Generalizability of GMAT((R)) Validity to Programs outside the U.S.

This study explores the predictive validity of GMAT((R)) scores for predicting performance in graduate management programs outside the United States. Results suggest that the validity estimates based on the combination of GMAT((R)) scores were about a third of a standard deviation higher for non-U.S. programs compared with existing data on U.S. programs. There also appeared to be differences for separate GMAT((R)) sections such that verbal and writing scores had higher validity estimates for non-U.S. programs, but the validity estimates for quantitative scores were higher for U.S. programs. By meta-analytically combining data for more than 1,200 cases across six Western European programs, this study was able to explore the predictive validity of GMAT((R)) scores for students with differing backgrounds, including gender, educational background, native language, and citizenship. The analyses show that predictive validity differences among groups have only a small impact on academic performance measured by grades.