Effect of Using Combination of O’level Result With JAMB Score on Student Performance in The First Two Years of Medical School in Benue State University, Makurdi

This study was carried out to assess the performance of students in the first two years of Medical School in Benue State University, a newly established College of Health Sciences. The assessment was based on some of their scores on admission into the University. These were the University Matriculation Examination (UME) scores, O'level (SSCE) score and combination by equal weighting of O'level scores with UME (CJSC) scores. The period of study involved the 100 and 200 level years respectively. Result showed that there was no correlation between UME score only and 100 level average score (r = -0.054, P > 0.05); but it correlates with 200 level results (r = 0.318, P < 0.01). There was correlation between SSCE and 100 level result (r = 0.406, P < 0.001) but not with 200 level average (r = 0.176, P > 0.05). CJSC correlates with 100 level weighted average (r = 0.368, P < 0.001) and 200 level result (r = 0.240, P < 0.05). Based on UME score only, 21.10% of students with UME score ≥ 240 as compared with 15.40% of those with UME score < 240 failed and were withdrawn at 100 level (z = 0.695, P > 0.05) . The performance of students with high derived SSCE ≥ 60 was significantly better than those with lower SSCE < 60 (P < 0.01). Result also showed that SSCE is the best predictor of student performance at 100 level. It is suggested that the quality of Secondary School Certificate result should be given good consideration in admitting students into Medical Schools.