Predicting community college student performance on the Florida Basic Skills Exit Test in elementary algebra in a collaborative instruction environment

This study determined whether students' scores in math anxiety, perceived usefulness of mathematics, college placement test scores, and course satisfaction in elementary algebra during collaborative instruction would predict eligibility of students to take the Florida Basic Skills Exit Test. Of those students who were eligible, the study sought to ascertain if any combination of these variables would predict the Exit Test score. And finally, the study sought to answer the question of whether gender had a role in determining the outcome of the Exit Test.;The study population consisted of 238 students at a Florida community college having CPT (College Placement Test) on record and who were enrolled for the first time in MAT 0024 during the spring 2001 semester.;Based upon the grades assigned by each instructor, 182 students were eligible to take the Exit Test and 38 students were not. The two groups were identified as completers and noncompleters of MAT 0024 respectively. Eighteen other students participated in the study but had incomplete information. As a result, data for these students could not be used.;Analysis of the data revealed that only CPT scores predicted Exit Test scores. It was further determined that the average CPT scores of completers of MAT 0024 were higher than those of noncompleters, but that course satisfaction levels for noncompleters were higher than those of completers. Possible reasons for higher levels of dissatisfaction with the course among completers were discussed.