Tertiary institutions are experiencing an increased number of enrolments, with students varying in their demographics, previous education, and academic achievement. This relative increase in undergraduate enrolments in Australia has not translated to an increase in student retention or graduate numbers. This prompts the need to explore predictors…

This is the first empirical study to examine the comparative predictive power of Chinese national college English language program (CEP), a Western university's English for academic purpose (EAP) language program, a standardised English language proficiency (SELP) test, and business diploma for the academic performance of Chinese students in…

With an increasing number of students enrolling into Australian universities, developing an understanding of the variables underlying academic success, is growing in importance. In the present study, three first-year cohorts (2013-2015) studying towards five allied health or science degrees (n = 1,676 students) were examined to ascertain the…

Notions of what it is to be knowledgeable and skilled in one's profession have evolved in recent decades. For instance, medical practitioners are expected to think critically and creatively, communicate effectively, and to be a professional and community leader. While these attributes have always been well regarded, it is only relatively recently…

The selection problem in South Australia is examined with focus on assessment of academic qualifications. Considered are the Matriculation Examination, psychological tests, school assessments, and interviews. Somesuggestions for future research are offered. (LBH)

A study of the academic performance of college students at LaTrobe University, Australia, in relation to their college entrance scores (high school achievement) shows that although the scores provide a reasonable guide to first-year performance, a better guide to overall success is the performance at the first-year level. (JT)

Higher education institutions in Australia are cautioned against placing too much emphasis in admissions on previous academic performance, whose predictive validity is questioned, and too little emphasis on other important factors relating to equity in the selection process and to educational supply and demand. (MSE)

Discusses the selection process carried on in tertiary institutions. Argues that it is pointless to consider actual selection in isolation from the gathering of data and the way that data are treated. (PK)

A study investigated the extent to which 2 Australian college entrance examinations, sex, and field of study predicted first-year performance of 1,695 students entering the University of Western Australia. Results show that in some fields, students are being admitted with an unacceptably low chance of successfully completing the first year. (MSE)

A study of the reliability of Australia's standardized Higher School Certificate as a predictor of freshman performance found it to be biased with respect to the type of secondary school attended, but not the father's occupational status or the student's country of birth. (MSE)

This article reports on a 6-year study that examined the association between pre-admission variables and field placement performance in an Australian bachelor of social work program (N=463). Very few of the pre-admission variables were found to be significantly associated with performance. These findings and the role of the admissions process are…

A University of Western Australia market segmentation study for the masters program in business administration examined the relationship between Graduate Management Admission Test scores, work experience, faculty of undergraduate degree, gender, and academic success in the program. Implications of the results for establishing admission criteria…