Traditionally people taking the GMAT would have about four years of experience and then they would apply to select management programs world over. Undergraduate students would shy away from taking the test owing to a myth that the GMAT was only for work experienced people.

One of the GMAC’s recent objective is to increase its base of test applicants by targeting under-graduate students to appear for the test. The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) aims to correct the myth that a student needs to gain work experience first and then plan a Master’s degree. With this aim in mind, GMAC wants to draw student’s attention to various internationally acclaimed Master’s programs in Management, Accounting, Financial accounting, Financial Engineering, Telecom management, Health care, Hospitality which requires one to take the GMAT as an admission test. Along with creating more of these programs in India, the GMAC also aims to target students from non-traditional backgrounds like Defence, Law, Medicine and other allied fields. This is mainly in resonance with the aim of most Business Schools – a need to create more diversity in the classroom.

Another main aim of the Council is to almost double the number of Women aspirants taking the GMAT. In India, 26% women take the test as compared to 58% in China. GMAC aims to take the Indian Women test take percentage to 58% by reaching out to women in under-graduate colleges and creating more awareness about the test and the functional roles available post an MBA.

India is the third largest market for GMAT after the US and China. Around 175 programs in India accept the GMAT. GMAC is looking at opening new test centres in the country.