A note on the effect of secondary school accounting study on university accounting performance

Abstract

This study finds that taking accountancy as a matriculation subject in secondary school tends to improve a student’s final Accountancy I mark by more than can be attributed to chance. Nevertheless, prior accounting exposure explains less than 5% of the variation in first year results and the matriculation aggregate symbol is a relatively stronger predictor of Accounting I success. Students without secondary school exposure to accountancy who progress to write the Accounting II examination are found to significantly outperform their colleagues who have taken accountancy as a school subject. However, school accounting exposure and matriculation aggregate symbols together only explain 13% of the variation in second year performance. The major contributors to university success are those factors omitted from the analysis such as how well the student actually studies during his university career.