Mathematics is a very important subject. It is the language of science and technology and so it is a force to reckon with in the development of any nation. Several studies on factors that affect mathematics achievement have been conducted. However, studies on factors that affect mathematics achievement among Polytechnics students in Nigeria seem to be rare. This study identified the variables that tend to affect academic performance among mathematics students and developed covariance structure model for examining the relationships between the variables. This was with a view to providing an appropriate frame work for predicting academic performance. Study participants were 240 students selected by convenience sampling from six Polytechnics (three State-owned and three Federal-owned) in the South-Western Nigeria. A self-report questionnaire was administered on participants to collect information on demographic factors, self concept, training environment and circumstances used to determine the academic performance of students. Data collected was analyzed using percentages and covariance structure model technique. It explained self-concept, training environment and circumstances affect academic performance, with a good model fit. The model supposes that the perceived attributes of self concept, training environment and circumstances in polytechnics predict the academic performance. The result showed that self-concept, training environment and circumstances has influences on students’ academic performance in Nigerian polytechnic.

covariance structure modeling, academic performance, mathematics, students, LISREL