The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a computer-based standardized test designed to analyze certain analytical, writing, quantitative, verbal, and reading skills in written English for use in admission to a graduate management program, such as an MBA. A student is expected to have grammar knowledge, certain knowledge of specific algebra, geometry and arithmetic.
A student is also required to have problem-solving abilities, while also addressing data sufficiency, logic, and critical reasoning skills that it believes to be vital to real-world business and management success. A test taker is entitled to appear in the test not more than five times a year and the attempts must be 16 days apart.
According to a survey, the GMAT is still the number one choice for MBA aspirants and has continually performed validity studies to statistically verify that the exam predicts success in business school programs. Some more facts about GMAT:
- 9 out of 10 new MBA enrolments are made using a GMAT score.
- Around 200,000 candidates worldwide take the GMAT exam each year.
- More than 2,300 schools use the GMAT exam.
- An aspirant can appear in any of the 650 testing centers in 114 countries to appear for the GMAT Exam.
Why GMAT Exam?
Aspirants who appear in the GMAT Exam are serious about getting admission in the business schools and proves their sincerity in the eyes of graduate institutions as they also know if an aspirant is appearing in the exam, he is keen to earn a graduate business degree. They also know it’s a proven predictor of your ability to succeed in your chosen program.
This is a one business exam which elevates the aspirants from the rest of the pack as:
- It demonstrates aspirant’s commitment, motivation, and ability to succeed in business school.
- It measures the thinking ability and reasoning skills which are the most admissible skills to the world’s top graduate business schools.
- This test helps the aspirants to connect them with the appropriate program with personalized program recommendations.
- It exposes the aspirant to the world of opportunities.
- Business schools trust GMAT exam to execute their admission decisions.
Some advantages of GMAT exam over other business school exams are:
- Unbiased Exam – There are formal guidelines laid down on the writing culturally appropriate questions and each question appearing in the exam is subject to formal fairness review panels.
- Consistency – The GMAT experience from the registration time till a test taker receives their scores is consistent and standardized. The technology used in the test, the number of questions and the instructions given to the test takers are same all around the world for every candidate.
- Feasibility – With over 650 test centers in 115+ countries, offering exam appointments year-round, it’s easy to find a test location and date that works for you.
- Fair examination – To combat cheating, advanced security programs are used in the testing procedure which identifies bogus test takers in real time. Even the hint of cheating may tarnish the credibility of the GMAT so these parameters are followed rigorously.
Test Format
The GMAT exam comprises of four sections: an analytical writing assessment, an integrated reasoning section, a quantitative section, and a verbal section. The time frame of the test is three hours and seven minutes which is divided as: 30 minutes for the analytical writing assessment and another 30 minutes to work through 12 questions, which often have multiple parts, on the integrated reasoning section and are given 62 minutes to work through 31 questions in the quantitative section and another 65 minutes to get through 36 questions in the verbal section.