Dream to study abroad boosts demand for GRE

Chennai

According to Educational Testing Service (ETS), which conducts the exam, the volume of test takers grew in 2015 touching 7,66,185 tests administered worldwide. GRE volumes grew by nearly two per cent worldwide compared to 2014 and have grown by more than 13 per cent since 2009.

In India, 1.23 lakh tests were administered in 2015 registering an increase of 12 per cent than the previous year. Women candidates accounted for over 50 per cent of the test-takers, while men constituted 46 per cent.

“The GRE programme’s substantial growth and gains year  over year is testament of the outstanding value the assessment provides to students and schools. With more institutions accepting GRE scores for graduate programmes, we expect to see the GRE test-taker population continue to evolve and grow,” David Payne, Vice President and COO of Global Education, ETS said.

SASTRA University dean (planning and development) Prof. S Vaidhyasubramaniam said that the increase in GRE numbers reflect the aspiration of students to proceed for graduate studies abroad.

“However, the opportunities in India for graduate studies is plenty and needs high levels of structural deregulation and industry support to elevate the quality. The HRD ministry and industry must join hands, expand the existing successful models which are insignificantly small,” he said.