Q&A: David A Wilson, President & CEO, GMAC

GMAT candidates from India have doubled in 4 years

Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), which opened its India office this February, is looking to grow its GMAT volumes in India and get more B-schools to start using the format as part of their admission process. In the first four months, India has seen a 10 per cent jump in the number of students appearing for the GMAT exam over the same period last year. David A Wilson, President and CEO, GMAC, tells Praveen Bose and Pradeesh Chandran why he is bullish on India. Edited Excerpts:

Why are you so bullish on the India market?
The last five years have been very eventful for GMAC in India. It has seen incredible changes during this period. The number of test takers from India has doubled from 2006 through 2010. In the first four months of 2011 alone, the number has been up 10 per cent over the same period last year. For the last five years or so, India has also seen one of the highest numbers taking up the GMAT in Asia.

What do you think is the reason behind the increase in numbers of GMAT takers from India?
There are three factors that have contributed to the growth. The value that India is placing towards higher education, technology driving cutting-edge technology, and spirit of entrepreneurship that encourages entrepreneurship. A prominent trend that the GMAC has witnessed lately is that Indians are now looking at studying in India, as the country has some very good business schools. And, the GMAC products facilitate the platform to connect students to global B-schools. The GMAT gives candidates more choices.

How has GMAC dealt with examination malpractice to improve its credibility?
GMAC is using advanced techniques to root out malpractice. For instance, the GMAT employs the most advanced test security programme in the industry, including palm vein technology to verify the identity of test takers. The GMAT is the only high-stakes admissions test capable of identifying serial proxy test takers.

How does GMAT stand out from similar tests?
GMAC opens doors for Indian students as schools across the globe accept GMAT scores for five years. Hence, they do not need to prepare for the exam every year. That’s the value proposition which can be very enticing for those taking the test.