192 | Page www.jgcsunizik.org Anyamene, Igboanugo, & Ezunu Journal of Guidance and Counselling Studies, 2020, Vol. 4, Issue 2, 192-204 Introduction In everyday life, human beings come across different things, issues and events that pose challenges to them. The way an individual perceives such challenges could generate diverse changes within the individual, which may lead to physiological, mental or emotional changes. Any of these changes if not properly controlled could result to anxiety in the individual. Globally, Journal of Guidance and Counselling Studies Effect of Systematic Desensitization Technique in Reducing Test Anxiety Among Secondary School Students in Anambra State Anyamene, Ada (Prof.) 1 , Igboanugo, Linda Nwanneka 2 , Ezunu, Esther Ngozi 3 Department of Guidance and Counselling, Faculty of Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria, an.anyamene@unizik.edu.ng Department of Guidance and Counselling, Faculty of Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria. Department of Guidance and Counselling, Faculty of Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria. http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4054112 Abstract Test Anxiety constitutes serious academic impediments to lots of students in schools. It is considered to be one of the most common and widespread emotions for many students at all levels of education. This study investigated the effect of systematic desensitization technique in the reduction of Test Anxiety among secondary school students in Onitsha North Local Government Area. Two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. Quasi-experimental research was adopted in carrying out the study. A sample size of 82 SSI students from coeducational schools was chosen from a population of 475 students with test anxiety. The sample was derived from two schools selected using purposive sampling technique based on the number of students that scored high on test anxiety. The instrument used for data collection was Spielberger’s Test Anxiety Inventory. The instrument was reliable at 0.79 coefficients. Data relating to research questions were analyzed using statistical mean while data relating to hypothesis were analyzed using Analysis of Co-Variance (ANCOVA). Findings from the study revealed that systematic desensitization technique was significantly effective in reducing secondary school students’ test anxiety. It was also found that there was no gender difference in the effect of systematic desensitization technique on test anxiety among secondary school students who participated in the experiment. Based on the findings, it was recommended that systematic desensitization technique should be adopted as an effective treatment technique in treating secondary school students with test anxiety. Keywords: Effect, Systematic Desensitization, Technique, Test Anxiety, Students