Relationship between demographic attributes and final examination performance using Rasch model

Abstract

In Malaysia, the decision to accept a student into a higher learning institution is based on the Malaysia Certificate of Education (MCE / SPM) result. Generally, sound command in Physics, Additional Mathematics and English from the MCE / SPM result is deem necessary for them to be accepted into Engineering field. However, the student's performance in any examination at the higher institution relies heavily on how deep his understanding is for any given course. Therefore, this paper offers an insight on how students' demographic attributes affect the students' performance, in one of the high failure rate subject in Mechanical Engineering Faculty, namely Dynamics. The overall result was analyzed with respect to the Course Outcome (CO) using Rasch Model for a precise overview. The results were then scrutinized with respect to the demographic attributes namely type of student enrollment, pre-requisite subject grade as well as SPM result (English, Additional Mathematics and Physics,). The result from the Scalogram shows that, the students who are enrolled from Matriculation level performs better compared to those enrolled from Diploma level. It is also evident from the trend, that those who obtained good grade in the prerequisite subject, will most probably score better in Dynamics. Interestingly, the student must scored at least a B- in Statics, for them to learn comfortably in Dynamics. The findings will definitely help the management to act necessarily to lower down the failure rate.