The Merits of a General Numeracy Test as a Predictor of Undergraduate Statistics Performance

Abstract

The predictive power of an ad hoc, GCSE-based test of general numeracy on undergraduate statistics performance was investigated in a study of 146 undergraduate psychology students. Scores from the four numeracy test subcomponents (arithmetic; statistics; fractions, decimals and percentages; and algebra) served as predictor variables in a multiple regression analysis. First-and second-year statistics exam grades were used as the outcome variable. Results revealed that the numeracy assessment was not successful at predicting undergraduate statistics performance, thus raising questions over the use of GCSE maths grades as a prerequisite for undergraduate psychology enrolment.