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Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at
http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
I SSN: 2395-0463
Vol ume 03 I s s ue 0 8
Jul y 2017
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 409
A Study On The Factors Influencing On Grade Point Average (GPA) With
Special Reference To Third Year Commerce And Management Students Of
Eastern University, Sri Lanka
*Nirogini Yogendra (EU/IS/2012/MS/44), **Anthony Andrew
* Student of BBA, Department of Management, Faculty of Commerce and
Management, Eastern University, Sri Lanka
niroginiy@gmail.com
**Senior Lecturer, Department of Management, Eastern University, Sri Lanka.
andrewsa1965@yahoo.com.au
Abstract
A Grade Point Average (GPA) is the average of all final grades for courses within a program,
weighted by the unit value of each of those courses. There are several ways to determine student
academic performance which are cumulative grade point average (CGPA), grade point average
(GPA), tests and others. In Malaysia, researchers evaluate the student academic performance
based on CGPA (Ervina and Othman, 2005; Manan and Mohamad, 2003 and Agus and
Makhbul, 2002). In addition, a study in the United States by Nonis and Wright (2003) also
evaluate student performance based on CGPA. Most of the researches done in other countries
used GPA as a measurement of academic performance (Galiher 2006; Darling 2005; Broh,
2002; Stephens and Schaben 2002 and Amy 2000). They used GPA to assess students’
performance for that particular semester. Some other researcher used test results to assess
students’ performance for the specific subject (Syed Tahir Hijazi and S.M.M Raza Naqvi,
2006; Hake, 1998 and Tho, 1994).
As the Grade Point Average (GPA) been used as a unit of measure to assess the academic
performance of the students it is important to identify and understand the factors that influence
the Grade Point Average of students. The objective of this study is to determine which factors
have impact on students’ Grade Point Average (GPA). To meet this objective, a survey was
carried out at Eastern University with third year commerce and management students. For the
study, factors such as the time spend for studying, and language barrier were tested to find out
which factor influencing on Grade Point Average (GPA) among students.
For the study, data were collected based on primary and secondary sources. Primary data was
collected through questionnaire and secondary data was collected from past research papers,
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Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at
http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
I SSN: 2395-0463
Vol ume 03 I s s ue 0 8
Jul y 2017
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 410
literature, reports and internet. Mean, standard deviation, correlation and multiple regression
analysis were employed to identity whether time spend for studying and language barrier have
influenced on Grade Point Average (GPA).
According to the findings, time spends for studying influence on Grade Point Average (GPA)
of Third Year Commerce and Management Students of Eastern University, Sri Lanka than
Language barrier. Therefore, high spending time on studies leads to high level of Grade Point
Average (GPA).
Keywords: Grade Point Average, Time spend for studying, Language barrier
1. Introduction
Since the number of people who graduated from a university has increased in Sri Lanka. There
is a high competition among the graduates in white collar job market. One of the indicators that
highlight the university students’ qualification is the academic performance, mostly measured
with the cumulative grade point average (CGPA). Many employers use the CGPA to screen
out the job candidates and they mostly prefer a candidate with a higher CGPA. The
performance of students in universities should be a concern not only to the administrators and
educators, but also to corporations in the labor market. Academic achievement is one of the
main factors considered by the employer in recruiting workers especially the fresh graduates.
Thus, students have to place the greatest effort in their study to obtain a good grade in order to
fulfill the employer’s demand. Students’ academic achievement is measured by the Cumulative
Grade Point Average (CGPA). CGPA shows the overall students’ academic performance
where it considers the average of all examinations’ grade for all semesters during the tenure in
university. Many factors could act as barrier and catalyst to students achieving a high CGPA
that reflects their overall academic performance such as gender, previous academic
performance, living place and income level of family, social environment, time spend for
studying, learning ability and living place during the university life. The objective of this study
is to determine which factors have impact on CGPA for undergraduate students. This study
covers literature review, data and method where the data and model were defined, empirical
findings and finally conclusion and recommendation.
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Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at
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I SSN: 2395-0463
Vol ume 03 I s s ue 0 8
Jul y 2017
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 411
2. Research Problem
The grade point average (GPA) is a numerical representation of a student’s overall academic
achievement. The University Grants Commission having noted that there is a significant
variation in the degree awarding criteria as well as in the structure of the degree programmes
conducted by different faculties/universities within the Sri Lankan University System and
decided to formulate a common Credit and Qualification Framework (CQF) for Sri Lankan
University System in order to maintain the consistency and comparability of university level
qualifications. (UGC website, Sri Lanka)
I have noticed that typical number of third year commerce and management students have GPA
nearly second class lower division (3.00 - < 3.30) or second class upper division (3.30 - <3.70),
mostly pass level (2.00 -< 3.00). But, they can try towards first class (3.70 or greater). (This
GPA criterion was taken from commerce and management faculty prospectus book - 2013).
This is a vital issue to discuss. There are number of major factors become barriers to get high
GPA. Hence this study analyses only two factors such ; time spend for studying and language
barrier.
3. Research Question
This study examines the factors that Influence on Grade Point Average (GPA) of Third Year
Commerce and Management Students of Eastern University, Sri Lanka.
1. Whether the time spends for studying affects the GPA of undergraduate?
2. Whether the language barrier affects the GPA of undergraduate?
4. Research Objectives
The study is important to investigate the factors that Influence on Grade Point Average (GPA).
The primary aim of this study is to develop a conceptual framework that explains the factors
influence on Grade Point Average (GPA) of Third Year Commerce and Management Students
of Eastern University, Sri Lanka.
This study has two main research objectives.
