An Empirical Study of the Factors that Influence College Students’ Academic Performance in Mathematics Subject

Abstract

This study investigates the factors influencing students’ academic performance in Mathematics at Putra International College (PIC). Using a descriptive mixed-method design, quantitative data were collected from 73 students’ examination results and questionnaires, complemented by qualitative interviews. Five independent variables were analysed: attitude tests, material availability, study environments, attendance, and parental marital status. Pearson correlation and multiple regression models were applied through SPSS version 20. The findings revealed that all five factors were positively correlated with student performance, with attitude tests showing the strongest relationship (r = 0.467) and marital status the weakest (r = 0.160). Regression analysis demonstrated that the explanatory power of the models increased with the addition of more factors, with the five-factor model achieving the highest performance (r = 0.606; R² = 0.367; Std. Error = 14.474). This proves that student performance is best explained by the combination of motivational, institutional, and demographic factors. The study concludes with theoretical, pedagogical, and policy implications, suggesting that institutions should prioritize fostering positive attitudes toward mathematics and ensuring adequate learning resources while considering the broader socio-demographic background of students.