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Student selection and performance in higher education: admission exams vs. high school scores

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  • Pedro Luis Silva
  • Luis Catela Nunes
  • Carmo Seabra
  • Ana Balcao Reis
  • Miguel Alves

Abstract

In many countries, students are selected into higher education institutions based on their achievement at high school, measured by scores given by their teachers and obtained on final national exams. This paper compares these two measures in terms of their ability to predict students' success in higher education. Accounting for sample selection problems, we find that the high school score is a stronger predictor of students' performance at university. However, the score obtained in the mathematics national exam still adds information. We conclude that both measures are complementary, a result that is relevant for university recruitment and selection policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Pedro Luis Silva & Luis Catela Nunes & Carmo Seabra & Ana Balcao Reis & Miguel Alves, 2020. "Student selection and performance in higher education: admission exams vs. high school scores," Education Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(5), pages 437-454, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:edecon:v:28:y:2020:i:5:p:437-454
    DOI: 10.1080/09645292.2020.1782846
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    Cited by:

    1. Silva, Pedro Luís, 2022. "Specialists or All-Rounders: How Best to Select University Students?," IZA Discussion Papers 15271, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Silva, Pedro Luís & Sá, Carla & Biscaia, Ricardo & Teixeira, Pedro N., 2022. "High School and Exam Scores: Does Their Predictive Validity for Academic Performance Vary with Programme Selectivity?," IZA Discussion Papers 15350, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Karlsson, Linn & Wikström, Magnus, 2021. "Admission groups and academic performance: A study of marginal entrants in the selection to higher education," Umeå Economic Studies 1000, Umeå University, Department of Economics.

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