Conscientiousness and Eysenckian psychoticism as predictors of school grades: A one-year longitudinal study

Using data from the Wollongong Youth Study, we assessed the extent to which psychoticism (P) and conscientiousness (C) (both Time 1) predict academic performance one year later. Participants were in their first year of high school at Time 1 (N =  784; 382 males and 394 females; 8 did not indicate their gender). The mean age was 12.30 yrs. (SD = 0.49). End of year grades were obtained for English, Science, Mathematics, Religious studies, Visual art, and Design. C, but not P, significantly predicted Total grade as well as outcomes in English, Religious studies, Visual art, and Design. The impact of P was more modest. Changes in P and C over time were also related to academic performance at Time 2. Results are discussed with reference to previous work in this area and the nature of these major personality dimensions. Suggestions for future research are also made.