Effectiveness of University Matriculation Examination and Post-University Matriculation Examination on the Academic Performance of Nigerian Undergraduate Students

摘要

This is a case study that examines the relative effectiveness of University Matriculation Examination (UME) and Post University Matriculation Examination (Post-UME) on the final year academic performance of students admitted to Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko in 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 sessions, being the last set of students admitted with UME and first set admitted with Post-UME respectively. This is a descriptive research design of ex-post facto type. The population consists of the entire students admitted into this university for the two sessions. The researcher made use of a proforma to collect the scores of 2005-2006 candidates on their UME, Post-UME and class of degrees at the 2008-2009 final year examination. This same proforma was also used to collect the scores of 2004-2005 students on their UME and class of their degrees in the 2007-2008 final year examination. Using Pearson product moment correlation and t-test statistics to analyze data, findings show that there is a low relationship between students’ score in UME and Post-UME. More so, Post-UME was more effective than the UME but the difference was so little. It was recommended that:JAMB should be saddled with the responsibility of conducting pre-qualifying examination whereby universities should be allowed to conduct a Post-UME screening For the Post-UME screening, students should only be tested on their level of coherence in the English language through essay writing and oral interviews in addition to objective tests.A bench mark of 180 is recommended for calling students for Post-UME screening.