A Comparison of Academic Achievement Among First-Year Bachelor of Nursing Science Students in the Academic Years 2022 - 2023, Classified by Admission Rounds Under the TCAS System

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the academic achievement of first-year students enrolled in the Bachelor of Nursing Science program in the academic years 2022 (Cohort 65) and 2023 (Cohort 66), categorized by admission rounds and selection criteria under the Thai University Central Admission System (TCAS). The population consisted of 304 students from Cohort 65 and 311 students from Cohort 66, for a total of 615 students. A sample of 360 students (180 per academic year) was determined using sample size estimation with               the G*Power program. The research instrument was a secondary data record form developed by the researcher to collect data from the university registration system, including admission round, high school GPA, A-Level scores, TGAT scores, and university academic achievement (GPAX at the end of the first academic year). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics to present overall academic performance, followed by one-Way ANOVA and LSD multiple comparison tests to examine statistical differences. The findings revealed that the academic achievement of first-year students in the academic years 2022 and 2023 did not differ significantly, with overall performance at a “good” level (mean = 2.85, SD = 0.57). When classified by admission round, students admitted through TCAS Round 3 (Admission) had      the highest mean GPAX, followed by TCAS Round 4 (Direct Admission) and TCAS Round 1 (Portfolio), whereas those admitted through TCAS Round 2 (Quota) had the lowest mean GPAX. Results from ANOVA and pairwise comparisons indicated significant differences in academic achievement across admission rounds, particularly in A-Level and TGAT scores, showing that students admitted through TCAS Rounds 3 and 4 performed significantly better than those admitted through TCAS Round 2. These findings highlight the influence of admission rounds on academic achievement and provide useful implications for future admission planning, including the establishment of applicant qualifications and the determination intake numbers for each admission round.