Comparative and Contextual Influences of Admission Mode and School Location on Under graduate Students' Cumulative GradePoint Average (CGPA) Performance in Nigerian Universities
Keywords:
UTME, PUTME, school location, CGPA, undergraduate students, university admission.Abstract
This study examined the relationship among school location, Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) scores, Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (PUTME) scores and undergraduate students’ Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) performance in universities. The study adopted a correlational research design. The population comprised 1,265 undergraduate students admitted into the Faculty of Education of Delta State University, Abraka, and Cross River State University, Calabar, during the 2019/2020 academic session. A sample of 622 undergraduate students, representing 49% of the population, was selected through probability sampling using balloting with replacement from three departments in each university. Data were obtained from students’ UTME and PUTME scores and their CGPA records. The instruments used for determining UTME and PUTME scores had face and content validity, while their stability was established using the test-retest method with 50 students outside the study area. Data were analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation and multiple correlation/regression techniques with SPSS at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that there was no significant relationship between students admitted through PUTME and those admitted through UTME in their CGPA performance. However, school location had a significant relationship with undergraduate students’ CGPA performance. The study also established a significant relationship between UTME and PUTME scores and students’ CGPA performance. It was concluded that while mode of admission alone did not significantly differentiate students’ academic performance, school location and admission examination scores were important factors associated with undergraduate students’ CGPA performance. The study recommended the consideration of multiple admission criteria and improved academic support across university locations.
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