Adapting the Cognitive Test Anxiety Scale for use with Argentinean University Students

A new Spanish version of the Cognitive Test Anxiety Scale (CTAS) was created to be used explicitly with Argentinean university students. The scale was translated and verified through blind back translation and given to a large sample of students majoring in psychology or chemistry (N = 752). Exploratory Factor Analysis (N = 376) showed an internal structure of two factors that differed from the established English version of the CTAS. Examination of the items revealed that the factors were likely influenced by the phrasing of items that were originally designed to have several items require endorsement of low anxiety. Confirmatory factor analyses (N = 376) were conducted to compare the fit of three models for the scale. The results demonstrated that a 16-item single-factor solution was the preferable model. Further analyses demonstrated strong internal consistency, and test-retest stability of the short Spanish version. Results support the utility of the scale in future transcultural research on test anxiety with American and Argentinean learners.