Abstract

Background: Test anxiety (TA) is a significant psychological challenge affecting medical students globally, with prevalence rates ranging from 25% to 40%. The high-stakes nature of medical education, where academic performance directly influences future career opportunities and clinical competence, makes the severity of TA particularly concerning among this population.
Methodology: The current cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 medical students from 2nd to 6th year at Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies. Data were collected using an online questionnaire including the Westside TA Scale. Descriptive and analytical statistics were performed to assess the prevalence and identify associated risk factors.
Results: The current study detected a high prevalence of TA among medical students (58.2). The highest global TA level was observed among 4th year (38.02%), followed by 2nd year (17%) students. While the highest level of extremely high TA was detected in 3rd year (11.1%), followed by 6th year (5.4%) students. TA was negatively correlated with academic performance, but the relationship did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.12). Risk factors for TA included high coffee/tea consumption and dissatisfaction with hospital training, clinical skill acquisition, teaching strategy, lecture information, and lecture requirements.
Conclusion: The study highlights the high prevalence of TA among medical students at Ibn Sina College, with variations observed across academic years. Addressing modifiable risk factors, such as improving the educational environment, providing better practical training, and increasing awareness about TA coping strategies, may help mitigate the impact of TA on medical students’ well-being and academic success.

Key words: Test anxiety, medical students, prevalence, risk factors, academic performance.