GMAT testing hits record volume

NEW DELHI: The exam volume for Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) for the 2012 testing year (July 1, 2011,to June 30, 2012),was up 11% from the 2011 testing year (TY), and 8% higher than the previous record of 265,613 in 2009.
"2012 was a remarkable year," said David Wilson, the Graduate Management Admission Council president and CEO. "GMAT testing rose from 2011 to 2012 in all world regions.The number of programs receiving GMAT scores rose to an all-time high. And we and our partners were able to scale our systems and delivery to individual test takers seamlessly to accommodate the high demand for the exam in the spring," added Wilson.
India witnessed the highest ever GMAT volume in India - 22,803 in TY 2012. This represents 25% growth over TY 2011 and 71% growth over five years. Moreover, largest number of programmes in India received GMAT scores for admission - 128 in TY 2012. This represents 49% growth over TY 2011 and 456% growth over five years. Also, GMAT score sending by Indian candidates in TY 2012 has grown by 18.5% over TY 2011 and 64% over five years. "TY 2012 has witnessed the highest ever GMAT volume in India till date as the GMAT continues to be first choice of Indian candidates seeking management education at top business schools worldwide. In addition to this, 128 programmes in India have received GMAT scores for admissions from Indian aspirants, a huge growth of 450% over the last five years.
As Indian business schools are widening their search for candidates with a view to creating more diversity in their classroom, the GMAT offers an excellent pipeline of aspirants. While applications to Indian business from non-Indian applicants have grown, overall they represent a small proportion. Systematic effort to attract interest from NRI, PIO and Foreign national candidates will further help create diversity in the classroom and GMAT provides a quality pool of such candidates to Indian business schools," said Ashish Bhardwaj, regional director, South Asia, GMAC. Last year, which saw the launch of a new GMAT Integrated Reasoning section, was a record year for the GMAT exam. A total of 286,529 GMAT exams were taken,with 831,337 score reports sent to 5,281 graduate business and management programs around the world - all historic highs, the Graduate Management Admission Council has announced.
"Today's global students - who may be a citizen of one country, study in second and choose to work in a third - recognise the significance and the superiority of the GMAT exam in gaining admission to the best management programs around the world," Wilson added. The record volume reflects an increase in graduate-level business and management programs that use GMAT exam to support their admissions decisions, in both MBA and other programs. "Business and management skills are needed more than ever in an ever increasing variety of organisations. Business schools have responded by offering a deeper portfolio of programs to meet these diverse needs," said Wilson.
"The number of score reports sent to MBA and other programs were both up, but those to the specialised masters programs grew even faster," added Wilson. The record volume partially reflects increased interest in the exam brought on by the addition of the integrated reasoning section on June 5, 2012. Key trends are the 2012 TY was a record year for GMAT volume, score reports sent, and number of programs receiving scores. Globally, 286,529 GMAT exams were taken, with 831,337 GMAT score report sent to 5,281 programs; the most preferred management education destinations of Indian GMAT takers in India are USA (51%), India (18%), UK (8%), Singapore (7.5%) and France (5%); the test is now accepted at 175 management programmes in India at over 80 business schools; and is available to candidates over 300 days a year at 18 test centres in 17 cities; the number of programs receiving scores was up 7% from 2011 and 21% from 2008; roughly 5,60,000 GMAT score reports were sent to MBA and EMBA programs, and 2,40,000 scores went to other masters programs (such as accounting, finance, and management) in testing year 2012; tests taken by non-US citizens rose 19% in 2012and represented 59% of global GMAT volume; Chinese test takers, the second-largest citizenship group after the US, and represented 20% of global testing. In 2012, the number of exams taken by Chinese citizens increased 45% to 58,196 exams; Indian citizens, the third-largest citizenship group, took 30,213 GMAT exams, a figure that increased 19% in 2012; the percentage of exams taken by women hit 42.9% in 2012-a record for the third straight year; the US metro areas observing increases in GMAT testing among residents included New York City and Los Angeles (up 8%), Chicago and Boston (up 4%), and Washington, DC (up 10%) in testing year 2012.