Assessing the Predictive Ability of PGSCE, Major Requirements, Other Variables and Their Reactions on GPA at Educational Science Faculty at An-Najah University

The objective of this study was to evaluate the predictive ability of students' average scores in the Palestinian General Secondary Certificate Exam (PGSCE), the high school major requirements, and several dummy variables and their impact on students' GPA at educational science faculty (ESF) at An-Najah National University. The study assessed the accuracy of predictive statistical significance and practical impact as well as indicators' predictive capacity, such as squared multiple correlation coefficients (R2), adjusted (R2), mean square error (MSE), Mallows CP, and AIC index. The research sample included 1065 applicants to the Faculty of Education who graduated between the years of 2009-2011. The study found an inability of PGSCE to predict students' GPA in any disciplines. Results showed an inability of Major Requirements to predict only GPA in three disciplines and branch study had predicted GPA in one discipline and also reached the importance of interaction between variables in predicting student GPA.  The study recommendations were not to use PGSCE and major requirements for admission to ESF.