Relationship of Multiple Attempts on an Admissions Examination to Early Program Performance

Abstract

Background: When a student makes multiple attempts at an admissions assessment, an institution must decide how to incorporate the resulting information into its admissions decision. However, little research exists to guide this decision within a nursing admissions context. Method: This article examines patterns in retesting scores from a nursing admissions assessment and the correlations of four retesting score treatments with scores on an early program assessment. Results: Although test scores do increase with each subsequent attempt, the average of all attempt scores is more highly correlated, in almost all instances, with future performance in a nursing program than any one test score. Conclusion: These results indicate that nursing programs presented with multiple scores from an examinee would be best served by using an average of all available scores when making admissions decisions. [

Grit as a Predictor of Academic Success Among Associate Degree Nursing Students

“…The preadmission test scores collected during this study did not correlate with grit. Complicating this aspect of the study is the influence of retesting on these preadmission tests to achieve better scores, which many students do (Dunham & MacInnes, 2018). Retaking examinations of this nature could indicate grit (Roszkowski & Spreat, 2016) and student motivation (Dunham & MacInnes, 2018).…”

“…Complicating this aspect of the study is the influence of retesting on these preadmission tests to achieve better scores, which many students do (Dunham & MacInnes, 2018). Retaking examinations of this nature could indicate grit (Roszkowski & Spreat, 2016) and student motivation (Dunham & MacInnes, 2018). In this study, the reported scores for admission into the nursing program were collected without consideration of a retesting effect.…”

Academic Factors Predicting NCLEX-RN Success

“…The TEAS, a preadmission test that assesses students' science, reading, and overall preparedness for success in a nursing program. Dunham and MacInnes (2018) reported reliabilities of .92 to .93 for composite scores of the fifth edition TEAS.…”

Factors Affecting NCLEX-RN Success in an Associate Degree Nursing Program

“…Many nursing programs require students to achieve benchmarks to be accepted into the program. These benchmarks include a high GPA, either overall or specifically related to the required prerequisite course work, as well as preadmission testing (Dunham & MacInnes, 2018;Olsen, 2017;Robert, 2018;Trofino, 2013;Wambuguh et al, 2016). Throughout the program, nursing students must achieve at least a C or higher to pass a nursing course, have limited opportunities to repeat nursing courses, and may be required to complete a predictor exam prior to graduation (Olsen, 2017;Robert, 2018;Trofino, 2013).…”

“…Potential candidates will often withdraw from prerequisite courses if they are not achieving the desired grade, or they may retake required prerequisite courses to earn a higher grade (Schutte, 2016). The same holds for the preadmission exam, which potential candidates will often take several times to meet the benchmark requirements (Dunham & MacInnes, 2018). This study examined for a statistically significant relationship between the repetition of requirements and success or failure on NCLEX-RN.…”