What Do Applicants Think Of The GMAT Exam?

In 2023, we launched the latest version of the GMAT Exam - a more accurate, streamlined, and efficient test for business school applicants. We’ve already found that it has gone down well with business schools, but what do candidates think?

To find out, we spoke to three business school applicants in Asia to hear about their experiences taking the exam.

The GMAT test-taking experience

One of the key new features of the GMAT is the reduction in the length of the exam, from over 3 hours to just 2 hours 15 minutes. 

Chaiyon Yu, an MBA applicant from South Korea, appreciated the exam’s streamlined nature. “Compared to the old version, it was nice that the time was much shorter and official score confirmation was faster.”

With fewer questions and a focus on the content that matters to business schools, fellow South Korean applicant Eunsong Ji described the GMAT as “a very efficient test.”

Meanwhile, Dollaporn Khositphumiveth from Thailand enjoyed the flexibility of the new format. “I found the question review and edit features to be helpful for time management. Such features helped me to spend less time on questions I was unsure of and offered me a valuable chance to return to them at the end of the section.”

What was your exam prep strategy?

There’s no single form of exam prep that will suit every test-taker. But with a close alignment between practice materials and the final exam, using mba.com’s official resources proved extremely useful for these candidates.

Eunsong: “I only focused on Leaders Academy lectures and Official Guide guidance. I finished it quickly, but I wish there were more sample problems to study.”

Dollaporn: “Since there is only a one-time break, I tried practicing my mock tests in different orders to select my section order preference. I utilized only the official test materials and felt that the actual test closely reflected what I had been practicing.”

Chaiyon: “A lot of my effort was put into developing quant and reading power. I tried to see the bigger picture rather than just the minor details.”

How was your application experience overall?

The GMAT exam may now be shorter, but that doesn't mean it's not without its challenges. It will still take months of prep to get the score you’re looking for. For these candidates, the result of that hard work wasn’t just a strong GMAT score, but a strong MBA application too.

Chaiyon: “Writing the application and essay took more time than I expected. Start preparing for the GMAT exam as soon as possible. Even after obtaining the score, it takes a lot of time to apply.”

Dollaporn: “Although the GMAT test is a good way to assess certain skill sets, I found my MBA application experience to push me to showcase myself as a well-rounded applicant, rather than focus on my GMAT score alone.”

What advice would you give to other people considering the GMAT?

The skills and knowledge you’ll gain during GMAT revision will be useful beyond your test. They’ve helped to make these candidates a stronger overall applicant and a better businessperson. Master the GMAT, and you’ll be well on your way to mastering the art of business.

Dollaporn: “There is no absolute approach to achieve your desired score or university admissions dream. Keep practicing and continuing to strengthen all components of the MBA application while refining the strategy that works best for you.”

Eunsong: “It would be a good idea for anyone to prepare for the GMAT exam even if they are not necessarily preparing for the MBA. It seems to systematically build the skills necessary for business, such as logical thinking and mathematical skills.”

Ready to be inspired by more success stories? Discover how Leo Zhang, an equity analyst with six years in fintech, transformed their GMAT journeys into opportunities for acceptance at Chicago Booth MBA. Read Leo’s story now.