The Correlation Between the Results of General English Proficiency. and Numeracy Test of IER and the GPA in ESLCE

Abstract

In this study a brief description of the aptitude test (GEPN) developed by IER,
used in the s"election of candidates for the Professional Certificate and Diploma in
Management, and the corelations of the test with ESLCE were prt:sented. The
aptitude test, GEPN, consists of three sub-tests: The English comprehension
Vocabulary, and Grammar sub-test, the written English sub-test and the
numerical ability sub-test. The test was administered to a total of 1047
candidates out of which 629 reported their GPA in ESLCE at the time of the
administration of the test. The mean scores and the standard deviations of the
scores for all those who took the GEPN test were computed.
The result of correlational analysis between the reported GPA in ESLCE and the
GEPN sub-tests and GEPN total scores showed that the correlatiOn between the
English' comprehension, vocabulary and Grammar sub test and GP A in ESLCE
was 0.5371; the correlation between the written test and GPA in ESLCE was
0.4171; the correlation between the Numerical Ability test and GP A in ESLCE
was 0.4933 and the correlation between the total GEPN test scores and the GPA
in ESLCE was 0.5733. All .the correlation coefficients were found to be
statistically significant as presented in table 3 (P<O.OOO).
The data from the GEPN sub-tests and total test showed that the GEPN test has
high potential in predicting success in the training of candidates for the
professional certific~te and Diploma in Management. This conclusion however is
tentative. Further study is essential by using performance of the candidates while
they are in' the training for Professional Certificate and Diploma in Management
as a criterion to support the present result.