This is the greatest case of poisoning in the history of mankind: In Bangladesh, the health of 35 to 80 million people is endangered due to water contaminated by arsenic (Figure 1 [1]). The problem was first detected in the early 1980s in the Indian state of Western Bengal, a neighbor of Bangladesh. It quickly became evident that this contamination also existed in Bangladesh. Another ten years would pass, however, before the authorities and the international community mobilized their efforts. The aim is simple: to make sure the people of Bangladesh have safe drinking water. Achieving it, however, is far more complex. There is no miracle solution in sight and, meanwhile, millions of people are slowly becoming poisoned.
Context
Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries in the world. It has a land area of 144,000 square kilometers and stretches from the Ganges Delta to that of the Brahmaputra. The climate is subtropical, with three main seasons: from March to May, a warm, wet season with regular storms; from June to September, the monsoon, with frequent rains and rising river levels that flood the country; and form October to February, a relatively cool, dry season. These seasons and the level of the rivers regulate life in Bangladesh.
Typhoons from the Gulf of Bengal frequently arrive during the rain season, causing water levels in the delta to increase. These flood seasons may be followed by harsh droughts. Poor in mineral resources, with almost non-existent industrialization, the country relies on agriculture — mostly rice farming — and international aid. Internal political strife and corruption hinder economic reform.
The population of Bangladesh is 140 million, which amounts to a population density of approximately 1000 inhabitants per square kilometer. This is Bangladeshâ€TMs most serious problem: The country is overpopulated, and the birth rate remains high. The introduction of family planning and contraception campaigns has attempted to solve this problem. More than 80 percent of the population lives in the countryside. Under the duress of natural conditions and with little help from the corrupt authorities, most Bangladeshis cannot but count on themselves and on international aid for their survival.
Sources of the problem
The supply of water has always been a problem in Bangladesh. Until the 1970s, Bangladeshis used surface water that was contaminated with microorganisms, which spread permanent epidemics of diarrhea and cholera. Children were always the hardest hit by those diseases. UNICEF (the United Nations Children Fund) and WHO (the World Health Organization) decided then to install millions of wells in the country to give people access to groundwater, which was supposedly safe. Eight million such wells were built, giving access to groundwater to more than 80 percent of the population. Construction of those wells helped to decrease drastically the diseases due to consumption of surface water. Unfortunately, no tests had been done on the groundwater to determine if it contained arsenic.
The arsenic in Bangladeshâ€TMs groundwater has a natural origin. The Earthâ€TMs crust contains about 2 milligrams of arsenic per kilogram. With erosion, the arsenic contained in the minerals is released in its trivalent form. In the presence of oxygen, it oxidizes to become pentavalent arsenic and binds to iron hydroxides, which will then be carried by rivers. Arriving in the large deltaic plains, these compounds will settle and accumulate. Contamination by arsenic is a worldwide problem which concerns countries like India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Chile, Argentina, China, Mexico, and Hungary. In the last three countries, however, the existence of arsenic in drinking water is not completely of a natural origin: Contamination may be caused by the presence of mines or the massive use of phytosanitarian products. Switzerland is also affected in certain areas with well-defined boundaries. Switzerland, however, has the means to reduce these pollution problems quickly.
Effects on health
Arsenic belongs to the list of oligo-elements essential to life, but in excessive amounts it is harmful to human health. Most arsenic that is ingested is metabolized to render it less toxic and is then eliminated from the body. The effects of arsenic from drinking water contamination appear slowly. It can take ten years from the first consumption before symptoms appear, in the form of skin lesions. The interval between first consumption and the appearance of symptoms depends on the arsenic concentration in the water. The health of the victim will go from bad to worse, little by little. After twenty years of exposure to arsenic, the risk of certain cancers becomes high, including skin cancer or internal cancers damaging the liver, the lungs, the kidneys, or the bladder. If skin lesions become infected, death may come sooner. Nutrition plays an important role in the time of appearance and the intensity of problems due to arsenic. Endemic malnutrition in Bangladesh makes the population more vulnerable. Food shortages and nutritional deficiencies due to poor diet are common. In particular, Bangladeshis frequently suffer from a deficiency of vitamin A, found in green vegetables and in dairy products. This vitamin plays a role in skin regeneration, and the lack of it in oneâ€TMs diet quickens and amplifies the effects of arsenic on health. Other deficiencies make the problem worse.
