UNIFIED TERTIARY MATRICULATION EXAMINATIONS AS PREDICTORS OF FIRST YEAR SCIENCE EDUCATION STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN FEDERAL UNIVERSITIES IN NORTH CENTRAL ZONE OF NIGERIA

Abstract

The paper investigated the relationship between UTME and 100 Level Science Education Students Academic Achievement. Expo-facto and correlation research designs were employed in the study. Two hundred First year Science Education Students, comprising 120 female and 80 male students constituted the sample for the study. Students’ Academic Record Inventory (SARI) was used for collection of data from students’ file records. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Mean and standard deviation were used to answer …research questions raised for the study while Pearson product moment correlation coefficient was used to test the hypothesis. The findings revealed that UTME scores predicted academic achievement of 100 Level Science Educations Students with regression coefficient of 0.071. It was also revealed a weak negative relationship between the UTME scores and students’ GPA with r (192) = < 0.71, P > 0.05 at 0.05 level of significance. It was concluded that…The study therefore, recommended among others that UTME examination questions should be restructured by the Joint Matriculations and Admission Board.