Indians’ push makes Graduate Management Admission Test truly global

More Indians are taking the US Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) even as there has been a slight dip in applicants for the Common Admission Test (CAT) used to select candidates for the IIMs and other premier B-schools.

In 2008-09, GMAT saw a spike in demand from Indian and Chinese test-takers, with Indians alone topping 30,000. According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), the main drivers of demand for GMAT are the Indian School of Business and the IIM, Ahmedabad’s executive MBA programme (PGPX).

“GMAT is officially internationalised with more test-takers being non-US citizens as compared to US citizens. While GMAT is primarily used by US B-schools, demand for GMAT among Indians is driven by the growth of B-schools like ISB and IIMA-PGPX which require GMAT for admissions to their MBA programmes,” explained Rahul Choudaha, a higher education specialist based in New York. “Tests taken by citizens of India amounted to 30,633 in testing year 2009, a 128% increase during the past five years,” he added.

An analysis of the most recent GMAT testing year, which ran from July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2009, shows that nearly 51% of the exams administered during the period were taken by non-US candidates. The figures indicate that the number of Indians taking the test rose by 7% in the current year compared to 2007-08. “The unprecedented GMAT testing levels we are seeing are a clear indication of the value of graduate management education in today's marketplace,” said David A. Wilson, president and CEO of GMAC.

According to the GMAC report, ISB retained its position as the B-school to which most Indian management aspirants sent GMAT scores. The premier B-school accepts GMAT scores along with several interviews to shortlist candidates.

“Since we don’t conduct our own entrance test, we only accept GMAT, which is the standardised international test (and) becomes a platform to evaluate applicants' problem solving, communication and analytical skills. We also get 40% of applicants from non-resident Indians or foreign nationals. We interview around 2,500 applicants for admissions on an average every year,” said VK Menon, senior director, Career, Admissions and Financial Aid, ISB.

“We don’t believe in each institute having its own entrance exam. So, it makes sense to accept globally recognised GMAT scores, rather than the scores of various internal exams,” said Hanif Kanjer, director of Rustomjee Business School, Dahisar.