Abstract

In a sample of 372 tenth and eleventh grade students in Taiwan, measures were collected to find that school track levels had significant effects on the total positive and negative global self-esteem scores for adolescents in Taiwan. The result implied that the big-fish-little-pond-effects (BFLPE) (quoted in Suls 2003) made the high track students less confident in themselves when they were compared with other students with high academic achievement or at the same school status. Twenty interviews were conducted with volunteers from the samples to investigate the impact of the entrance examination associated with adolescents’ self-esteem. The results collected students’ viewpoints towards high school entrance examination in Taiwan. The development of parents’ and teachers’ educational programs in assisting adolescents to identify self and promote an enhanced self-esteem is suggested.