Mode of Admission and Undergraduate Academic Performance: A Comparative Study in Delta State University

Abstract

This research investigated two modes of selection into the University. The intention was to find out which of them is more
effective in ensuring that the best students are admitted. The two modes studied were the Joint admissions and Matriculation Board
mode (JAMB) and the entrance examination by individual university mode, generally regarded as Continuing Education (C.E). The
purpose was to predict the effects of the modes in terms of selection of the best students according to intellectual ability. It was an
inferential study which adopted the two group comparison design; and was guided by six research hypotheses. Data was collected
using first year first semester examination in five subject areas English Language, Modern Mathematics, Additional Mathematics,
Physics and Accounts. The data collected was analysed using the t-test statistic. The results showed that the JAMB mode of selection
was more effective compared to the C.E. mode. This result agrees with previous findings. The researcher recommended that the JAMB
mode of admission be used exclusively for future admission exercise into Nigerian universities.