Vol. 9(1), pp. 41-50, 10 January, 2014 DOI: 10.5897/ERR2013.1639 ISSN 1990-3839 © 2014 Academic Journals http://www.academicjournals.org/ERR Educational Research and Reviews Full Length Research Paper The variables affecting the success of students SAVAŞ, Behsat* and GÜREL, Ramazan Faculty of Education, Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Turkey. Accepted 23 December, 2013 The aim of this study is to determine the variables affecting the success of students. This research, which was conducted through the relational screening model, has a sampling of students who were selected from a middle city in Turkey. The schools are classified into three as low, medium and high. A total of 3491 students are selected by using the random stratified sampling model. The data were gathered by a survey which included 20 items developed by researchers. In this study, as a result of separate analysis on grade 7 and 8 students, similar conclusions are made. According to the findings of the research, the success of students who received pre-school education is higher than those who did not. Also, students who went to private establishments longer are more successful than the students who went for a short time. Attending extra school courses has similar results as to going to the private school establishments. When shelter conditions are considered, it is found that students who live with their parents are more successful than those students who are boarding or living in dormitories. It is understood that the variables that affect 7 th and 8 th grade students’ success most are “average amount of daily problem solved” and “the time spent in private establishments or school courses”. Key words: Academic achievement, elementary school, student. INTRODUCTION The life of students in the future is mostly influenced by the quality of education in their former schools (Yıldırım, 2006). According to the PISA 2003 (Programme for International Student Assessment) findings, Turkey has the most significant gap between the qualities of schools among the participated countries (MEB, 2005). As a result of this gap, students have to do specific exams and obtain a certain level of success in order to have a chance to choose between secondary schools which can provide a more advantageous education (Gelbal, 2008). It is the Student Placement Test [SBS] (Student Place- ment Test is one of the elements of the system of transition to secondary education) grades which are main factor for primary school students to get into one of the secondary schools. Students’ high grades in SBS are mostly dependent on their school learning in terms of five disciplines (Turkish, Mathematics, Science and Techno- logy, Social Sciences and English). The Turkish education system has an academic success-centered structure due to exams. From the beginning of the school, students are expected to be successful by their whole family, teachers and environ- ment (Şama and Tarım, 2007). Therefore, the educa- tional success of student gains a prominent importance for student himself/herself, his/her family and the society where the student is living in (Yıldırım, 2000). In the last few years, Turkish student’s success in both national exams and international assessments (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study [TIMMS], PISA) has been very low. It is thought that if the factors that affect the success are determined, the reasons of failure can be controlled (Özgüven, 1974). Secondary school is a transition period to high schools, and this transition is prominent for students as it impacts their lives in a variety of ways. The success of students in secondary schools can provide them the opportunity to study in a better high school and in a university where they can be educated for the profession they choose. E-mail: bsavas@mehmetakif.edu.tr.