The validity of Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores is examined by summarizing 273 studies conducted between 1997 and 2004. Each of the studies was conducted through the Validity Study Service of the test sponsor and contained identical variables and statistical methods. Validity coefficients from each of the studies were corrected for restriction of range on the predictors. The interquartile range of the validity coefficients for the combination of GMAT scores and undergraduate grades in predicting early graduate school performance was .45 to .63. Further examination of study findings showed that higher validity coefficients were observed for executive MBA programs compared to either full-time or part-time programs. There appeared to be no measurable differences in results for public versus private institutions. For programs not located at U.S. institutions, quantitative scores showed lower average validity coefficients compared to programs located in the United States.
Adams, A., & Hancock, T. (2000). Work experience as a predictor of MBA performance . College Student Journal, 34, 211-216.
2.
American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association, & National Council on Measurement in Education. (1999). Standards for educational and psychological testing . Washington, DC: American Educational Research Association.
3.
Benson, G. (1983, November). GMAT—Fact or fiction: A look at the validity of the exam. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Rocky Mountain Educational Research Association, Tucson, AZ. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED248274)
4.
Bottger, P., & Yetton, P. (1982). Student assessment and GMAT: Quantitative versus Verbal components in performance on examinations and assignments. Australian Journal of Management, 7, 9-18.
5.
Carver, M.R., & King, T.E. (1994). An empirical investigation of the MBA admission criteria for non-traditional programs. Journal of Education for Business, 70, 94-98.
6.
Crooks, S., & Heuvelmans, A. (1999). The GMAT as a predictor of academic performance on eight European MBA programs. A study for the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) by theNational Institute for Educational Measurement (CITO). Arnhem, Netherlands: CITO.
7.
Hunter, J., & Schmidt, F. (1990). Methods of meta-analysis: Correcting error and bias in research findings. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
8.
Kaplan, R., & Sacuzzo, D. (1997). Psychological testing: Principles, applications, and issues (4th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.
9.
Kuncel, N., Credé, M., & Thomas, L. (2004, April). A comprehensive meta-analysis of the predictive validity of the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) and undergraduate grade point average (UGPA). Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology , Chicago, IL.
10.
Marks, R., Watt, P., & Yetton, P. (1981). GMAT scores and performance: Selecting students into a graduate management school. Australian Journal of Management , 6, 81-102.
11.
McClure, R.H., Wells, C.E., & Bowerman, B.L. (1986). A model of MBA student performance. Research in Higher Education, 25, 182-192.
12.
Newman, J. (1986). A comparison of the rate of success between provisionally accepted and initially matriculated students in the Dowling Master of Business Administration program. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED296688)
13.
Nilsson, J.E. (1995). The GRE and the GMAT: A comparison of the correlations to GGPA. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 55, 637-640.
14.
Olsen, M. (1957). The admission test for graduate study in business as a predictor of first-year grades in business school, 1954—1955 ( ETS Statistical Report SR-57-3). Princeton, NJ: Educational Testing Service.
15.
Pieper, W. (1969). An analysis of applicants admitted to the master's program of the Graduate School of Business Administration at Berkeley. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED030396)
16.
Powers, D., & Moss, P. (1980). A summary of the results of the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) Validity Study Service for 1979—1980. Princeton, NJ: Educational Testing Service.
17.
Rothstein, M.G., Paunonen, S.V., Rush, J.C., & King, G.A. (1994). Personality and cognitive ability predictors of performance in graduate business school. Journal of Educational Psychology, 86, 516-530.
18.
Sireci, S., & Talento-Miller, E. (2006). Evaluating the predictive validity of Graduate Management Admission Test scores. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 66, 305-317.
19.
Stolzenberg, R., & Relles, D. (1985). Calculation and practical application of GMAT predictive validity measures. GMAC Occasional Papers. McLean, VA: GMAC.
20.
Waters, E. (1968). The admission test for graduate study in business and the adult part-time student. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED030029)
21.
Wightman, L., & Leary, L. (1985). GMAC Validity Study Service: A three-year summary (1981—82 through 1983—84). Princeton, NJ: Educational Testing Service.
22.
Wright, R., & Palmer, J. (1994). GMAT scores and undergraduate GPAs as predictors of performance in graduate business programs. Journal of Education for Business, 69, 344-348.
23.
Youngblood, S.A., & Martin, B.J. (1982). Ability testing and graduate admissions: Decision process modeling and validation. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 42, 1153-1162.
24.
Zhao, J.C., Patsula, L., Stone, E., Paez, R., Babula, J., Tye, E., et al. (2000). GMAT Validity Study Service: A three-year summary (1996—97 through 1998—99). McLean, VA: Graduate Management Admission Council.
