GMAT – Everything You Need To Know

If you have have ambitions to be a leader in your business career, you know that a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or other post-graduate business degree opens doors and prepares you for the business world like no other qualification. You’ve probably also heard of the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), the most widely accepted business school exam globally.

Across GMAT and GRE test takers around the world, over 7 in 10 rely on GMAT to get into a graduate business program. It’s the only admissions exam designed specifically for business school and assesses relevant business skills as opposed to just general skills.

The exam helps thousands of graduate business programs make critical admissions decisions and helps you, as a candidate, to demonstrate your commitment and eligibility for the MBA or business master’s degree program of your choice.

What Sets the GMAT Apart From Other Exams? 

The GMAT can open a world of academic opportunities and career paths. Accelerate your future with the graduate business exam that:

• Comprises of only three 45-minute sections, allowing you to efficiently prepare for test day in as little as six weeks.
• Allows you to personalize your test-taking experience with Question Review & Edit, Select Section Order, and the ability to take the exam at a test center or online.
• Provides insights- after the exam, leverage the detailed insights provided by your Official Score Report to review your performance in each section, each question type, and more.

GMAT new improvements and features that make a major difference in how you take – and use – the exam. 

Question Review & Edit:

You can bookmark and review as many questions as you want, and you can change up to three answers per section within the section time remaining, allowing you to optimize your test taking strategy. 

Select Section Order:

Take the exam in whatever section order you prefer. Want to get Quantitative Reasoning out of the way? Start there. Feel like Verbal Reasoning is best saved until the end? Slot it in last. 

Focused Content:

With no analytical writing assessment, you can spend more time developing the skills that matter most to business schools. 

Detailed Performance Insights:

The Official Score Report details your performance in each section, for each question type, your time management skills, and more! 

Five Free Score Reports:

You have the flexibility and control to select programs to send your scores to after the exam – regardless of whether you test online or at a test center. You can send up to five score reports for free within 48 hours of receiving your Official Score, and additional score reports are available after that for a fee.   

GMAT in brief

The candidate experience is central to the GMAT. The test itself is shorter than the previous version and takes less time to complete than similar graduate school examinations. It’s flexible, too – you can complete the sections in any order you choose, review questions, and revise up to three answers per section. The test has a maximum score of 805 and a minimum score of 205. It consists of three sections, each with a maximum score of 90 and a minimum score of 60. Each section takes 45 minutes, so the total testing time is two hours and 15 minutes.

Section 1: Quantitative Reasoning

The Quantitative Reasoning section determines mathematical ability and numerical literacy, testing your ability to reason, solve problems, and interpret data. It measures the skills you will use in quantitative-based subjects such as finance, accounting, and managerial statistics.  This section consists of Problem-Solving questions and require common knowledge of concepts related to arithmetic, elementary algebra, and word problems.

Section 2: Verbal Reasoning

The Verbal Reasoning section evaluates reading comprehension and critical reasoning. You will be assessed on your ability to comprehend and draw inferences from written material and to evaluate arguments through two types of multiple-choice questions. Reading Comprehension passages of up to 350 words are followed by a set of questions that test your ability to interpret the text, to draw inferences from it, and to identify logical relationships between elements of the content. Critical Reasoning questions measures your ability to draw conclusions from short arguments.

Section 3: Data Insights

The Data Insights section tests your ability to read and interpret data in multiple formats, including tables and graphs. It is designed to mimic today’s business world, in which managers synthesize data from multiple sources to identify patterns, make decisions, and solve business problems. This part of the GMAT uses question formats that include Data Sufficiency, Multi-Source Reasoning, Table Analysis, Graphics Interpretation, and Two-Part Analysis.  

How is GMAT™ Focus Edition different to the previous GMAT?

Each enhancement to the GMAT™ exam was designed in partnership with leading business schools and prospective business school applicants to ensure relevance and alignment with the skills required to succeed at business school and the world of work.

What score do business schools look for?

What makes the GMAT stand out from other admission tests is that it has been formulated specifically for business schools and is accepted by more than 7,700 business school programs worldwide. This commitment to your business education is highly sought-after in the admissions process. Even when the GMAT is not a compulsory part of the application process up front, admissions managers may still ask you to supply a score later in the process if your application is not as competitive as others in their applicant pool. 

The definition of a “good” score changes from business school to business school and candidate to candidate. Most programs do not have an explicitly stated minimum for GMAT™ percentiles but tend to publish an average or a range of GMAT scores achieved by their most recent class. This can provide a useful benchmark; however, they are generally looking for candidates with a well-balanced set of scores across all sections.  

Don’t rule out programs even if you haven’t reached your target GMAT score, especially if it is close to the published range. Your score will be one part of your application, and you may have considerable strengths in other areas. Contact the admissions team for your chosen program to seek their guidance and be prepared to retake the exam.

Ultimately, even where the GMAT is not required, taking the test can give you an edge over other candidates, providing access to top business schools globally. It’s one of the best ways for you to prove that you’re willing to do what it takes to achieve your goals and make your dream of a successful business career become a reality. Whether you aspire to a high-flying corporate career, further study, or work abroad, or even founding a business of your own, make the GMAT the next step on your journey.

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