The detection of arsenic
There are two types of tests that lead to detection of arsenic in water, the in situ test and the laboratory test. The in situ test consists of a kit that determines whether the sample contains an arsenic concentration over the normal level of 50 micrograms per liter. The laboratory test requires a heavy infrastructure and generates further costs. In addition to measure the quantity of arsenic in a sample, the laboratory test helps to differentiate the various arsenic-containing compounds in the sample. This is the only means to know the exact concentration of arsenic in water. The in situ test uses reagents produced locally and their manufacturers used to boast that their kits were reliable to concentrations lower than the WHO norms. It turned out, however, that 68 percent of 1.3 million wells were contaminated while the in situ tests declared them as safe.
Alternatives to these detection kits have begun to appear. For instance, the EAWAG, a Swiss institute for water protection, designed a test using bacterial biosensors to detect the presence of arsenic in water. The test uses a piece of cardboard covered with genetically-modified bacteria that change color when exposed to arsenic. This technique allows the detection of arsenic in water at concentrations lower than 10 micrograms per liter. The test is entirely qualitative and allows one to run several tests at the same time as a control check. Biosensors should be easy to use as a field kit, for this technique is simple to use, precise, and cheap (two cents US per sample). There are some drawbacks with this technique, however, such as the high humidity in Bangladesh that deteriorates the cardboard. Among other problems is the possibility of the bacteria reacting with other substances in the water, and also what do with the bacteria in the water after the test is run. In addition, it is forbidden by international legislation to use modified bacteria outside laboratories – and nothing hints that Bangladeshis will accept such a method to run water tests.
For all the efforts made to test a maximum of wells, the great majority has not yet been tested and some have been tested with insufficient reliability. The cost of testing the remaining wells is estimated at US$4.7 million, and new wells are dug every day without first being checked for water safety. New field kits manufactured locally and the good results that the biosensors have achieved leave hope that the millions of Bangladesh wells can all be tested in a reliable manner at least once.
To date, no regular tests of wells have been instituted. It is generally reckoned that wells should be tested once or twice per year. A protocol for well control has finally been established by the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) and the WHO in February 2003. Managing the water quality in Bangladesh requires a database accessible to the public that would store test results and allow new entries at any time. This would facilitate the creation of more exact maps on the water quality situation in the country and the possibility of continually updating them. The National Arsenic Mitigation Information Centre has been mandated to set up such a database.
The experts that come to run tests have the opportunity to speak with the local people. It is best to immediately inform people of the results and to explain these to them. In the event that the concentrations are over the established Bangladeshi norms, the expert has to explain carefully why the well is declared unsafe.
Methods of decontaminating water
A number of means exist to decontaminate water. The first solution proposed is to remove arsenic from water. Four such techniques were recently permitted by the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), on 25 February 2004.
The first is a filtration method that has been used for centuries by Bangladeshi women: a system of three nest jars, called kalshi, through which water is slowly filtered. The technique has been slightly adapted by adding cloth, sand, and small pieces of charcoal and iron to the bottom of the upper kalshi; and adding to the second kalshi a layer of charcoal, a layer of sand, and, finally, a layer of cloth. Water that reaches the bottom of the three kalshi is drinkable.
The second solution is an adsorption system, which relies on alumina (Al2O3) to adsorb arsenic. This method is not commonly used in Bangladesh, probably because alumina is produced by India. Adsorption processes have been designed using iron oxide, however, which is available in Bangladesh. In either case, there is no scheme to sufficiently deal with the contaminated substrate on which adsorption takes place. The best that can be done is to treat these compounds with special filters that collect between 50 and 85 percent of the arsenic. Using a similar idea, the third method uses ion-exchanging resins to retain arsenates in water and let the water pass through.
