The effectiveness of the general aptitude test in Saudi Arabia in predicting performance of English as a foreign language

PurposeThis study examines the test's predictive validity of English language performance and compares test constructs to identify the most effective predictors of English language performance.Design/methodology/approachData were collected and analysed from test scores of students enrolled in the foundation year (N = 84) and level 2 (N = 127) in the faculty of English at a Saudi university using correlation and regression tests.FindingsThe findings revealed that the General Aptitude Test (GAT) is effective in predicting English performance for students in level 2 and that the error detection task is the most effective predictor of performance in English reading.Practical implicationsThe study provides support for the validity of the GAT as a university admission requirement for English language courses in the Arabic-speaking world.Originality/valueThis study examines the GAT's power using a fine-grained approach by deriving scores from its breakdown constructs to predict the performance of English skills at the university level.