Should we include personality tests in Higher Education Admissions?
Admissions processes have long relied on cognitive aptitude tests and prior academic achievement. These tools are well-validated and effective—but are they enough? There’s growing evidence that personality traits such as conscientiousness, perseverance, and team orientation contribute significantly to student success, both academically and socially. As institutions seek to improve retention, student wellbeing, and diversity, personality […]
What models are available for the use of study aptitude tests?
There are many good reasons to introduce an aptitude test for admission: Some universities want to improve the average aptitude of their students and, if necessary, set minimum standards; some want to increase the legal certainty of the selection process (partly due to external pressure); some want to promote diversity among their student body by […]
Career or study choice — decision-making and influencing factors
Even though career development can and should be understood as a lifelong process, young people and young adults in particular face a far-reaching decision: choosing a course of study or career (for the first time). But how is this important decision made? How does the decision-making process work? Put simply, decision-theory approaches assume that prospective […]
Dropping out: Understanding, preventing and avoiding it
Common reasons for dropping out Dropping out of university can have various causes that are related to the social environment and individual factors. If you want to reduce dropout rates and promote academic success, it is important to consider both individual factors and to improve the framework conditions and support at universities. A holistic approach […]
How to Compare GPAs from Different Countries? The Bavarian Formula Explained
When selecting students from a global pool of applicants, comparing high school GPAs (HSGPA) across different grading systems can be a challenge. To ensure objective comparisons, the use of one or several standardized admission tests like SAT, ACT, ITB-Business (undergraduate studies) and GMAT, GRE, GTEBS (graduate studies) is recommended. However, if you still need to […]
European Data Protection and Study Aptitude Tests
We have to admit—Sometimes data protection feels like a never-ending bureaucracy. More forms to fill out, another penetration test, another lengthy contract to draft. At ITB we take care of ensuring that we meet all the requirements of the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Why do we go through all this for study aptitude […]
Mastering Complexity in a Fast-Paced World: A Modern Approach to Talent Assessment
In today’s increasingly complex and fast-moving world, the ability to manage complexity, stay organized, and self-regulate has become a key factor for success—not only in the workplace but also in academic settings. This growing demand for cognitive agility is reshaping what we need to assess when selecting students, professionals, and future leaders. Why Complexity Management […]
5 Measures to reduce academic dropouts
Higher education is of immense importance for Germany as a centre of science and research. To ensure that universities can provide a large number of academically qualified specialists in the future despite limited resources (e.g. number of study places), it is all the more important to guarantee academic success. Unfortunately, however, it is not uncommon […]
How Many Admission Tests Can You Use Simultaneously?
Aptitude tests are a valuable tool for improving admissions in higher education. But is it effective to use more than one test—and if so, how many? We frequently discuss this with universities that implement our GTEBS test for master’s programs in business and economics. Interestingly, half of them also accept the GMAT. Pros & Cons […]
Is Student Cognitive Performance Declining? Insights from 14 Years of GTEBS Admission Test Data
Are today’s students less prepared for academic challenges than those a decade ago? We analysed data from 21,722 applicants for master’s programs who took the Graduate Test for Economics, Business, and Social Sciences (GTEBS) between 2011 and 2024—and found a notable trend: This raises important questions: Are we witnessing a decline in cognitive performance, and […]