Predictive Power of Primary and Secondary School Success Criterion on Transition to Higher Education Examination Scores

• Main Authors: Atilla ÖZDEMİR, Selahattin GELBAL
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: EPODDER 2016-12-01
• Series: Journal of Measurement and Evaluation in Education and Psychology
• Subjects: Multiple regression; the Transition to Higher Education Examination; YGS; Primary School Grade Point Average; High School Grade Point Average
• Online Access: http://dergipark.ulakbim.gov.tr/epod/article/view/5000189080

It is seen that education has a significant effect that changes an individual’s life in our country in which education is a way of moving up the social ladder. In order to continue to a higher education program after graduating from high school, students have to succeed in transition to higher education examination. Thus, the entrance exam is an important factor to determine the future of the students. In our country, middle school grades and high school grade point average that is added to university placement score are also determinants. When spiral structure of our curriculum is considered, it is expected that related courses’ grades at middle school will predict the scores obtained from the first stage of transition to higher education exam (YGS). Since high school grade point average forms university placement score, being aware of how related courses’ achievement scores at secondary school predict raw scores of YGS subtests is significant in terms of our education system’s feedback and integrity. As a result, observing students’ achievement scores in related courses during their middle and high school education longitudinally and predicting raw scores on the subtests of the first stage of university entrance exam, YGS, from middle school and high scool achievement scores are substantial with regards to provide feedback to our education system. Because of those reasons, the predictive power of 7th - 12th grade year-end grade point averages ofstudents who took YGS in 2013 on their 2013 YGS subtests’ raw scvores is examined. Students who took YGS exam in Ankara province at 2012-2013 school year formed the aimed population of this study and 533 students who took YGS exam in 2013 in Altındağ district of Ankara formed target population of the study. Data was obtained from 533 students at three different schools in Altındağ district of Ankara province. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to answer research questions. According to thefindings of the research; it was found that the best variable that predict YGS Turkish subtest are 11th Grade’s Language and Expression, 8th Grade’s Turkish, 12th Grade’s Language and Expression, 7th Grade’s Turkish, and 12th Grade’s Literature’s year-end grade point averages and those variables explain about 58% of the variance in YGS Turkish subtests scores. The best variables which predict YGS Mathematics subtest scores are 12th Grade’s Math, 8th Grade’s Math, 12th Grade’s Geometry, 10th Grade’s Math, and 7th Grade’s Math’s year-end grade point averages and those variables explain 71% of variance in YGS Mathematics subtests scores. The best variables which predict YGS Physical Sciences subtest scores are 12th Grade’s elective Chemistry, 11th Grade’s elective Chemistry, 12th Grade’s elective Biology, and 11th Grade’s elective Physics’ year-end grade point averages and those variables explain about 50% of YGS Physical Sciences subtests scores. The best variable which predict YGS Social Sciences subtest scores are 12th Grade’s elective Geography, 11th Grade’s Republic of Turkey Revolution History and Kemalism, 10th Grade’s Geography’s year-end grade point averages and those variables explain about 50% of YGS Social Sciences’ subtests scores.