A Comparative Study of the Validity of University Entrance Exam and Classroom Tests, and Their Level of Accuracy: Birbirsa Secondary School, Grade Twelve in Focus (A Comp. Study of the VUEE and VCT and their LA)

Abstract

he main purpose of this study was to compare the validity of university entrance exam and classroom tests and their level of accuracy at Birbirsa Secondary School (grade 12 in focus). The study employed comparative method research design. The participants of the study were 4 teachers and 33 students who were comprehensively selected. The study variables were comparing the university entrance exam and classroom tests validity and their level of accuracy. To collect data on these variables, instruments like document analysis, content analysis, questionnaire and interview were used. In this regard the 2020 First Semester English Language Classroom Tests, the 2020 University Entrance Exam, the Students’ Average Result Indicating Document and A Grade 12 Syllabus were collected. The collected data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Findings of the study reveal that the classroom tests represented 46.5% of the instructional of objectives found in the syllabus, so the classroom tests holds below average content validity evidences. The average deviation of the result of the classroom test from the entrance exam is 38.13%, and the students rank is different in both tests result; so both tests have no concurrent validity, and the classroom tests has no predictive validity evidence. The average/mean of the classroom tests and the university entrance exam was 3.2 and 2.8 respectively, so both tests hold moderate face validity evidence. The researcher have recommended as the teachers should discharge one of their professional responsibilities through conducting a test in line with the test validation procedures; and the National Educational Assessment and Examinations Agency, under the Ministry of Education, should make reformations in the examination that would encourage improvement on validity of the tests, based on test validation procedures. The future researchers will have to conduct a study on construct validity of classroom tests and university entrance exam, and on the content and predictive validity of university entrance exam.