The Official Guide for GMAT Review series of test-preparation books is now available in a digital talking book format
RESTON, VA--(Marketwire - October 28, 2010) - The Official Guide for GMAT Review series of test-preparation books is now available in a digital talking book format designed expressly to help people with visual impairments and reading-based disabilities prepare for the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).
Based on the Daisy (Digital Accessible Information System) standard, an internationally recognized set of specifications for delivering printed material in an easily navigable format to people with visual impairments, the new digital talking books will provide content identical to the material found in the printed GMAT study guides published by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC).
The GMAT is a standardized exam used by thousands of MBA and other graduate management education programs worldwide as part of the admissions process.
"GMAC is committed to helping anyone interested in business education achieve their dreams regardless of the disabilities they may face," said Kendra Johnson, director of GMAT test accommodations for the Council. "We are very excited to be able to tap the latest advances in accessible technology to make our GMAT study guides available to people with visual impairments."
The computerized study guides feature a host of innovations designed to help visually impaired people prepare for the GMAT exam.
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A synthesized voice can be commanded to read any portion of text in the guides and employs advanced technology to provide audio descriptions of quantitative material and geometric figures.
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The talking books enable people to control the speed of the computer's voice.
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Users can magnify text and images to multiple times their normal size.
The Official Guides from GMAC are the only GMAT test-preparation books that feature actual test questions used in the past on the exam. The series includes a comprehensive study guide as well as books focused on the quantitative and verbal sections of the exam. Each guide contains detailed explanations of the answers to each included GMAT question.
"Every person who wants to pursue a graduate management education is our top priority," said Dave Wilson, president and chief executive officer of GMAC. "This series of talking books reflects our dedication to matching people with opportunities for them to grow and succeed, no matter the challenges that may stand in the way."
The digital talking books were developed in collaboration with assistive technology pioneer gh LLC. GMAC also consulted with ACT Inc. -- which manages development of the GMAT exam under contract to GMAC -- the National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM) at Boston public broadcaster WGBH, and members of the visually impaired community.
"GMAC sets a high standard for accessibility though the publication of this study guide, particularly for the kinds of complex images found in the GMAT exam," said NCAM project manager Bryan Gould.
The digital talking book editions of the Official Guide series will be available to people with reading-based disabilities at the same price as the printed versions of the guides. Contact testingaccommodations@gmac.com for further information.
To view a video about the digital talking books, please visit the GMAC News Center (http://gmac.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=119).
About GMAC
The Graduate Management Admission Council (www.gmac.com) is a nonprofit education organization of leading graduate business schools worldwide dedicated to creating access to and disseminating information about graduate management education. GMAC is based in Reston, Virginia, and has a European office in London. The GMAT® exam was created in 1954 and is used by nearly 5,000 graduate management programs at approximately 1,900 business schools around the world to assess applicants. The GMAT -- the only standardized test designed expressly for graduate business and management programs worldwide -- is continuously available at more than 530 test centers in over 111 countries. More information about the GMAT exam is available at www.mba.com.