Predicting readiness on the Florida Entry-Level-Placement Test from a set of high school academic variables

This study explored the predictive accuracy of three, two-group linear discriminant function equations. The grouping or criterion variables employed were scores from the three sections (math, reading, and writing) of the Computerized Placement Test (CPT). The predictor variables used were gathered from the academic history for each case. These variables ranged from the GPA in grade eight, through the normal-curve-equivalent test scores in both math and reading from the Grade Ten Assessment Test (GTAT), and included several actual GPAs achieved in science and math courses at all three levels of difficulty in high school (Appendix A). The data set was built from 16 variables derived from the academic history of 432 graduates of the Broward County public schools in 1994. Each of these cases was found to have had a pass/fail score on the Florida Entry-Level-Placement Test (CPT) at Broward Community College. All three discriminant function equations were examined to determine if the models were statistically significant and reliable, or consistently repeatable, using both a leave-one-out analysis, and a hold-out estimate analysis. The degree to which the models performed better than proportional chance was also investigated. The results of the three, two group discriminant equations built from the predictor variables and the grouping variables have implications for high school counselors. These data indicated a better prediction for students who do not pass (90.4%) the CPT than for those who do pass (48.8%) the entry-level placement test at Broward Community College. The external analyses (leave-one-out and hold-out) show some reduction in predicting accurately; but, as demonstrated by the Z class summary, still are predicting at a significant level for the samples with the exception of the CPTRJ hold-out method for the non-selected group. For high school counselors, then, this research was designed to encourage early examination of particular data sets for the purpose of predicting success on the Florida entry-level placement test. Successful course selection can assist students gain access to college.