Probing into the influence of EFL learners’ self-assessment and evaluation apprehension in predicting their personal best goals and self-efficacy skills: a structural equation modeling

Abstract Effective instruction and assessment are greatly affected by many factors. The ever-growing literature on outlined some cognitive, social, emotional factors that directly or indirectly influence the learners’ academic achievement. In spite of rosy assessment, possible interplay among Core Self-assessment (CSA), Student Evaluation Apprehension (SEA), Personal Best Goal (PBG), Self-efficacy (SE) were untouched. To this end, study intended to propose a model disclose association between CSA, SEA, PBG, SE in higher education. Therefore, Questionnaire (CSAQ), Scale (SEAS), (PBGS), (SES) administered 467 Iranian EFL university students at MA level. results confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) structural equation modelling (SEM) indicated CSA SEA can contribute PBG SE. It means investment positive flourish upgrade goal-settings sense efficacy beliefs students. implications suggestions for future avenues also discussed.