Apples to apples?

Abstract

This purpose of this study was to analyze the predictive validity of the GMAT and GRE specifically for MBA program admissions purposes, and also to try and identify other factors that may be statistically significant predictors of academic success (as defined by graduate GPA). As of this writing, the predictive validity of the GRE for MBA programs had not been analyzed, even though the majority of business schools globally now accept the GRE as part of their admissions processes. A review of the current literature base was conducted which included a historical overview of standardized testing broadly and the GMAT/GRE specifically and prior predictive validity research specific to the GMAT/GRE and other factors thought to predict academic success. Using a dataset which consisted of 749 total student records from three institutions in the United States, this study used correlation, bivariate regression, and multivariate regression techniques to determine the variables that were most important in predicting academic success. It was found that undergraduate GPA was the strongest standalone predictor of graduate academic success for both the GMAT and GRE test-taker subgroups. The GMAT was a significant predictor of first-semester and final MBA GPAs, and the GRE, while not significant in the prediction of first-semester MBA GPA, was a significant predictor of final MBA GPA and accounted for slightly more variance than the GMAT in the sample. The study also found that the AACSB score, a formula which combines undergraduate GPA and standardized exam score, was the strongest predictor of MBA academic success amongst all variables collected in this sample.