Comparative study of effects of semester examinations on Students Performance

Abstract

This retrospective study compared the performance of medical students in semester examinations and final examinations. The students performance was grouped by the result and analyzed. During the 3 yr analyzed, overall 533 students had an average score of 58.72% (SD 9.9) in the semester examinations and 64.31% (SD 9.9) in the final examinations. Regression analysis showed a non significant correlation (r=-0.27, P=0.16). We did not found statistically significant correlation between semester and final examinations scores for passed 405 students (r=-0.24 P=0.14) and failed 128 students (r=-0.26 P=0.13). Regression analysis showed a significant correlation (r=0.64, P<0.01) between semester and final examinations in distinction students (>70%). Final examinations scores were significantly higher (P<0.01) than semester examinations scores for each of the groups when analyzed by two way ANOVA. For overall, passed and failed students the lack of statistic correlation and two way ANOVA result suggest that students performance was higher in final examinations; and for distinction students, the strong correlation between terminal and preliminary exami- nations indicates that competent student performance was independent of evaluation. The results on gender analysis correlates with global data on better performances by female counterparts. Periodical semester examina- tions had favourable effect on final examinations.