Demographic and Psycho – Academic Factors as Predictors of English Proficiency Test Performance

Abstract

It is a fact among learners, not just the junior high school students that weaknesses in the English Language exist among them. They struggle in their English language academic performance most particularly in the areas of spelling, vocabulary, reading comprehension, grammar usage and sentence construction. Since English language is important as a means of communication, it could be helpful to know the weak areas in the language to be able to provide academic intervention. The aim of this study was to determine the demographic and psycho – academic factors that may affect the English proficiency of the junior high School students in selected Augustinian Recollect Schools as manifested in their English Proficiency Tests (EPT) performance. Findings of the study provided data on the weaknesses of the students which were used as a basis of intervention measures in order to improve and further enhance their skills in the language. The descriptive-correlative method was used in this research. This is to discover the weaknesses in English of the junior high school students in selected Augustinian Recollect schools in Metro Manila, Quezon City and Cavite. The demographic characteristics: age, gender, school campus and the psycho – academic factors: goal – orientation and self – efficacy on their English language proficiency performance was also looked into if there was effect and influence. An English Proficiency Test Result that is administered in the school was used to determine their weaknesses in English in the language areas covered by the test. The respondents were grouped according to age, gender and school campus for demographic profile, and goal orientation and self – efficacy for psycho – academic factors to establish whether these variables have certain influence on the students’ test ratings. The result of the study revealed that psycho – academic factors had significant effect in the English Proficiency test scores of the Augustinian Recollect Junior High School Students. The language area that they are weakest is vocabulary. A list of language areas activities, goal orientation and self – efficacy interventions was set to achieve English Language Proficiency.