For Black History Month, here’s a look at test-taking trends among African American GMAT examinees:

• Out of 130,508 GMAT exams taken by US citizens in testing year 2009 (July 1, 2008–June 30, 2009), 10,751 were taken by African Americans, a 27 percent increase from five years before.
• A regional breakdown shows 36 percent of these 10,751 tests were taken by residents of the South and 18 percent by residents of the Northeast. Others regions: Midwest, 14 percent; Mid-Atlantic, 13 percent; Southwest, 10 percent; West, 8 percent; other, 1 percent.
• Historically, more African American women than men have taken the GMAT exam, but men are closing the gap. In testing year 2009, men accounted for 5,001 exams (47%) taken by African Americans, a 35 percent increase from five years before.

Gender parity is greatest among test takers ages 25 to 39, who make up 56 percent of all African American examinees:

GMAC offers schools access to qualified applicants with a strong interest in graduate management education and has more than 50 years’ worth of graduate management education data. It also provides contact information to help schools recruit a diverse student body with the Graduate Management Admission Search Service® (GMASS®) at gmac.com/gmass.