Correlation of mathematics subscores in PMA entrance examination and subscores in differential aptitude test with mathematics performance of PMA fourthclass cadets

Abstract

This research covered a five -year account of mathematics performance of PMA fourth class cadets specifically their grades in College Algebra and Plane Trigonometry from school year 1994 - 95 to school year 1998. - 99. Statistics from the Department of Mathematics, PMA, reveals that from 1994 to 1998 an average of 30% of the fourth class population fail in College Algebra and 26% of them also fail in Plane Trigonometry. In school year 1998-99, when College Algebra and Plane Trigonometry were combined into a single course, the deficiency or rate of failure was 40%. Considering this fact about PMA fourth class cadets' deficiency in mathematics, this research intends to determine indicators that are parallel co intellectual qualities of the cadets and are essential bases of their admission to PMA. As such, this study considers the Mathematical Ability scores of the cadets in the PMA entrance examination and their VR + NA scores in the Differential Aptitude Test as indicators of performance in mathematics. This study is a descriptive analysis of the mathematics performance of PMA fourth class cadets over the past five years. Specifically, the scores in the mathematics portion of the PMA entrance examination PMAEE), defined as the independent variable and the VR + NA scores of the Differential Aptitude (DAT), defined as the independent variable X2, were put under the hypothesis that each correlates with the grades of fourth class cadets n mathematics, defined as the dependent variable Y. The following specific questions were sought to verify the said hypothesis: 1. What is the correlation of the mathematics subscores in the PMA entrance examination with the grade-point averages in College Algebra and in Plane Trigonometry a. all fourth class cadets b. all deficient fourth class cadets 2. What is the correlation of VR + NA scores in the Differential Aptitude Test with the grade-point averages in College Algebra and in Plane Trigonometry among: a. all fourth class cadets b. all deficient fourth class cadets 3. What is the prediction criterion for the grades of fourth class cadets in College Algebra and in Plane Trigonometry in terms of: a. the mathematics subscores in the PMA entrance examination, and b. the VR + NA scores in the Differential Aptitude Test. To obtain answer for each question, the Pearson product Moment of Correlation or commonly known as Pearson r - coefficient of correlation was used to determine linear relationship between the dependent and independent variables and linear regression analysts was used to establish a prediction function for the dependent variable in terms of the independent variables. The treatment of data gave the following results: 1. grades of fourth class cadets in MAT 151 College Algebra: r - 0.56 a. grades of fourth class cadets who failed in MAT 151: r = 0.38 b. grades of fourth class cadets in MAT 132- Plane Trigonometry: r = 0.44 c. grades of fourth class cadets who failed in MAT 132 : r = 0.27 2. Correlation of DAT- VR + NA Scores with: a. grades of fourth class cadets in MAT 151-College Algebra: r = 0.14 b. grades of fourth class cadets who failed in MAT 151 : r = 0.0068 c. grades of fourth class cadets in MAT 132 -. Plane Trigonometry: r = -0.132 d. grades of fourth class cadets who failed in MAT 132: r = -0.28. 3a. Prediction criterion for the grades in College Algebra (Yp): 1. in terms of PMAEE Math Subscores (X1): = 5.574 + 0.073X1 2. in terms of DAT - VR + NA Scores (X2) Yp = 7.058 + 0.012X2 3b. Prediction criterion for the grades in Plane Trigonometry (Ye) : 1. in terms of PMAEE Math Subscores (X1): Yp = 5.78 + 0.0625X1 2. in terms of DAT - VR + NA Scores (X2): Yp = 7.08 + 0.0097X2 Based on the findings, the following conclusions were made: 1. The PMAEE Math Subscores correlate positively, moderately high, with the grades of all fourt class cades im College algebra and in plants trigonometry. Particularly, the correlation of PMAEE Math subscores with the grades of fourth class cadets deficient in the two courses in low positive. 2. Generally, the DAT - VR + NA Scores correlate in a very low positive degree with the grades of fourth class cadets in College Algebra and in Plane Trigonometry. 3. The PMAEE Math Subscores are predictive of the grades of fourth class cadets in College Algebra and in Plane Trigonometry. 4. The VR + NA scores of the DAT given to fourth class cadets are not predictive of their grades in College Algebra and in Plane Trigonometry. The prediction criterion Criterion for the grades is impractical to us. Based on the results of the study, the following are recommended: 1. As basis of qualification for admission Lo PMA, the cut-off score in the PMAEE Math Ability portion should be higher than 20.0 to make sure that incoming fourthclass cadets would be capable of understanding lessons in mathematics. 2. The PMA Guidance Office should evaluate the present instrument in the Differential Aptitude Test, particularly the Verbal Reasoning and Numerical Ability portions. The questions asked may not be appropriate to measure academic achievement at the level of the fourth class cadets. 3. Future research should include gender as a factor of mathematics proficiency or deficiency of the cadets.