DIGITAL LIBRARY
A COMPARATIVE STUDY: INVESTIGATING THE FACTORS BEHIND STUDENTS' PERFORMANCE IN THE ACCUPLACER® ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA STANDARDIZED TEST
Qatar University (QATAR)
About this paper:
Appears in: EDULEARN12 Proceedings
Publication year: 2012
Pages: 3272-3281
ISBN: 978-84-695-3491-5
ISSN: 2340-1117
Conference name: 4th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies
Dates: 2-4 July, 2012
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Abstract:
The ACCUPLACER® Elementary Algebra Standardized test is a widely used test in the United States to determine students’ ability in major Elementary Algebra topics.
In this study, Over 500 Qatar University Foundation Students sat for this test after a short period of finishing a course that covers certain topics in Elementary and Intermediate Algebra. Students’ ACCUPLACER® scores were then compared to several factors such as students’ letter grades in the Math course, students' gender, students' expected major of study, students' attendance rate in the course, assigned class teachers, and class delivery time (morning or afternoon).
Observational measures revealed a high correlation of students’ achievements in the standardized test and their achievements in the course but indicated that gender, major of study, attendance rate, assigned teacher and class delivery time did all have their impact on students performance in this standardized test.
Keywords:
Teaching Mathematics, Comparative studies, Effectiveness Measures, Standardized Tests, Gender Differences.