The number of Israelis taking the GMAT exam to study for an MBA at a business school in Israel or overseas rose by 124% between 1998 and 2008. According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), 1,248 Israeli students took the GMAT in 1998, and 2,794 students took it in 2008. Israel has the highest number of GMAT takers per capita.
Kidum GMAT attributes the jump in Israeli GMAT takers to the increase in the number students who want to obtain MBA degrees overseas, and the number of Israeli universities which require the GMAT for their MBA programs.
On Wednesday, Kidum MBA will hold its annual MBA studies conference. MBA faculty deans from Israeli universities, as well as the Harvard Business School, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, MIT Sloan School of Management, and INSEAD will participate.
According to GMAC, 247,000 students took the GMAT in 2008, of whom 48.9% were outside the US, mostly Asian students. 28,570 Indian students took the exam, 17,420 Chinese students, and 7,591 South Koreans, as well as 7,332 Canadians. Israel is in seventh place, ahead of France and Germany.
The makeup of Israelis taking the GMAT is line with global figures. Worldwide, 60% of students taking the GMAT are men and 40% are women; in Israel, the figures are 63% men and 37% women. Israel's average score is below the global average: 510, compared with 535.2.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on December 28, 2009
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