Learning ability of top university students in China: Shanghai Jiao Tong University as a case study

Learning ability of college students is an important indicator for their potentiality to accomplish academic studies and for their adaptability to future career. In order to gain a good understanding of the learning ability of first-year students from top universities in China, we used the Study Skills Assessment developed by Columbia Basin College and conducted a survey of 779 first-year students from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The data collected were analyzed by using SPSS 20 for independent sample T test, one-way ANOVA, and Bonferroni multiple comparison. Results show that the overall average score in time management, concentration & memory, and writing is lower than the standard. Besides, significant gender differences are found in the aspects of note taking, testing, and writing. Significant differences in terms of places of origin are also found in all dimensions except for attitude/motivation. These findings imply much to current secondary education as well as the college education in China.