The Predictive Validity of Islamic Azad University’s Entrance Examination: Does Access

Subject Areas :

Mojtaba Mohammadi ¹ (مربی)

Received: 2009-08-06 Accepted : 2009-11-06 Published : 2009-12-20

Keywords: Islamic Azad University, academic success, Keywords: university entrance examination, predictive validity, grade point average,

Abstract :

AbstractThe main purpose of the present research was to study the predictive value of theIslamic Azad University’s Entrance Examination (IAUEE) in Iran administered tothose applied for English Language courses. It, furthermore, attempted to investigateprobable correlation between English Language students’ academic achievementregarding their Grade point Average (GPA) and their entrance admission test resultsand their sex, field of study, or age. To conduct the research, 􀃏􀃕􀃏 seniorundergraduate students who were admitted to study in all English language fields inIslamic Azad University, Roudehen Branch were randomly selected. Data werecollected regarding their performances in Entrance Examination and their GPAduring the first three years of their study. Data analysis indicated that students’ totalscore in IAUEE had a better predictive value than the English subtest score. Out ofthree English majors under study, admission exam for ELT students had a muchmore recognized predictive value than for students in other courses. Moreover, whileboys’ English proficiency subtest was a better predictor of their academicachievement, girls’ total score proved so