This study investigated the anxiety of private schools students at the expectation of attending colleges' entrance examination in one Brazilian state. The sample consisted of 124 high school students participating in the PISM series of examination (Joint Selective Admission Process). They were 66 females and 58 males, 69 students from the 1st year and 55 from the 3rd year. Students answered a sociodemographic questionnaire and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory in their respective classrooms. A significant difference regarding gender (p=0.036) was found, women from the 1st year presented higher levels of state-anxiety compared to men from the 1st year (p=0.004). The same result was found with respect to the trait-anxiety, women from the 1st year were more anxious than men from the 1st year (p=0.000).
secondary education; students; State Trait Anxiety Inventory
