Form two secondary education examinations as predictor of performance in the certificate of secondary education examinations in Bagamoyo district-Tanzania

The study sought to examine the extent to which Form Two Secondary Education Examinations (FTSSE) are a predictor of performance in the Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (CSEE) in Bagamoyo District in Tanzania. The objectives of the study were: to examine the correlation between the performance in FTSEE and CSEE varies with the type of school attended; to examine whether the correlation between the performance in FTSSE and CSEE varies with sex. A sample of 158students from four selected schools in Bagamoyo District, Coast Region in Tanzania was involved. The study was quantitative where correlation research design was used. Data were collected using score sheets, where GPA for FTSEE and CSEE were calculated and paired. The data obtained were analysed using computer software. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16 and the sub programme, Pearsons Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient. The findings indicated that there was a strong positive relationship between the students’ performance in FTSSE and CSEE, where the correlation coefficient between the students GPA for FTSEE 2009 and CSEE 2011 was r= 0.686, p<0.01, regardless of sex and type of schools(r=0.612) than the Government schools (r=0.494). This means that many students maintained that FTSEE performance towards their performance towards their CSEE performance. It was concluded that FTSEE is an important tool for predicting access in the subsequent CSEE. It is recommended that the FTSEE has to be upheld and strengthened improve student performance in the CSEE in Tanzania.