A large-scale high-stakes university admission exam: pre- and trans-pandemic comparison

This study describes the performance of students in the admission exam to a large public university, before and during the pandemic. The instrument had 120 multiple-choice items, with ample validity evidence. It was administered in person, paper-and-pencil. The exam had satisfactory psychometric properties. Analysis of 616,992 test takers’ scores showed a significant increase in average correct responses in 2020 (48.2%) compared to 2019 (45.8%; p < 0.001, d = 0.148), with a return to near-baseline performance in 2021 (46.7%) and 2022 (45.7%). Male candidates had higher scores than females (48.4% vs 45.2%; p < 0.001), and those applying to STEM fields achieved the highest results. The data show no evidence of pandemic-related learning loss. An initial performance boost occurred, likely due to increased study time and exam preparation during lockdown, followed by stabilization. The study underscores the need to further investigate gender disparities and to track long-term educational effects post-pandemic.