4 new NMAT by GMAC test centres launched in South Asia
The NMAT by GMAC, a management entrance test is inviting applications for academic session 2018-20. Originally instituted as a test for admission to management programmes at Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) University, the exam was acquired by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) which is responsible for the global GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test). Gaurav Srivastava, Regional Director, South Asia, GMAC shares his experience on how the test has gained popularity.
How are the GMAT and NMAT different as offerings?
The NMAT was acquired by GMAC in 2015 and rebranded as NMAT by GMAC. We then asked some other universities to also sign up to accept these scores. Today about 17 universities including NMIMS accept the score while the GMAT is accepted by 6000 B-schools globally including several Indian ones such as the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for their executive programmes. In 2012, the All India Council for Technical Education also ratified this as one of the six exams that Indian B-schools can use for their postgraduate management programmes. Thus, the GMAT is used by almost 100 schools in India. However, we were also advised that we should consider providing a uniquely Indian offering which is appropriately priced for the Indian context compared to a global offering like GMAT which is priced at USD 250 across the world. In that sense, the NMAT by GMAC is a ‘make in India’ product which is now spreading its wings in the SAARC region as we have launched four new test centres in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan. Candidates from these countries would have to travel to the nearest centre in India earlier to take the NMAT. Further, in south Africa, three B-schools have signed up to use the NMAT by GMAC for admision to their management programmes this academic session.
What are some of the unique features of NMAT by GMAC?
There is a 75-day window to write the test, starting mid-October to mid-Decemebr during which candidates can also re-take the test. They can also send their scores to five B-schools for free. A nominal fee is to be paid per B-school if they opt to send the scores to more than five schools. Further, a new diagnostic tool has been introduced which gives question-by-question feedback on how candidates fared which helps them identify their areas of strengths and weaknesses. Candidates can also access a free official guide online. Additionally, 20 new test centres were launched this year which makes it 58 test centres in 44 cities in the country. The 17 accepting universities are sent a score dashboard after candidates take the test. The dashboard facilitates a download of demographic details of the candidate including academic and professional background. This acts as a rich repository for school admissions and marketing teams that helps them identify what kind of candidates are seeking which type of institution. Four out of 17 have hosted an ‘NMAT preferred’ logo on their websites. This is done for administrative ease by schools as with such a preference, more candidates may opt to send their scores thereby giving schools a more competitive pool to choose from.
How much has GMAT grown in the country?
GMAT started in india in 2012 and we aimed at the top B-schools at that point as GMAT writers have a certain profile in terms of aspiration – they generally aim at top schools either abroad or in India. However, not everyone ends up going abroad. Since GMAT scores are valid for five years, candidates are now sending scores to foreign schools as well as some Indian B-schools. The domino effect led to more schools signing up for the test. Further, while Indian schools conduct other tests generally once a year, GMAT can be taken anytime. Even though some programmes may not require work experience, yet most competitive candidates come with one to three years of work experience. The GMAT, thus, offers a rich pool of diverse highquality candidates to schools. Additionally, we have set up 14 on-campus presence (OCP) centres in India. These centres are either undergraduate colleges places or hubs where pools of prospective candidates are available. For example, prospective candidates at BITS Pilani need not travel to another city to take the test as an OCP centre has been set up on the campus.
What are some of the advantages of computerbased testing?
Computer adaptive test allows varying difficulty levels. Thus, if a candidates keeps answering correctly, the difficulty level increases and if you give wrong answers consistently, difficulty level decreases. This varying difficulty is impossible to achieve in a paper-based test. Overall, this is a better testing experience and easier to monitor. It ensures safeguards against unfair means and leakages as all test centres are proctored. An online calculator as well as pen and paper are provided. Candidates are not allowed to carry anything inside the centres. Computer-based testing also eliminates issues arising out of illegible handwriting, torn sheets or unclear markings. It allows easier navigation between sections.
What are your learnings about global trends in management testing and education?
The motto of GMAT is to connect talent with opportunity and ensure talent doesn’t go unrecognised. We conduct annual conferences where trends are shared and analysed with all stakeholders including in-house research departments. Changes are incorporated based on what candidates and schools say. For instance, in 2012, a section on an analysis of issue was dropped as it was not being interpreted uniformly across regions and social groups. The same year, analytical writing and integrated reasoning sections were introduced though their scores are not included in the final figure of 800. Feedback from schools and recruiters suggested the inclusion of a component on data interpretation as well as a qualitative component. However, these act as based on the differences in dynamics of programmes and how they are used depends on every school’s admission policy. Thus, even though all schools don’t use all four section in decision-making yet we advise candidates to put in their best effort.