University Matriculation Examinations as Predictor of First Year Academic Performance of Students in Public Universities inEdo State

Abstract

The study examined University Matriculation Examinations as predictor of first year academic performance of students in public universities Edo State. The study aimed to find the prediction of unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) post unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (PUTME) and post UTME aggregate scores on students’ first year academic performance it also investigated which of the predictor has the highest predictive value. The study was guided be (04) research question and (03) hypotheses were tested at 0.05 alpha level. The study employed a correction survey designed which was based on the frame work of export facto. The population of the study was 22,653 students made up first year students of 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 admitted into University of Benin, Benin City and Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma both in Edo State. The step-wise multi-stage sampling technique which involve various stages was employed and a sample size of 1500 was used for the study. A proforma titled intuition and students Data proforma (ISDP) was used for data collection. The data collection were analyzed using simple linear regression statistics Finding of the study revealed that UTME, PUTME and post-UTME aggregate scores significantly predicted students first year academic performance as each explained 0.9%   4%, 10.1% of the total variance of students’ performance respectively. Based on the finding of this study it was recommended were made among others: that PUTME screening test should continue side by side with UTME examination and that use of average of UTME and PUTME known as aggregate score be retained and improved upon.

Keywords: UTME, PUTME post-UTME aggregate scores JAMB and first year students’

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-15-12

Publication date:May 31^st 2019