“Behind the Scores”: A Qualitative Exploration of Mock Exam Experiences Among University Entrance Candidates
International Journal of Educational Reform, 2026 (Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1177/10567879261472809
- Dergi Adı: International Journal of Educational Reform
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus, EBSCO Education Source, Education Abstracts, Educational research abstracts (ERA), ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Education Source Ultimate (EBSCO)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: academic success, exam anxiety, exam moment, qualitative study, university entrance exam
- İnönü Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
This qualitative study seeks to address how high school students preparing for the university entrance examination navigate their experiences during mock exams. The participants were 50 high school students. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis, which yielded six major themes: the subject that started at the beginning of the exam session, responses to challenging questions, environmental and internal distractions during the exam, emotional reactions when torn between two options, coping strategies under time pressure, and procedures related to optical form completion. Themes offered deeper insight into students' stress responses, time management struggles, and decision-making processes during test-taking.