Are you applying to a top-ranked graduate business or management program? Well, you should start preparing for the GMAT. This article will help you discover what you need to know to get started. You will learn how the test is structured, scored, and tips to increase your odds of acceptance into your ideal school.
Similar to the SAT, ACT, and GRE, the Graduate Management Admission Test commonly known as the GMAT is a standardized exam created to help schools discover how you will perform as a student. The GMAT is one tool used by many business and management programs to determine an applicant’s eligibility. Even though it is not the only measurement considered, business school hopefuls should take this test seriously. Your performance can give you a competitive edge over other candidates.
Overview of the GMAT
The GMAT contains the following sections:
| Analytical Writing Assessment | 1 topic. 30 minutes |
| Integrated Reasoning | 12 questions, 30 minutes |
| Quantitative | 37 questions, 75 minutes |
| Verbal | 41 questions, 75 minutes |
Analytical Writing Assessment
The initial component of the GMAT is the Analytical Writing Assessment. It is designed to understand your ability to analyze ideas and your ability to write clearly and efficiently. You should expect to examine the reasoning behind the provided case and write a critique of that argument. The best way to prepare for this section is to familiarize yourself with potential topics and practice writing your argument. A list of possible subjects is available on the GMAT official website. Additionally, the site contains an online program that offers four practice essays that are scored using the same essay-scoring engine on the exam here.
Quantitative
You can expect the Quantitative section to include multiple-choice questions covering data sufficiency and problem-solving. 75 minutes is the time allotted to solve issues. The problem-solving portion will account for 60% of the section. The mathematics knowledge needed to solve the problems is not higher than what students learned in secondary school. These questions are designed to emphasize your understanding of different mathematical concepts. The data sufficiency questions are 40% of the section. You will have two pieces of information and a problem. Your goal is to decide if the information presented is sufficient to answer the question accurately or if you require more information to solve the problem. Examples of question types are accessible here.
Integrated Reasoning
The Integrated Reasoning is a 2012 addition to the GMAT. This section contains four types of questions: multi-source reasoning, graphics interpretation, two-part analysis, and table analysis. Examples of each are available here.
Verbal
The final part of the GMAT exam is the Verbal section. You will have 75 minutes to answer 41 multiple-choice questions. These questions cover three areas: reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence correction. The reading comprehension section includes questions from short paragraphs. You will need to read and understand written material, evaluate arguments, and correct written material to conform to standard English.
Scoring Scale
Your GMAT score report will include scores for Verbal, Quantitative, Analytical Writing, Integrated Reasoning and a total.
Your official GMAT score report will include the following scores:
SCORE RANGE
| Verbal | 0–60 |
| Quantitative | 0–60 |
| AWA | 0–6 |
| IR | 1-8 |
| Total | 200–800 |
The best resource for prep materials is the GMAT website, which has official guides for the test with hundreds of practice questions. After you decide which study resources are best for your learning style, you can develop a study plan. Remember the following steps as you prepare for the GMAT:
- Understand what the test measures and the point system
- Schedule your test months in advance to give you time to prepare
- Create a study plan and follow it
- Take a practice test
- Evaluate your progress as you advance through the study plan and make changes as needed
- Once you are ready, take the GMAT
Are you still considering options for a business or management program? Here is a list of great business and management programs that accept the GMAT for admission:
- ESADE Business School
- IE Business School
- IESE Business School
- London Business School
- University of Oxford- International MBA
- HEC Paris MBA
- INSEAD
Are you currently preparing for the GMAT? If so, let us know what is working for you.
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