Jurnal Integrasi dan Harmoni Inovatif Ilmu-ilmu Sosial
Vol. 6 No. 3 (2026)

Investigating the relationship between test anxiety and ambiguity tolerance on EFL learners’ performance in written classroom assessment

Hussien Jawad Abdulridha (Al-Zahraa University for Women)
Umulbaneen Alaulddin Salih (Al-Zahraa University for Women)
Wrood Hashim Altaai (Al-Zahraa University for Women)
Ruqayay Raad Kadhim (Al-Zahraa University for Women)
Raneem Hussein Aliwi (Al-Zahraa University for Women)
Zainab Ali Adnan Abdul-Hur (Al-Zahraa University for Women)



Article Info

Publish Date
10 Jul 2026

Abstract

This study examined the relationships between test anxiety, ambiguity tolerance and written classroom assessment performance among EFL university students. The data were gathered using Westside Test Anxiety Scale and Second Language Ambiguity Tolerance Scale along with a 15-mark written classroom assessment. Descriptive statistics were used to report the means and ranges of test anxiety and ambiguity tolerance; the results showed that most students reported high levels of test anxiety and that the levels of ambiguity tolerance varied. Correlational analyses indicated a small but statistically significant negative correlation (r = −.25, p < .05) between test anxiety and tolerance for ambiguity. Multiple regression analysis indicated that the combination of test anxiety and ambiguity tolerance explained 36% of the variance in written assessment performance (R² = .36). Finally, test anxiety was found to be a statistically significant negative predictor of students' written assessment scores, while ambiguity tolerance was a statistically significant positive predictor. Notably, students who achieved the highest scores exhibited the lowest levels of test anxiety and the highest levels of ambiguity tolerance. The results indicate that both emotional and cognitive factors are important predictors of written English as a Foreign Language (EFL) assessment performance.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

fis

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Education Environmental Science Social Sciences

Description

Jurnal Integrasi Dan Harmoni Inovatif Ilmu-Ilmu Sosial (JIHI3S) is a journal focused on articles of research and community service in social sciences and humanities such as civics, laws, history, economics, sociology, geography, anthropology, politics, culture, religion, and also educational ...