School Location and Gender as Predictors of Students' Performance in WASSCE Multiple Choice Test in Biology

Abstract

This study investigated school location and gender as predictors of students' performance in West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) multiple choice test in biology. The researcher adopted survey research design for the study. Sample for the study consisted of 1450 Secondary School Three (SSIII) students drawn from 20 randomly selected senior secondary schools in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The instrument used for the study was 2008 WASSCE multiple-choice Biology test paper. Findings from the study showed that significant different existed between students' performance in WASSCE multiple choice test in biology based on school location (df=1448, t=6.84, P<0.05); gender (df=1448, t=8.89, P<0.05), and school type (df=2, 1447, 1449; F=211.68, P<0.05). Based on these findings, the researcher recommended that secondary school administrators and Biology teachers should encourage male and female Biology students' to participate actively during the weekly lessons to improve their performance in WASSCE Biology Examination.