SCHOLASTIC GRADUATE APTITUDE TEST AS A PREDICTOR OF STUDENTS FIRST YEAR GRADUATE STUDENTS

Abstract

Graduate Aptitude Test predicts the future performance of students in first-year graduate examination of University of Calabar
Cross River State, Nigeria. Specifically, the purpose of the study determined the predictive validity of 2012/2013, 2013/2014
graduate aptitude tests. The correlational research design was adopted for the study. A sample of seven hundred and seventy-three (737) students were selected for the study. The selection was done through the purposive. This was because the researcher intentionally decided to use the sample for the study because of certain characteristics or elements. Here the researcher
intentionally decided to use only graduate students in 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 academic sessions in the University of Calabar. A researcher-designed proforma titled “Graduate Students’ Academic Records Inventory” was the main instrument used for data
collection. Face validation of the instrument was carried out by the supervisors who scrutinized and affirmed the suitability of the
inventory. The reliability of the instrument was not ascertained since questionnaires were not used in the study. Regression
analysis was the statistical analysis technique adopted to test the hypotheses under study tested at .05 level of significance. The
result of the analysis revealed that Graduate aptitude test of 2012/2013, and 2013/2014 does not significantly predict the performance of first-year graduate CGPA. Based on the findings of the study it was recommended that Graduate Aptitude Test should be used as a valid criterion in the University of Calabar since it does not significantly predict graduate students future
performance in the first graduate examination.