mba.com News & Trends

Participate in the GMAT® Essay-Writing Study

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Would you like to preview the types of essay questions you may see on the GMAT, practice your essay-writing skills, and make $30?

GMAC, the owner of the GMAT, is offering a great opportunity for a select group of students to participate in a special essay-writing study associated with the GMAT® Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA). Participants will complete two essays (which should take about 60 minutes), online, within seven days of registering for the study.

Participation is on a first-come, first-served basis and is limited to US citizens.

GMAT owner wins international privacy award

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The Graduate Management Admission Council’s data protection program won a worldwide Privacy Innovation Award September 17 from the International Association of Privacy Professionals, the world’s largest association of privacy professionals. Selected by a panel of judges representing public and private sector privacy experts from three continents, GMAC was honored for its comprehensive program supporting the Graduate Management Admission Test, the high-stakes admissions test used by graduate business programs worldwide. GMAC’s data protection program incorporates opt-in consent for all programs and services, as well as advanced biometric palm vein technology to authenticate test taker identity and prevent proxy test taking.

Find out more about GMAT security measures.

GMAC collaborates with Pearson on new test of English

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Pearson, in collaboration with the Graduate Management Admission Council, will launch the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) on October 26, 2009.

This new English language exam is designed to more accurately measure the English language skills of students than existing exams. The computer-based test includes speaking and voice recording capabilities; score reports sent to schools will include a 30 second audio clip of the test taker's speech.

Two years in development, the PTE-Academic will be used by universities, higher education institutions, government departments and other organizations requiring English proficiency. More than 770 schools and programs worldwide have already indicated interest in recognizing the new test.

Find out more about PTE Academic.

GMAT gains exclusive right to collect data in France

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

In July, the French National Commission for Data Protection and the Liberties (CNIL) authorized the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) to use the new PalmSecure biometric device to authenticate the identity GMAT test takers.

No other private testing company has ever obtained permission to collect biometric data in France.

France and some other countries do not allow fingerprint collection, which is also a part of GMAT security measures. GMAC searched for alternatives to fingerprinting that would comply with international data privacy laws and still ensure the highest level of security for the GMAT exam.

The data (scans of palm vein patterns) are used to match candidate information of test takers around the world. No trace technology is used, no image is ever stored, and the data cannot be read by other devices. The CNIL noted in its approval that "[it] is not likely to be captured without the knowledge of the person concerned and therefore presents very little risk for the civil liberties and fundamental rights of the individuals."

GMAC expects to use the PalmSecure technology in all test centers by the close of 2009.

Read the full press release.

Find out more about the PalmSecure device.