In an effort to continually assess the validity of the GMAT® (alone and in combination with undergraduate grade point average) as a predictor of test takers' performance in business school core courses, the Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®) conducts validity studies on its own behalf and on behalf of schools who request a study through the Validity Study Service.

GMAC® recently conducted a study to find out whether the GMAT® is biased in any way. The study involved determining whether predictions of performance using GMAT® scores and undergraduate grades were as effective for underrepresented student groups as they are for all students generally.

In order to find schools to participate in the study, GMAC® analyzed where underrepresented minority test takers were sending their GMAT® scores and identified the full-time, part-time, and executive MBA programs that received the most such scores. These programs were invited to participate in the minority validity study, which compared the predictive validity of the GMAT® exam for all major U.S. subgroups.

Eleven full-time programs, seven part-time programs, and five executive MBA programs participated in the study. The data from the 3,175 U.S. students in full-time programs were analyzed. The study found that the GMAT® has similar predictive validity among all U.S. subgroups:

• There were no significant differences in prediction equations based on sex of the student.
• There were no significant differences in prediction equations based on race/ethnicity of the student.
• Predictive validity is underestimated in VSS studies because of limitations caused by admitting only some of the applicants into the program.

The data from more than 2,000 U.S. students enrolled in part-time programs showed similar results, with no biases present in predicting grades using the GMAT® and undergraduate grades for groups by female students or for underrepresented minority groups.

For more information about this study and to request a validity study for your school or program through the Validity Study Service, please contact GMAC® at vss@gmac.com.

Graduate Management Admission Council®, GMAC®, and GMAT® are registered trademarks of the Graduate Management Admission Council®. All rights reserved.