The fourth method is photo-oxidation. Here, a simple PET bottle is filled with contaminated water and lemon juice that has been exposed to the sun for a few hours. Iron hydroxides precipitate, allowing decantation to separate the remaining pentavalent arsenic.
One obvious alternate solution is, instead of drinking groundwater, to collect rain water using water tanks. During the dry season, however, people will not be able to collect water in this manner. This system also requires regular cleaning, for tanks may be contaminated by animal excrement. This solution would require the cooperation of local populations, which would help foster social cohesion. People must be hinted at organizing themselves in this way, however, for they will not likely take this initiative on their own.
Water ponds may be used as a source of drinkable water if people are taught to use them only for drinking water. Using a filter made of sand on the side of the pond, it is possible to pump water fit for consumption. There is no miraculous solution to the problem, but it is above all important to make people aware of the problem so that they can become motivated to set up solutions. Medical information on the effects of arsenic poisoning would get people to come and receive medical treatment. Diet must also be changed by encouraging people to vary the food they grow and also to grow fruits and vegetables. There is also a need to educate competent local people to handle the water contamination.
Feedback
There is still hope that Bangladeshis will find a solution to their problem. There is money, existing structures, and thousands of people asking to be educated. If a way to detect arsenic easily, reliably, and cheaply can be found, use can then be made of the variety of good means of decontaminating water that already exist. Alternative means of providing mean should be extended and used as much as possible. Given the urgency of the problem, both short- and long-term solutions must be introduced simultaneously.
The greatest uncontrollable variable is the contamination of rice by irrigation water. If it is found that contaminated rice also harms human health, then a solution for contaminated irrigation water will also have to be found.
The scope of the problem requires Bangladeshis to become involved, for the international community can bring only money and know-how to Bangladesh. The international community cannot, however, pay the entire cost. There is thus a need to implement a solution for this problem that would allow Bangladesh to be self-reliant — a system run for Bangladeshis and by Bangladeshis.
Personal feedback (by Xavier Bengoa)
Six months after completing our reflection on the arsenic contamination of drinking water in Bangladesh, I was able to meet two engineers from Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Both graduated in the past three years, one of them in Urban Planning and the second in Civil Engineering. Both are now starting masters programs in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Infrastructure in Stockholm. This was, for me, the first occasion to talk about the problem with people who are directed connected to it.
The two engineers were surprised to see that anyone was aware of what is happening in their country but were pleased to share with me their knowledge and opinions. In fact, they knew very well the consequences of the contamination and what had led to the present state. They also knew who the main actors were in the field and what the difficulties were in working with the Bangladeshi government.
These were, of course, two literate Bangladeshis who have been to university, but their belief about the contamination seemed fatalistic. People were working on it, but as no one seemed very concerned about it in Europe and North America, things would change slowly and people would get used to the situation. My opinion was that they already seemed to be. It was interesting that they immediately asked me if I wanted to write my thesis in Bangladesh. I saw this as an offer to deepen my knowledge of the problem, and, at the same time, a demand for international interest.
On the issue of overpopulation, I read recently that Dhaka will be the worldâ€TMs fifth-largest city by 2025. An analysis of the cityâ€TMs use of resources, however, shows that countries like the Netherlands are proportionally much more overpopulated than Bangladesh, where the level of consumption and the production of waste per capita are much lower. Moreover, local people do not see overpopulation as an important issue. It seems that the lack of interest comes mainly from a certain class of Bangladeshis who, because of their more affluent status, do not see the emergency of the problem. This may be due to the very slow development of diseases caused by arsenic. I hope that educated people will start to become involved voluntarily in the mitigation and supervising processes, which can be the key for a positive and sustainable improvement of the situation.
