Comparative Analysis of the Item Difficulty Levels of Waec, Neco and Nabteb Mathematics Achievement Examinations

Abstract

This study examined the item difficulty levels of WAEC, NECO and NABTEB Mathematics Achievement Examinations and compared same to ascertain the order of difficulty levels of mathematics achievement tests being constructed by these three examination bodies in Nigeria.Three homogenous groups of 200 students each were randomly selected from the Government Technical Colleges and the Senior Secondary Schools that were randomly selected from Ondo, Ekiti and Osun States of the South West Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria. The instrument consisted of adopted WASSCE, NECO and NABTEB Mathematics Examinations. Four hypotheses were raised and tested at P=0.05 and the results showed that three was no significant difference in the item difficulty levels of WAEC, NECO and NABTEB mathematics achievement examinations. Hence, it was recommended that none of this examination should be seen as being lower in standard than the other and there should be no discrimination in the recognition of WAEC, NECO and NABTEB certificates.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n2p761