Examination of the Classification Accuracy of Music Education Special Aptitude Exams

It is critical both for candidates who apply for programs that require special aptitude and the professors who teach in these programs whether those students' scores on placement exams are correctly calculated. Because student's ability profile and the quality of education in these programs may be directly affected by how candidates placement scores are calculated. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of sub-scores on students' placement scores and the accuracy of the placements in the music education program. This study is based on data of 100 candidates who took special aptitude tests offered by Music Education Program in a big University at middle Anatolia in 2010. The results of the discrimination analysis indicate that actual weights of the placement sub-scores depart from the original weights set by the Student Selection and Placement Center (SSPC). Contrary to the calculation formula in the SSPC guidelines, higher entrance exam (HES) score has been found to be the main determinant of students' placement scores. Finally, classification accuracy of the placement scores have been found to be 94%.