Educational Alternatives, Volume 12, 2014

Abstract: This study deals with admission processes of candidates for non-selective academic departments, i.e., departments where the number of open study-places is greater than the number of candidates. Currently, selection is carried out using two tools. One is the matriculation exam score, and the other is the score on the psychometric Entrance Test. The purpose of this study is to examine whether psychometric entrance tests are really necessary in college admission processes, or whether matriculation scores can be sufficient. The maim finding of the study is that while students with high psychometric scores usually succeed in their studies, students with low psychometric scores do not necessarily fail. This means that in departments where the purpose of the selection is to identify the best students, there is room for sorting through psychometric entrance tests. However, in places where the purpose of screening is to prevent the admission of weaker students, the efficiency of psychometric scores is very low.