The Predictive Validity of Entrance Examinations at the Ethiopian Civil Service College

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the validity of the
locally developed college entrance examinations at the Ethiopian Civil
Service College (ECSC). The validation aspect is assessed in the context
of the prediction of college performance. The subtests for the year 2000
and 2001 entrance examination scores were used to predict the academic
success of students who were attending the ECSC. A total of 1026
students’ results were included in the validation study. Descriptive statistics
and multiple regression equation were employed in the data analysis. The
results indicated that the English language subtest has proved to be an
important predictor of college performance for the degree program. The
same is true of the year 2000 Physics subtest for the Municipal Engineering
field. However, it was found that the independent effect of Mathematics and
Law subtests in the prediction of College performance is minimal. It is,
therefore, concluded that the entrance examination employed by the ECSC
as an admission test has considerable predictive power in relation to
college success, particularly for first year studies