Self-Prediction of Academic Achievement By College Students

AbstractAt the beginning of four grading periods of a school year 154 undergraduates predicted their grades. Self-predicted grade point averages (SP GPA) were correlated with achieved GPAs (Ach GPA)-the criterion-for each grading period. These were compared with correlations using the composite standard score on the American College Test (ACT) and the high school total grade point average (US GPA) in place of the SP GPA, and with correlations between Ach GPAs at consecutive grading periods. SP GPA yielded significantly higher (p > .01) correlations than ACT or HS GPA at the second and fourth grading periods. Previous Ach GPA yielded significantly higher (p > .01) correlations than all other predictors. When correlations were computed by academic classification, SP GPA maintained its stability regardless of classification. Correlations using HS GPA or ACT tended to decrease after the freshman year. Correlations using Ach GPAs remained consistently high for all classifications.