Examination of the Psychometric Properties of the Test Anxiety Scale for Elementary Students (TAS-E) Scores

The psychometric properties of the Test Anxiety Scale for Elementary Students (TAS-E) scores were examined. In Study 1, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed on the responses of 997 students in Grades 2 to 6 on the TAS-E. The results of the EFA produced a four-factor solution: Physiological Hyperarousal, Social Concerns, Task Irrelevant Behavior, and Worry. Gender differences were also found on each factor, except the Social Concerns factor. In Study 2, a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed on the TAS-E scores with a sample of 421 elementary students. The CFA results provided support for the four-factor solution in Study 1. The results also indicated that the TAS-E scores had adequate internal consistency reliability and test score stability. Evidence for convergent and discriminant validity of the TAS-E scores was found.