Constructs Influencing Performance of National Examinations Examinees: The Case of Grade Ten Amhara Regional State Students

Abstract Examinations are given to certify and select candidates for higher educations. The Ethiopian General Secondary Education Certificate Examination (EGSECE) was administered for the first time at a national level to students who completed grade 10 by the year 2001. It included 9 exams on academic subjects. From 2001 to 2019 it was the national examinations given to grade ten students. This study was done on grade ten students’ results who were taken the EGSECE exams in Amhara region 2001 to 2017. Year to year though the numbers of Ethiopian General Secondary Education Certificate Examination exam sitters were increased, the relative numbers of passers were very low. The purpose of the research was to extract the hidden risk factors affecting passers size in the region and measure correlation between passers size and constructs. To analyze the data, we used factor analysis model. The analysis with varimax and promax rotation methods on passers size separated by zonal area revealed two constructs. The correlation between the numbers of national exam passers and latent variables, and the total influences of the constructs in deteriorating passers size in the different zones of the region were very high. Identifying constructs affect student’s performance in examinations will help education bureaus and offices, policy makers, planners, teachers and supervisors alleviate their influences in the future, and increase efficiency and quality of the education in the region and in the country.