Relationship between self-efficacy and academic achievement among higher secondary school students

Self-efficacy plays a crucial role in students’ academic motivation, persistence, and achievement. The present study investigates the relationship between self-efficacy and academic achievement among higher secondary school students. A descriptive survey method was adopted, and a stratified random sample of 576 higher secondary school students was selected from Thiruvarur District. The Self-Efficacy Scale developed by Mathur and Bhatnagar (2012) was used to measure self-efficacy, while academic achievement was measured using students’ aggregate marks in the 11th standard examination. Statistical techniques such as mean, standard deviation, t-test, and Pearson’s product-moment correlation were employed. The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between self-efficacy and academic achievement. Female students demonstrated higher self-efficacy than male students, while no significant difference was found based on locality. The study highlights the importance of fostering self-efficacy to improve students’ academic performance.