Abstract: This study investigated the determinants of English Proficiency Test performance among 288 college students at VMA Global College using a one-shot survey design and stratified random sampling. The cohort was predominantly 18-year-old males enrolled in maritime courses, most of whom entered with "Fair" high school English grades. Data were collected via a validated teacher-made instrument and institutional records to assess proficiency across five sub-areas, including sentence structure and reading skills. Findings revealed that 50.3% of respondents demonstrated moderate overall English proficiency. While students showed relative strengths in vocabulary and word order, they struggled significantly with subject-verb agreement, verb forms, and inferential reading comprehension. Statistical analysis indicated that English Placement Test (EPT) performance and College English Grades significantly varied by personal characteristics—such as sex and course—but not by year level. Crucially, the study established that both EPT scores and college grades are significant predictors of English proficiency; higher performance in these areas directly correlates with superior proficiency outcomes. Based on these conclusions, the study recommends strengthening the English curriculum through bridging programs, establishing a dedicated Language Department, and implementing gender-responsive motivating activities to address the specific needs of the predominantly male maritime student population.
PhD* Richard Solomon (Fri,) studied this question.