Graduate Management Admission Council, Pearson VUE, and ACT Announce 12-Year Extension of GMAT Relationship

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RESTON, Va., MINNEAPOLIS and IOWA CITY, Iowa, Jan. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Graduate Management Admission Council, Pearson VUE and ACT, today announced an extension of their partnership to develop and administer the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), which is accepted at nearly 5000 graduate management programs and is the leading test for admissions to business schools and management programs worldwide.  

The three organizations have extended their service agreement through 2022.  It embraces all aspects of GMAT exam development and administration, including a renewed commitment to enhancing test taker access, continuing innovation and evolution of the exam and further enhancing its unmatched quality as an admissions assessment through industry-leading security, reliability, validity and fairness.

Since 2006, when GMAC formed its partnership with Pearson VUE and ACT, access to the test has expanded to more than 550 test centers in over 110 countries – a 37% growth, with the exam available at these test sites year round. The partnership has launched innovative technologies such as the palm vein biometric tool to provide the unparalleled level of security that schools depend on when making admissions decisions, designed to ensure that the person they admit to their program is, in fact, the person who took the exam.

In June of 2010, the partners announced the launch of the Next Generation GMAT scheduled for June 2012, featuring a new integrated reasoning section that has been developed in consultation with management faculty from around the world and features increased emphasis on problem-solving, critical thinking and the ability to assimilate and draw conclusions from information presented through multiple platforms and media types.

"Since signing our first agreement with Pearson VUE and ACT in 2004, we've known that these two great companies, each with their own clear leadership in technology, global reach and customer service, were the right partners to help GMAC move forward," said Dave Wilson, president and CEO of GMAC. "With a shared commitment to creating access to management education through the GMAT exam, by expanding its global reach and maintaining the highest standards in security, reliability and validity, the act of extending our relationship with Pearson VUE and ACT is simply a testament to the faith the partners have developed in each other and in our focus on the future."

"Pearson VUE is excited to continue working with the world class organizations of GMAC and ACT," said Robert Whelan, President and CEO of Pearson VUE. "Together, we are dedicated to providing the best in class test development and test delivery services available and to implementing new technologies and measurement techniques so that the GMAT remains the global leader in graduate management admissions assessment."

"ACT is delighted to renew its partnership with GMAC and Pearson VUE on the development of the GMAT," said ACT CEO Jon Whitmore.  "The GMAT is the worldwide leader in assessment for management education, and we are gratified by the ongoing faith GMAC has placed in ACT to continue our important work on this exam. The mission and values of ACT and GMAC are strongly aligned, which makes our relationship that much more special.  And by teaming with Pearson VUE, we look forward to working with our partners to provide the highest quality assessments for years to come."

About Pearson VUE

Pearson VUE (www.pearsonvue.com) is the global leader in computer-based testing for information technology, academic, government and professional testing programs around the world. Pearson VUE provides a full suite of services from test development to data management, and delivers exams through the world's most comprehensive and secure network of test centers in 165 countries. Pearson VUE is a business of Pearson (NYSE: PSO; LSE: PSON), the international media company, whose businesses include the Financial Times Group, Pearson Education and the Penguin Group.

About ACT

Founded in 1959, ACT is a not-for-profit organization headquartered in Iowa City, Iowa, and dedicated to helping people achieve education and workplace success. ACT provides a broad array of assessment, research, information and program management solutions in the areas of education and workforce development. Each year, ACT serves millions of people—nationally and internationally—in middle and high schools, colleges, professional associations, businesses and government agencies. Find out more at www.act.org.

About GMAC

The Graduate Management Admission Council (www.gmac.com) is an international nonprofit education organization of leading graduate business schools worldwide dedicated to creating access to and disseminating information about graduate management education. GMAC is headquartered in Reston, Virginia, and has regional offices in London (U.K.) and Hong Kong. More information about the GMAT exam is available at www.mba.com.

SOURCE Pearson VUE