The Prognostic Value of the University Entrance Examination

Attainment Level on Leaving Certificate and Academic Performance at University

“…

In this study the authors find the same moderate relationship between the university qualifying examination and degree results which has been found by Sutherland (1948) a t Belfast, by Dale (1952Dale ( , 1954a) a t Swansea, by Sanders (1948aSanders ( , 1953a and Hohne (1951) in Australia, and even in U.S.A.-by Garrett. For ourselves and for the somewhat different conditions in Australia, this type of examination is as yet the best single predictor of success, though researchers would agree that prediction of pass or fail for those in the lowest third or perhaps quarter of the entrants is too hazardous to be satisfactory.So far so good.

…”

University Student Selection in Relation to Subsequent Academic Performance: A Critical Appraisal of the British Evidence

“…The aggregation of the answers received revealed an apparently high degree of unjustified optimism regarding the potential of upper-sixth-form pupils. Of the men, 60 per cent were graded (b) and a further 30 per cent (a); whereas it is known that, in practice, some [15][16][17][18][19][20] per cent of those entering British universities fail to obtain a qualification. It is, of course, obvious that, when the selectors at a university or college have had close associations with particular schools and particular head teachers over a long period of time, the value of assessments of this kind may be substantially greater than the Furneaux results would suggest.…”

Student wastage at Edinburgh university. I. Factors related to failure and dropout

“…Stagner (1933), Harris (1940), Garret (19401, Knml (19601, Summerskill (1962) and Marsh (1966) deal mostly with the American literature. Eysenck (1947), Himmelweit (1950) and Dale (1952) pay special attention to the British work. Butcher (1968) deals exclusively with the British studies.…”