The Impact of Self-efficacy on Mathematics Achievement of Primary School Children

The present study explored the relationship between mathematics self-efficacy and mathematics achievement amongst primary school children (N = 805) studying in grades 3, 4, and 5 of single gender schools in Lahore. The instrument battery consisted of Mathematics Self-efficacy Questionnaires (Anjum, 2004), Mathematics Placement Tests (Anjwn, 2004), and Mathematics School Tests from Countdown Level Maths (Downes, Paling, & Dudeja, 2003a, 2003b, 2003c). A significant correlation was detected between mathematics self-efficacy and mathematics achievement in grade 3 which progressively increased for grades 4 and 5. Mathematics self-efficacy of girls was positively correlated to mathematics achievement at all grade levels whereas significant correlation was detected for boys in grades 4 and 5. Regression analyses showed mathematics self-efficacy to be a significant indicator of mathematics performance in grades 3 through 5.