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GMAT Volume Hits Record High

December 21, 2009 By

Hot off the Mediaroom press: The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) reports that 2009 will see a record-breaking number of GMAT test takers—a whopping 267,000, up from last year’s record of 264,700.

GMAC’s Dave Wilson discusses the phenomenon: “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. “This record volume also underscores the GMAT exam’s strength as the best measure to help business schools evaluate talent.” 

GMAT statistics show that as the testing pool expands, so does the international, racial, and gender diversity of the test takers.

Here are a few figures of interest:

  • The number of GMAT exams taken in China rose to 23,550, up 35% from last year, 181% since 2005 when there were only 8,393 tests administered to Chinese citizens.
  • 30,633 MBA prospects took the GMAT in India this year, up only 7% from year, but has increased 128% in the last 5 years.
  • Women test takers finally exceeded the 100,000 mark with a record high of 104,880, up 36% during the last 5 years.
  • The under-24-year-old population made up 79,577 of GMAT test takers this year, capping a 132% increase from 2005.
  • African American test takers jumped 27% over the last 4 years, to 10,751.
  • Hispanic Americans hit their record this year at 7,339 GMAT test takers, up 16% since 2005

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  • Anonymous

    I recently took the GMAT. A majority of the people who were taking the test at the same time I was taking the GMAT, cancelled and left before getting to the verbal section or left before completing the test. I was shocked. I thought most people would at least finish the test.

    I won’t mention the two demographic[s] who I noticed canceled in such high numbers. But I was taking the test in a US testing center. One of the demographic[s] I noticed canceling [not coming back after the breaks] have a over a “100% increase” from 2005.

    How is the testing volume measured? Yes, the testing volume maybe up, but how many of those people are actually finishing the test?

    Given the difficulty of the math problems I received during the test, I seriously doubt history majors and other non-math related majors are getting those questions correct.