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 […]
What is test wiseness?
Test wisdom describes the ability of test takers to use the characteristics and format of a test or test situation to answer questions correctly regardless of the content and thus achieve a higher test score. This ability is based on various so-called metacognitive strategies. In multiple choice tests in particular (as opposed to tests with […]
Meeting with Our Scientific Advisory Board: Advancing Research in Admission Testing
Last Thursday, we had the pleasure of welcoming our Scientific Advisory Board to ITB for an insightful exchange on current research questions and methodological challenges. A big thank you to Professor Franzis Preckel (Trier), Professor Martin Kersting (Giessen), and Professor André Beauducel (Bonn) for their valuable contributions! Here are some key topics we explored: Socio-Economic […]
Unlocking the true value of Bachelor’s grades
Are all Bachelor’s grades created equal? Two studies, conducted in collaboration with the University of Duisburg-Essen and candidate select GmbH, shed light on the comparability of bachelor grades. The challenge: diverse universities, divergent standards Bachelor’s grades often carry limited significance due to variations in university requirements, grading practices, and performance levels. To address this, we […]
How should Higher Education admission procedures be designed to improve fairness and diversity?
Fairness and diversity are two essential pillars of higher education admissions. But how can we ensure these principles are reflected in practice? Fairness means selection decisions are based solely on potential, free from biases related to gender, ethnicity, economic background, family status, or any other variables unrelated to academic ability. Diversity, on the other hand, […]
Is Test Prep Undermining Equal Opportunities in Higher Education Admissions?
In the ongoing debate about fairness in admission procedures, high school grade point average (HSGPA) is often criticised. Wealthier families can afford to send their children to high-performing schools, provide extra support, build relationships with teachers, and invest in shadow education — all of which can result in higher HSGPAs, even when talent is equal. […]
Diagnostics in Higher Education Admissions: Selection Tools, Key Competencies, and Aptitude Test Criteria
As higher education institutions strive to identify the most suitable candidates, the choice and design of selection tools play a crucial role in the admissions process. Recent survey data from experts in higher education across 14 countries (Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Mexico, Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, UAE, UK, USA) provides valuable insights […]
Goals and Challenges in Higher Education Admissions
In an increasingly competitive higher education landscape, institutions face complex decisions regarding their admissions processes. A recent survey of experts from 14 countries (Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Mexico, Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, UAE, UK, USA), including admissions professionals and faculty members, sheds light on the primary objectives and challenges in student selection. […]
Self-regulation as a future skill
The less work is controlled by external guidelines or other people and the more opportunities arise, the more important it is for individuals to manage themselves well. Self-regulation has therefore become a crucial core skill in the new world of education and work. The importance of self-regulation and self-directed learning for academic success was only […]
Data Literacy in Higher Education: An Important Ingredient of Critical Thinking
In academia, the ability to comprehend and analyze graphically presented data is often referred to as “data visualization literacy.” This skill encompasses not only understanding visualized information but also the capacity to discern patterns, trends, and relationships within data, fostering quantitative reasoning and analytical capabilities. Similarly, the term “statistical literacy” involves interpreting information from graphs […]