The Predictive Validity of the Graduate Record Examinations for Subgroups of Students in Different Academic Disciplines

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between graduate grade point average and subtests of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) Aptitude Test for subsamples of graduate students in different academic disciplines. Validity coefficients for the two variables were calculated for a sample of 582 graduate students. Results indicated considerable variability in validity coefficients. The Total and Verbal scores on the GRE were comparable in predictive validity, whereas the Quantitative score had less prognostic value. There was also variability in validity coefficients for subgroups in different disciplines with Education, Humanities, and Mathematics/Science subsamples being comparable and with the Fine Arts subgroup having much lower coefficients.

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