Bayombong – College admission test performance does not appear to be the main factor determining how Information Technology students choose their specializations. A study conducted by Von P. Gabayan and Jaylord V. Bacani from Nueva Vizcaya State University found no significant relationship between students’ Nueva Vizcaya State University College Admission Test (NCAT) performance and their eventual Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT) major selection. Published in 2026 in the East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (EAJMR), the findings suggest that personal interests, career aspirations, and other non-cognitive factors may play a greater role in shaping specialization decisions.
Higher education institutions commonly use entrance examinations and previous academic records to assess whether prospective students are prepared for university-level education. Admission scores can provide useful information about cognitive abilities and academic readiness. In computing education, these indicators may also help universities evaluate whether students possess the competencies needed to enter technology-related degree programs.
However, academic choices are not always predictable from examination scores. Students may select a field based on personal interests, confidence in their abilities, perceived employment opportunities, family influence, or long-term career goals. This issue is particularly relevant in Information Technology education, where students may choose from different specializations that require distinct competencies and can lead to different professional pathways.
Gabayan and Bacani examined this issue at the College of Information Technology Education of Nueva Vizcaya State University–Bayombong Campus. The study involved 62 first-year BSIT students during Academic Year 2025–2026. The researchers analyzed university admission records containing students’ overall NCAT performance, first, second, and third academic program preferences during admission, and their selected BSIT major specialization. Statistical analysis was then used to determine whether admission performance and initial program preferences were related to specialization choices.
The results showed that most respondents achieved an average NCAT classification. A total of 35 students, or 56.45 percent, were classified as Average, while 18 students, or 29.03 percent, were categorized as Low Average. Another seven students, or 11.29 percent, achieved a High Average classification. Only one respondent obtained a Superior classification, while one was identified as a transferee. The results table on page 2573 shows that the BSIT student group was largely composed of individuals with average academic readiness based on NCAT classifications.
Students were almost evenly divided between the two BSIT specializations available in the study. Web and Mobile Application Development (WMAD) was selected by 32 students, or 51.61 percent, while Network Design and Management (NDM) was chosen by 30 students, or 48.39 percent. The second table on page 2573 illustrates this nearly equal distribution, suggesting relatively balanced student interest between software development and computer networking.
Interestingly, most respondents had already expressed an interest in Information Technology during the university admission process. A total of 47 students, or 75.81 percent, identified an IT-related academic program as their first choice. Only 15 students initially selected a non-IT program. This pattern indicates that the majority of respondents entered university with an initial intention to pursue a technology-related degree.
The pattern became more diverse when students listed alternative academic programs. For their second choice, 30 respondents selected IT-related programs and another 30 selected non-IT programs, while two students did not indicate a second preference. For the third choice, non-IT programs became dominant, with 36 students, or 58.06 percent, selecting fields outside Information Technology. Twenty-three students continued to choose IT-related programs, while three did not provide a third preference. These results indicate that students may consider several academic pathways even when Information Technology is their primary field of interest.
The main finding emerged when the researchers compared NCAT performance with BSIT specialization choices. Statistical analysis produced a p-value of 0.305, which was higher than the 0.05 significance threshold. Cramér's V was recorded at 0.279, indicating only a weak association. These figures show that NCAT performance had no statistically significant relationship with whether students selected NDM or WMAD. In practical terms, a student's admission test classification could not reliably predict which IT specialization they would choose.
Students’ original academic program preferences also showed no significant relationship with their eventual specialization. The first program preference produced a p-value of 0.455, the second preference recorded 0.291, and the third preference reached 0.719. All values exceeded the 0.05 significance threshold. This means that the academic choices students listed during admission were not reliable predictors of whether they would later pursue networking or web and mobile application development.
According to Gabayan and Bacani from Nueva Vizcaya State University, the results indicate that other factors may have a stronger influence on specialization decisions. Personal interests, career aspirations, perceived employment opportunities, family influence, institutional orientation, and students’ awareness of BSIT specializations may play a more important role than admission test performance or initial academic preferences.
The findings carry an important message for universities. Admission examinations remain useful for assessing general academic readiness, but test scores should not necessarily serve as the sole basis for directing students toward a particular specialization. Universities may need to strengthen academic advising, career counseling, specialization orientation seminars, and access to clear information about the competencies and employment opportunities associated with each academic pathway.
For Information Technology students, understanding the differences between Network Design and Management and Web and Mobile Application Development can support more informed decisions. Choosing a specialization may influence not only the subjects students study but also the technical competencies they develop, internship opportunities they pursue, and professional careers they enter after graduation.
Gabayan and Bacani also highlight an opportunity for artificial intelligence to support future student advising. Further research could develop an AI-assisted decision support system that integrates NCAT results with students’ interests, career preferences, and awareness of BSIT specializations. Such technology could provide more personalized academic recommendations without relying solely on a single examination score.
The study reinforces the idea that a number on an admission test does not always explain the direction of a student's educational journey. In the rapidly changing field of Information Technology, specialization choices may require a broader understanding of personal strengths, interests, and professional goals. For universities, combining academic data with more personalized guidance could become an important strategy for helping students select educational pathways that better match their future ambitions.
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Article Title: Program Alignment in Information Technology Education: The Role of NCAT Performance in BSIT Major Selection
Journal: East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (EAJMR), Vol. 5, No. 7, 2026.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/eajmr.v5i7.245
Journal Link: https://journaleajmr.my.id/index.php/eajmr
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