Some statistics on GMAT test volume

Everyone is talking about how the number of applications to B-schools around the world are increasing. An overall indicator for the same is the number of candidates taking the test. Here is a summary:

Year-to-date GMAT volume through February 29, 2008—38,183 worldwide—shows a 12.33% increase when compared to the number of tests taken during the same period in 2007.

The number of GMAT tests taken in the United States during the first two months of calendar year 2008 increased 7.08% compared with testing volume during the same period in 2007. Outside the United States, testing volume increased 21.92% during the period.

Some other caveats:
1) Numbers reflect tests, not people. (~20% of the candidates take repeat tests)
2) Around 20% of the tests are taken for submission to non-business programs

Source: GMAC (Accessed March 30, 2008)

Effectively, you have around 24000 (38000*0.8*0.8) unique test takers that would be applying to B-schools for this period (Jan and Feb). Since these are the most heavy test taking months, we may discount the GMAT volume for the rest of the year to 50% on average. If we do that, we get an estimated yearly volume of 84000 students applying to the business schools around the world.