FIVE FACTOR TRAITS AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN COLLEGE

The study was based on Five-Factor personality trait theory (Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness and Neuroticism). It examined the relationship between personality traits of students and their academic achievement based on their grade-point average (GPA) over four years and scores of Entrance Examinations (English, Math, Science, Inductive Reasoning and General Scholastic Aptitude Tests). This was a correlational research using descriptive survey design. Graduating students from the College of Arts and Sciences in a university in Manila enrolled in Academic Year 2016-2017 composed the samples of the study using purposive sampling technique. A structured survey questionnaire of 41 items developed by Buchanan, et al. was used as a research instrument and administered via Google forms online. Based on Pearson r correlation, Openness to experience personality trait posed significant with First year GPA and entrance examinations scores but the relationship is weak. Studies showed that personality traits of conscientiousness, agreeableness and openness should be positively used jointly to pose significance with academic achievement.