A Brief Description For many thousands of years a long list of regional empires and European traders fought for control of the water-logged land now called Bangladesh. Ruled by Britain in the 19th and 20th centuries, Bangladesh (formerly called East Pakistan), was formed in 1971 when it officially separated from its union with West Pakistan (now called Pakistan). As one of the most crowded countries on the planet, much of the lush, low-lying landscape is subject to yearly flooding, and the subsequent devastation of cyclones. Those natural hazards have adversely affected the nation's economy and its people, as they often cause great loss of life. Not on the front-burner of most travelers, reports from those who venture here rave about its natural beauty, the friendly welcome, the capital city of Dhaka, and the easy-going beach resort of Cox's Bazar - home to the world's longest beach.
Facts and Figures Name Bangladesh (long form) People's Republic of Bangladesh Population 144,319,600 Population & Density (all countries) Capital City Dhaka (11 million) Currency Taka (BDT) Languages Bengali (official), English Flag National Day March 26 Religions Muslim (83%), Hindu (16%), others
Land Statistics Coastline 360 miles (580 km) Land Areas (land) 51,703 sq miles (133,910 sq km) (water) 3,896 sq miles (10,090 sq km) (TOTAL) 55,599 sq miles (144,000 sq km) Landforms Bangladesh, a nation of rivers, is in essence a large delta comprised of three significant rivers; the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna. Subsequently, Bangladesh is one of the most flood-prone countries in the world. When the spring snows melt in the Himalayan Mountains and run south to the sea, the rivers often overflow. Replete with mangrove forests and tropical rain forests, the overall land is mostly flat, with a few hilly areas in the east and southeast. Highest Point Keokradong - 4,035 ft. (1,230 m) Lowest Point Indian Ocean - 0 ft. (0 m) Traveler Info Attractions As an emerging tourism destination Bangladesh offers travelers many interesting diversions including archaeological sites, historic mosques and monuments, white sandy beaches, and lush forest venues filled with wildlife and waterfalls Major points-of-interest include Cox's Bazar, home to the longest beach on the planet; the world's largest mangrove forest; Ramu village, Sonadia Island, famous for its wide variety of seashells; the gorgeous beaches on St. Martins Island, the Aggameda Khyang sanctuary and monastery and its bronze Buddha images; Royal Bengal Tigers tours, and of course, the capital city of Dhaka, filled with the symbols of its rich Muslim history. Note that nothing in Bangladesh happens quickly, so patience is important when traveling here. In addition, the security situation in Bangladesh is volatile, and Americans are urged to check with the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka for the latest information. A terrorist bombing campaign and threats to U.S. and Western interests have led to increased security measures around U.S. Government facilities in and around Dhaka. Country Dialing Code 880 Electricity Bangladesh uses 220 volts AC (50 Hz) Electrical adapters, products and tips
Land Divisions 6 divisions; including Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, and Sylhet
The Royal Bengal tiger is scientifically known as 'Panthera tigris' is an eminent member of the cat family. The origin of the cat family from what we know today is Siberia. From there, they migrated down south as the climate became colder. In Asia, India and Malaysia are the two prominent countries where tigers live. The Indian tigers, the Royal Bengal tigers are the most graceful animals found in Sundarban in Bengal.
Distribution of the species:
The Bengal Tiger or Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is a subspecies of tiger found through the rainforests and grasslands of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, China, India and Nepal. These tigers are also found in Siberia, Manchuria and the Asian continent. It is the largest living member of the Felidae family. Its fur is orange-brown with black stripes. Male Bengal Tigers are up to 10 ft (3 m) long. Females are up to 9 ft (2.7 m) long. They hunt deer, pigs, antelopes, cattle, young elephants, and buffalo. The Bengal Tiger is now strictly protected, and is the national animal of both India and Bangladesh.
