EXPLORATORY STUDY OF THE RESULTS OF THE NATIONAL ENTRANCE EXAMS AT ESPE-BENGO: DATA ANALYSIS

Abstract

In this study, conducted at the Bengo Higher Pedagogical School, we observed a concerning trend: a substantial decline in the admission of new students, accompanied by a growing failure rate in the national entrance exams. To better understand this situation, we carried out a detailed data analysis of the national entrance exams from the academic years 2021/2022, 2022/2023, and 2023/2024 in the subjects of Portuguese language and mathematics for the Bachelor's programs in Teaching Portuguese Language and Teaching Mathematics. Our analysis not only quantified correct and incorrect answers but also categorized questions by topics. Furthermore, we investigated the candidates’ backgrounds, considering whether they came from public or private schools and the type of secondary education they attended. This allowed us to identify critical areas where students face greater difficulties, providing valuable insights for developing improvement strategies. These results highlight the need to enhance candidates' preparation and emphasize the importance of specific interventions, such as preparatory courses, to improve performance and promote the inclusion of a larger number of qualified students.