The GMAT Group Collaborates With Pearson on New Test of English; Launch Set for October

The GMAT Group Collaborates With Pearson on New Test of English; Launch Set
for October

MCLEAN, Va., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pearson Test of English
Academic (PTE Academic), a new English language test owned by Pearson and
developed in collaboration with the Graduate Management Admission Council,
will debut on October 26, 2009.

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), which owns and administers
the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), began working with Pearson in
2006 to conceive and develop a test that would 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.

"We are delighted to be working with Pearson, the world-wide global leader in
publishing and assessment for education, on such an innovative exam, one that
will define world class. We consistently hear from universities that no test
today provides an accurate measure of a prospective student"s speaking
ability," said David A. Wilson, president and CEO of GMAC. "Schools have a
real need for a language assessment that measures the skills needed for
successful class participation and group work, critical elements in graduate
management education programs around the world."

The test 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.

"PTE Academic will enable admissions professionals to listen to a recorded
speech sample," noted John Elliott, vice president and dean, Zicklin School of
Business, Baruch College, City University of New York. "This element is
critical in making difficult admission decisions. We also like its innovative
design and other capabilities -- and we know that it will be administered with
the same high standards of security that characterize the Graduate Management
Admission Test (GMAT) -- ensuring us that the test taker and the applicant for
admission are the same person." Zicklin, the largest U.S. school of business
and a GMAC member, was the first in the U.S. to recognize PTE Academic.

For more information, visit www.pearsonpte.com.

About the Graduate Management Admission Council

The Graduate Management Admission Council is a nonprofit organization of
leading graduate business schools worldwide dedicated to creating access to
and disseminating information about graduate management education. GMAC is
based in McLean, Virginia, with a European office in London. The Council owns
the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), used by approximately 4,700
graduate management programs at some 1,900 business schools around the world
to assess applicants. The GMAT is the first and only standardized test
designed expressly for graduate business and management programs worldwide by
business schools. It is available at more than 450 test centers in 110
countries. For more information about GMAC, visit www.gmac.com; for
information about the GMAT, visit www.mba.com.

About Pearson Language Tests

Pearson Language Tests (PLT) is part of Pearson plc. PLT is developing PTE
Academic in collaboration with the Graduate Management Admission Council
(GMAC).

About Pearson
Pearson (NYSE: PSO), the global leader in education and education technology,
provides an extensive and comprehensive set of print and digital education
materials for pre-K through college, student information and learning
management systems, teacher professional development, career programs, and
testing and assessment products that set the standard for the industry.
Pearson VUE, a business of Pearson that delivers exams through the world"s
most comprehensive and secure network of test centers, administers the GMAT
exam. Pearson"s other primary businesses include the Financial Times Group and
the Penguin Group. For more information, visit www.pearson.com.

SOURCE  Graduate Management Admission Council

Judy Phair of the Graduate Management Admission Council, +1-703-245-0660,
+1-202-903-3227 (cell), jphair@gmac.com