Predicting success among prospective disadvantaged students in natural scientific fields

Abstract

One hundred and fifty-nine Grade 11 prospective disadvantaged students in the natural sciences at the University of Pretoria completed the Study Orientation Questionnaire in Mathematics and the Senior Aptitude Test (Advanced). Fifty-nine male students (M age = 16.05; SD = .57) and 100 females (M age = 16.02; SD = .512) scored significantly differently on three subtests, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Calculations, Spatial Visualization and in Grade 11 mathematics. Stepwise linear regression showed a combination of subtests of the Study Orientation Questionnaire in Mathematics and the Senior Aptitude Test (Advanced) contributed significantly (R2 = 15.7% and 20.8% respectively) towards predicting the Grade 11 mathematics and physical sciences marks of prospective students.