The Development and Validation of an Entrance Examination in a Mexican University

Abstract

A review of the literature reveals no published research on the use of college entrance examinations in Mexico. A validity study on a locally developed college entrance examination at the Autonomous University of Chihuahua, Mexico was conducted on the entire freshman class entering the college of Accounting and Business Administration. The entrance examination scores, secondary school grades, Beta IQs, and other variables were subjected to multiple regression analysis to predict university grade point average (GPA). Results indicated that all 13 variables combined accounted for only 20% of the total variance in the criterion measure with only two variables, mathematics and secondary school grades, explaining most of the total variance. A critical analysis of the entrance examination and the university selection procedures is discussed and contrasted with data from United States colleges.