PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS' ATTITUDE AND PERCEPTION TOWARDS TEST-TAKING IN BENIN METROPOLIS

Abstract

The study investigated public secondary school students' attitude and perception towards test taking in Benin Metropolis, Edo State. It examined the perception of secondary school students towards test taking and determined sex, school location, school type and age of
students as it predicts students' attitude and performance of test taking. The population of the study consisted of all public secondary school students in Benin metropolis, with students' population of 4997. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The sample size of the study was 400 students who were selected randomly from 94 schools using simple random sampling technique. A self-designed titled “Attitude and Perception of Students Towards Test-taking Questionnaire (APSTQ).” was adapted from Taylor (2013) quantitative study on students' perception and attitude of standardize testing. The instrument was validated, and the reliability was ascertained using the Cronbach Alpha reliability, with a reliability index of 0.84. The data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation and the ordinal regression statistics at 0.05 level of significance. The results from the findings of the study showed that public secondary school students' attitude and perception of test taking was positive, and a statistically significant relationship existed between students' attitude of test taking and the location of school. Location and type of students' school increases the likelihood of the attitude of the students in test taking activities. It was also revealed that attitude towards test taking of secondary school students was not dependent on sex, or age. It was therefore recommended that seminars and workshops should be organized for teacher on the art of test construction, administration and scoring, and students should be encouraged on the art of test taking so as to remove fear and anxiety from the students.