Habitat & Diet:
The tiger lives in varied habitats open jungles, humid evergreen forests and mango grove swamps. Its diet consists mainly of deer, antelopes, gaurs and wild pigs. Sometimes it also captures birds, lizards, turtles, fishes, frogs and crabs. Tigers hunt on their own and usually lead a solitary existence, each in its own territory. They are endowed with good swimming power but seldom climb trees.
Breeding & Genetic variation:
Breeding of tigers are done very carefully in many zoological gardens. Recently a cub was born in the calcutta zoo. These newborns are genetically different due to genetic recombination. This feature is known as genetic variation. It is an important component for a living being to adopt itself in the nature. This genetic variations help them to fight against any odds.
Ecological status:
The reproductive level of these creatures is very low. They become sexually mature at the age of 3-4 years and females give birth to only 2-4 cubs in every two years. Usually, one or two cubs die at the early age. Habitat destruction and poaching decrease the numbers of these animals in the wild. Ask questions about royal bengal tiger cats when visiting breeders.
Graduate management education programs evaluate applicants from many educational backgrounds. The GMAT® helps your program choose the students who are most likely to succeed academically in your program.
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GMAT Score Availability
Test takers may print their Unofficial scores from the Verbal and Quantitative multiple-choice sections, along with the Total score, immediately after completing the test.
Official GMAT score reports that include the AWA scores are available to the test taker and his or her designated score-report recipients (schools) approximately three weeks after the test.
"Old" GMAT Scores
Official GMAT score results are kept for 10 years. Candidates may request score reports up to 10 years old if they do not have more recent, valid scores. Most schools accept scores no older than five years.
How to Use GMAT® Scores
Why Use GMAT® Scores?
There are two main reasons:
The GMAT® exam is a reliable and valid measure of verbal and quantitative skills found to be important in the graduate business study. In repeated research studies, GMAT scores have been found to be an accurate predictor of academic success in the first year of an MBA or other graduate management program.
Unlike grade point averages (GPA)—which vary in meaning according to the grading standards of each school—GMAT scores are based on the same standard for all test takers; applicants' GMAT scores can be directly compared to each other.
Appropriate Uses of GMAT Scores
GMAT scores should be used for the following purposes:
Selection of applicants for graduate study in management
Selection of applicants for financial aid on the basis of academic potential
Counseling and guidance
Inappropriate Uses of GMAT Scores
GMAT® scores should not be used for the following purposes:
As a requisite for awarding a degree
As an achievement test
Guidelines for Using GMAT Scores
Use Multiple Criteria The GMAT exam is only one factor in the admissions decision, and it does not measure every discipline-related skill necessary for academic work, nor does it measure subjective factors important to academic and career success, such as motivation, creativity, and interpersonal skills. Find out How GMAT Scores Work for Your Program Our freeValidity Study Service (VSS) is designed to help schools demonstrate empirically the relationship between test scores and performance in a specific academic program. Avoid the Use of Cutoff Scores Cutoff scores should only be used when clear empirical evidence shows that a large proportion of students with score in that range were less successful in the curriculum. Schools must also demonstrate that use of cutoff scores does not result in discrimination based on sex, age, ethnicity, or any other characteristic not proven to indicate their competence or predict their success. Do Not Compare GMAT Scores with Scores on Other Tests The GMAT exam has not been equated with other tests. GMAT score scales may seem similar to those of other standardized tests, but comparisons with scores from other tests [such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE®)] are not appropriate. Likewise, GMAT scores cannot be estimated from scores on other tests. In addition to the differences between the tests, the populations taking the tests have different characteristics. Use GMAT Scoring Guides to Interpret AWA Scores The article Understanding and Using the Analytical Writing Assessment Scores provides more guidance for using AWA scores.
