Academic Performance of Engineering Students; A Predictive Validity
Study of First-Year GPA and Final-Year CGPA
Abstract
Background: Students’ academic achievement is regarded as the scholastic
standing of students at the end of a given study period that is
expressed in terms of grades. The key to bridging the attainment gap at
the end of their study period is through their cumulative grade points
over the duration of the study. Predictive validity study on students
first-year GPA as a predictor of their final-year CGPA was carried out
to predict the students’ academic performance in Chemical, Civil,
Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering. Purpose/Hypothesis: This study
examined the relationship between first-year GPA and final-year CGPA, as
well as the relationship between Age, Gender and Geopolitical zones on
first-year GPA and CGPA of Engineering students in the Faculty of
Engineering students University of Abuja, Nigeria. The data obtained
from the four Departments; Chemical, Civil, Electrical and Mechanical
were analyzed. Two hypotheses were formulated to guide the study.
Design/Method: An ex-post factor research approach was adopted, and
Pearson’s correlation and Regression Analysis were fitted with the data
using Minitab software. Results: The results of the study highlighted
that first-year GPA had a strong positive relationship with final-year
CGPA. Age, Gender and Geopolitical zones have no correlation with
students’ final-year CGPA. The regression equations can be used to
predict students’ CGPA to bridge the attainment gap at the end of their
studies. Conclusions: Finally, the study emphasized the need to admit
more female students in Engineering studies as they constitute 12.9% of
the population.