1 / 16

Comparability of NSC mathematics scores and former SC HG mathematics scores:

AMERU African Micro Economic Research Unit. Comparability of NSC mathematics scores and former SC HG mathematics scores:. How consistent is the signal across time?. AMERU. School leaving examination scores signal the University as to applicants’:. academic potential.

bayle
Télécharger la présentation

Comparability of NSC mathematics scores and former SC HG mathematics scores:

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. AMERU African Micro Economic Research Unit Comparability of NSC mathematics scores and former SC HG mathematics scores: How consistent is the signal across time?

  2. AMERU School leaving examination scoressignal the University as to applicants’: • academic potential. • skills set – particularly in language based and quantitative areas of study. • preparedness for tertiary level education.

  3. AMERU The Conversion KeyHigher Grade SC to NSC Source: Wits Admission Office, 2008

  4. AMERU Observed Pass rates 2006 - 2010

  5. AMERU Research indicates that NSC mathematics may be inflated by 20% in the lower ranges • Nel and Kirsten (2009) Stellenbosch University access test used as a benchmark • Schoër et al (2010) Witwatersrand Standardised pre-test and Economics I Test 1 used to convert NSC scores to HG SC scores

  6. AMERU SC HG 2006 vs NSC 2009 and 2010 • Standard of NSC matric maths paper changed from 2009 to 2010 (Parliamentary Monitoring Group, 2010) • Comparing 2006 cohort to both NSC cohorts controls for specific characteristics. • 2006 wrote HG SC maths in 2005 - embedded in previous curriculum

  7. AMERU The Measuring InstrumentComputational Maths I – Test 1 • Computational maths I compulsory for all first year commerce students. • Written three weeks into the semester. • New work based on school work. • Highly correlated with matric maths marks • Test 1 kept standard across the years. • numbers changed but questions the same • test kept confidential • questions re-ordered to promote accessibility

  8. AMERU APPM1004 Test1 comparison: score distribution (2006, 2009, 2010) 20% 15% 2006 10% % of Students 2009 2010 5% 0% <10 <20 <30 <40 <50 <60 <70 <80 <90 <=100 Test1 score (%) Test 1 scores

  9. AMERU Delimiting the data – excluding: • students >21 years • repeating students • foreign students • students who did not write matric in South Africa the year prior to entering University

  10. AMERU Comparing delimited cohorts

  11. AMERU Using propensity score matching to create a more accurate conversion key. • Students matched from 2006 to 2009 & 2010 by: • Test 1 mark • Gender • Race

  12. AMERU HG vs NSC for Propensity Score Matches

  13. AMERU Corrected Conversion Key

  14. AMERU Comparison of deflated scores

  15. AMERU Test 1 score variance by maths score category 2009 2006 2010

  16. AMERU Conclusion • NSC marks generally inflated by 15% - 20%. 20% in lower ranges and 15% in upper ranges. • University courses that rely on a matric maths mark as a signal may consider increasing the required cut off mark. • NSC matric maths scores may be more precise predictors of performance than HG scores of 2006 cohort when deflated.

More Related