The ability of the “College of Sharia and Islamic studies admission test” at the University of Qassim to predict the cumulative grade point average (GPA) of students and its relationship with some other variables

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the ability of the College of Sharia and Islamic Studies admission test, and the high school examination results and the Standard Achievement Admission Test (SAAT) of the National Center for Assessment in Higher Education (QIYAS) to predict the average cumulative GPA of law and sharia university students who have completed two semesters. It also aims explore the relationship between GPA and type of high school education (government, private) , and the branch in the high school (Science, literature, scientific legislative Institute). The study sample consisted of all students who are admitted in 1432/1433 AH and passed the acceptance test for both majors (333 students). The results were analyzed using linear regression analysis, analysis of variance and multiple comparisons. Results indicated that the college admission test was the only significant predictor of the cumulative GPA at the university, as it alone predicted almost 42% of the variance in GPA and had shown a statistical significance. However, the average high school and QIYAS test did not have statistically significant predictive ability for the cumulative GPA. The results also indicated a statistically significant relationship between the GPA and the type and branch of high school education. Finally, the study clearly demonstrated the strong predictive ability for the college of Sharia admission test, and the weak predictive ability for both high school test results and QIAS results, and therefore strongly recommend to continue to adopt the College of Sharia admission test as an entry requirement for applicants to either sharia or law departments.