Score Comparison
Scores by themselves have no significance; they take on meaning only when compared against a standard or norm. Using the "percentage below" numbers, you can relate the performance of one test taker to those of all test takers in the last three years. It may be more useful, however, to know how a test taker compares with others applying to your school. Direct Score Comparison We recommend caution in directly comparing the scores of two applicants. The standard error of difference for the Total GMAT score is about 41, so chances are about two out of three that the difference between the Total GMAT scores received by two test takers is within 41 points above or below the difference between the test takers' true scores. The standard error of difference for the Verbal score is 3.9, and for the Quantitative score, it is 4.3. Educationally Disadvantaged Test Takers We advise that you use special care in interpreting test scores when the test taker is believed to be educationally disadvantaged as a result of social and environmental circumstances. Scores may, under those circumstances, reflect the extent of educational damage resulting from unequal opportunity, rather than potential to succeed academically in the first year of a graduate management program. However, GMAT scores should still be considered as part of the applicant's overall application. Test Takers with Limited English Proficiency In assessing the ability of a test taker whose native language is not English, it is important to carefully consider how much the scores may have been affected by a limited proficiency with English. GMAT scores, especially the Verbal and AWA scores, may reflect the test taker's deficiency in English rather than his or her reasoning ability.
Tools & Support for Test Takers
GMAT® Cost and Additional Fees
The cost of the GMAT exam is US$250. For information about additional fees and services for prospective students, please read the article in this section.
GMAT Test-Prep Materials
We believe that every GMAT test taker deserves the best test-preparation materials available, so we developed a variety of products to help them get ready for the GMAT exam. These products use real, retired GMAT test questions and give prospective students the best chance of success on the GMAT exam.
Testing Centers
The GMAT exam is generally offered six days a week at more than 400 testing centers around the world, although individual testing centers operate their own schedules based on local needs and expectations. In 2006, we also began operating a GMAT Mobile Testing Center.
This guidebook helps steer prospective students as they navigate their path to graduate business school.
Price & Fees for the GMAT® Exam
All prices and fees in US$ unless otherwise noted and are subject to change without notice.
GMAT® Registration
The cost to take GMAT exam is US$250 worldwide (this cost is subject to taxes when you schedule an exam in certain countries).
Rescheduling Fees
Appointments rescheduled at least seven full calendar days before the original appointment: US$50.
Appointments rescheduled within seven calendar days of the original appointment: US$250 (original testing fee is forfeited; this cost is subject to taxes when you schedule an exam in certain countries).
For details on how to reschedule a test date or transfer from one test center to another, please see Reschedule a GMAT Appointment on mba.com.
Refunds
Appointments canceled at least seven full calendar days before your appointment: US$80.
Refunds are not available for appointments canceled within seven full calendar days of the appointment date and time. For details, please see Cancel a GMAT Appointment on mba.com.
Additional Services
Additional Score Report (ASR) Fee: US$28 per report (this cost is subject to taxes when you request ASRs in certain countries).
For more information, please see Selecting Your Score-Report Recipients on mba.com.
How to Pay
Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or JCB)
Debit card (Visa or MasterCard only)
Cashier’s check (by mail)
Money order (by mail)
Personal check (by mail)
All payments made by check must be made in full (including taxes), payable to Pearson VUE-GMAT, with the correct numeric and written amount and appropriate signature(s). Taxes must be included where applicable and the appointment date must be at least 10 calendar days after the check is received to allow time for the check to clear. Please keep in mind that it can take up to eight weeks for mail to reach the U.S. from some countries.
The Next Generation GMAT®
Background—The Current GMAT® Exam
The GMAT® exam is the only admissions test designed by business schools for business schools. It was created in 1953 by nine business schools that decided they needed their own special test to evaluate and admit the best students for their programmes. Five decades of research and continuous improvement have proven the GMAT exam to be the most reliable indicator of academic success in graduate management education. Today, it is used by almost 5,000 programs in 1,900 schools, including all schools in the EIU ranking.
In 2009, more than 250,000 prospective business students took the GMAT exam in more than 90 countries. The reach and stature of this computer-adaptive exam reflect its ability to help quality schools find the students around the world who are the best match for their programmes and for the demands of the marketplace. The process of continually reviewing and revising the exam is a rigorous one. An international panel thoroughly studies each potential new question before it is pilot-tested with candidates who represent the diversity of the GMAT test-taking pool. Questions are carefully screened to ensure they are culturally bias-free.
