CAUSES, CONSEQUENCES AND PREVENALENCES OF TEST ANXIETY AMONG UNDERGRADUATES IN NIGERIA UNIVERSITY

The srudy was designed to investigate the causes, consequences, and prevalence of test anxier among undergraduate students in Nigerian University, more specifically Adekunle Ajasin University: dungba-akoko. The population of the study consisted of students in Adekunle Ajasin University: Akungba Akoko. Ondo State. The sample of the study consisted of three hundred (300) undergraduate students randomly selected from all the faculties in Adekunle Ajasin University A stratified random sampling technique was used to select students across all six faculties which give respondents the chances of being selected for the research All the questionnaires was retrieved from the respondents and were screened, coded into frequency tables while simple percentage, and inferential statistics were used to analyses result. Hypotheses were accepted or rejected at alpha level 0.05 and degree of freedom. Base on the findings revealed that Family expectations and peer comparison are seen as less significant contributors by most students. Limited exam time and pressure to perform well increase students stress levels Test anxiety is widespread, affecting students emotionally, mentally, and physically: Common symptoms inchide worrying difficulty focusing, and sleeplesmess, especially during exams The hypothesis testing results revealed statistically significant differences in the perceived causes. prevalence, and consequences off anxiety bused on gender and age among undergraduate students at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungbo-/koko (AAUA). For gender, independent samples I-tests showed significant results: HI (t = -4.16. p = 0.005), H2 (t = -3.10, af- 298, p - 0.002), and H3 (1--3.82p < 0.005), Leading to the rejection of the mull hypotheses and indicating gender influences students perceptions of test anxiety. Similarly, one-way ANOVA tests for age showed significant findings: H4 (F - 4.137, p - 0.007), H5 (F - 3.276, p - 0.022), and H6 (F - 3.914. p = 0.009), also resulting in the rejection of the null hypotheses. These results confirm that both gender and age significantly influence how students perceive the causes, prevalence. and consequences oftest anxiety Therefore, it was concluded that test anxiety among undergraduate students is mainly caused by academic pressures, poor preparation, and intense competition within the university environment It was recommended that it is important for universities to offer services like counseling, stress management workshops, and academic support programs to help students overcome these challenges and succeed both academically and personally.