study skills and test anxiety on the academic performance of Senior High School (SHS) students in the Tamale metropolis of Ghana. A correlational research design was adopted for the study to investigate the relationships among these variables. The multi-stage sampling technique was employed to sample 354 SHS students to respond to the Study Skills and Test Anxiety Inventory tools. The academic performance of students was determined by computing the average test scores of students from two-semester examinations records in Mathematics, English Language, Integrated Science and Social Studies. Descriptive and inferential statistical tools as well as Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient were employed to analyze the data. The study found significant positive relationships between SHS students‟ study skills and their academic performance. The results of the study further indicated that study skills significantly predicted the academic performance of SHS students. However, the study found no significant difference in the study skills of male and female SHS students. It was concluded based on the findings that, study skills and test anxiety largely influenced the academic performance of SHS students. It was therefore recommended that, school authorities such as the school heads should provide adequate resources for school counsellors to equip students with study skills in the various SHS to enable them improve their academic performance and, also overcome test related anxieties in the schools within the Tamale Metropolis.