The relationship between students' BECE and SSSCE grades in mathematics

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to find out whether there was a relationship between students' performances in mathematics in the Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) and Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (SSSCE) in the Cape Coast Municipality. A sample of 400 students from two randomly selected schools was used. These 400 students were made up of two groups of 100 each from one school who took their BECE in 1996 and 1997 and another two groups of 100 each who also took their BECE in 1997 and 1998. The BECE performances of the 1996 and 1997 were compared with their respective SSSCE performances in 1999 and 2000. Similarly, the BECE performances of the 1997 and 1998 groups were compared with their respective SSSCE performances in 2000 and 2001. The SPSS software was used to analyze the results. The results show that there were no significant correlations between the BECE Mathematics performances and that of the SSSCE. All the hypotheses were tested at five percent level of significance.

Mathematics Connection Vol. 5 2005: 39-48