A Time to Explore and Innovate—The Next Generation
Advancements in technology and measurement are making a significant impact on assessments. At the same time, more specialized master’s programmes and more variations on the traditional MBA are available worldwide. As the business marketplace has changed, so too has graduate management education. All of these factors have inspired GMAC to take an innovative approach to the GMAT exam.
The Next Generation GMAT, slated for completion in 2012, will build on the solid foundation of the current exam, while utilizing advances in testing technology and science to provide better, even more precise measures of skills. It will also offer measures of new skills applicable to both traditional MBA and new business programmes. The development process is rigorous, detailed, and collaborative so that the Next Generation GMAT can provide the right information to help schools admit the best students for their programmes.
The Three-Phase Process
The process of developing the Next Generation GMAT involves three phases over the next five years: skills research, pilot-testing, and operational readiness. Throughout each phase, GMAC will solicit feedback from key school professionals, including faculty, admissions officers, and programme directors.
Phase One: Skills Research
GMAC is currently identifying and reviewing potential new skills that the GMAT could measure. Faculty members from leading business schools around the world are being recruited to review and rate the importance of various skills and make recommendations for change based on new expectations of students for a new era.
Phase Two: Pilot-Testing
During this phase, GMAC will utilize the first phase research to design and pilot-test enhancements to meet the needs of business schools. The goal will be to determine the most effective approaches to measuring the skills that are valued in a graduate management programme classroom and creating the optimal test-taker experience.
Phase Three: Operational Readiness
Before launching the new test, GMAC will ensure that it is easily accessible to all test takers and that test centres are upgraded as needed. New test-preparation materials will be developed and made available to candidates before the first new tests are delivered.
The Final Result
What will the Next Generation GMAT look like? Will it be more difficult? Will there be more or fewer questions, perhaps in a different format? Right now, numerous options are being identified, reviewed, and measured—an important and time-consuming activity that is critical before a new test begins to evolve. Developing the best assessment possible hasn’t happened overnight—and GMAC is committed to conducting the thorough review and continual testing at each step along the way to deliver a successful Next Generation GMAT, meeting the needs of business schools and students well into the future.
The GMAT® Advantage
GMAT...Delivering the Results You Need
When it comes to admission testing there’s only one thing that matters: Results.
With more than half a century of testing expertise, GMAT is the proven leader in predicting academic success in business schools. With more than 300 validity studies in the last ten years alone and decades of peer-reviewed research, business schools can be confident that GMAT delivers quality candidates for all programs, from MBA to PhD. GMAT is designed specifically for graduate business school students with 100% of test candidates destined for management programs; and with GMAT, schools can identify students they feel best suited to meet their program needs.
If results matter to you then GMAT’s speak for themselves…
Global Standard More than 4,800 programs in 1,900 business schools around the world use the GMAT exam, making it the most widely accepted assessment test.
Validity Over half a century of GMAC research on the predictive validity of GMAT exam scores documenting high validity for numerous sub-groups by gender, age, citizenship, language, and undergraduate major.
Accessibility Available in 111 countries at more than 530 test centers worldwide on almost every day of the year.
Diversity Since 2005, the number of tests taken by women is up 36%; by African Americans, 27%; by 18- to 23-year- olds, 132%; by Europeans, 42%; by those with non-business undergraduate degrees, 40%. And more than half of all tests taken in the last year were non-U.S. citizens. Test takers represent 193 citizen groups.
Security Dedicated to highest measures of exam integrity and security, GMAT is delivered in a computer adaptive testing (CAT) format and uses leading edge biometric palm vein technology.
Support Dedicated to quality customer care, GMAC staff are available to meet schools’ research and testing needs.
Value Add GMAC’s comprehensive research and market insight is directly aimed at supporting school recruitment efforts.
