College Entrance Exam Result and High School Scholastic Records: Bases of Student Academic Performance in a State University

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

An entrance examination is an examination that many educational institutions use to select students for admission. These exams may be administered at any level of education, from primary to higher education, although they are more common at higher levels. It was in the schoolyear 1997-1998 when the school decided to use the standardized test of the CEM. After a few administrations, it was found out that none was able to pass the test or hardly reached an expected score. Due to fear that only a few will be qualified to enroll in college which may lead to bankruptcy, the school decided to stop the administration of the said standardized test by the CEM and returned to using the teacher-made test.

METHODS

The study used correlational research method. The method was used to investigate the extent to which variations in one factor such as the first year college academic performance correlate with variations in one or more other factors such as college entrance exam results and high school scholastic records based on the correlation coefficient. The primary data were obtained through the entrance exam results, high school scholastic records, and college academic grades from the Office of the Campus Registrar.

RESULTS

College entrance exam results of students have fairly satisfactory results. Participant's high school scholastic records and academic performance in college are satisfactory. There is a significant difference between the college entrance exam results and high school scholastic records in students' academic performance in college. The F-ratio of 46.36 is greater than the F critical value for .05 level of 3.01. The computed F-ratio being greater than the tabulated F-ratio means that the null hypothesis is rejected. Rejecting the null hypothesis further proves that college entrance exam results and high school scholastic records are significant to student's academic performance in college.

DISCUSSIONS

The college entrance exam results and high school scholastic records are significant to student's academic performance in college. According to the Campus Registrar, high school records could be a determinant of college entrance exam since the students had their high school for four years and the entrance exam measures their gained knowledge from their previous education. It may also the reason why the college entrance exam could also be a determinant of first-year college grades since they are in the adjustment period from at least four years in high school.