GENDER DIFFERENCES IN COGNITIVE SKILLS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN COLLEGE STUDENTS

In the present study we analyzed sexual differences in cognitive abilities and their relationship in regard to the academicperformance in beginner students from the Universidad Empresarial Siglo 21. For this purpose, we applied fivesubtests from the Differential Aptitude Tests (DAT) to 1529 students (713 males and 816 females) between 1998 and2000. We assessed academic performance using the average grades obtained by the students during the first three yearsof theirs careers. We found a significant statistical difference between males and females in the tests and in performance.Also, we found average and high correlations between the tests combinations and the criterion performance. The testcriterion relationships were higher in females than in males.