The Validity of Graduate Management Admission Test Scores: A Summary of Studies Conducted From 1997 to 2004

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.