The Hungarian Adaptation of the Brief Friedben Test Anxiety Scale (B-FTAS): University Students’ Levels of Test Anxiety and Gender Differences

Abstract

Test anxiety significantly impacts university students’ academic performance and mental well-being. Therefore, valid, reliable, and easily applicable instruments are crucial for assessing test anxiety and monitoring changes over time. While several instruments are available in the Hungarian literature; no questionnaire based on the biopsychosocial model is currently available in the Hungarian context. Another limitation is that relatively few studies have examined levels of test anxiety and gender differences among Hungarian students. The present study aimed to adapt the Brief Friedben Test Anxiety Scale (B-FTAS) into Hungarian, to describe the test anxiety of first-year university students, and to investigate gender differences. A total of 1,792 students admitted to the University of Szeged participated in the research. They completed the 12-item, six-point Likert-type questionnaire through the eDia online system. In line with the theoretical model, confirmatory factor analysis identified three factors: Social Derogation, Cognitive Obstruction, and Tension. The results indicated that the Hungarian version of the B-FTAS is a reliable and valid tool for measuring test anxiety. In the sample, 20.6% of students showed high, 68.2% moderate, and 11.2% low levels of test anxiety. Consistent with previous international and Hungarian findings, female students reported significantly higher levels of test anxiety, particularly on the Social Derogation and Tension subscales. These findings expand our understanding of test anxiety and may provide a foundation for the design and effective implementation of targeted interventions.