Dude, what’s a GMAT?

GMAT stands for Graduate Management Admissions Test. In short, it’s the test you have to take if you want to get admitted to a good graduate management (MBA) program. Business schools in the US and all over the world use the GMAT as part of their admissions criteria, along with your grade-point-average, work experience, and letters of recommendations.

What’s in the GMAT?

The GMAT has 3 sections:

• Analytical Writing Assessment: You will have to write 2 essays, analyzing an issue first by providing your opinion on a subject, and then analyzing an argument by discussing how well-reasoned it is.
• Quantitative: includes mathematical questions on basic arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. Calculators are not allowed and are unnecessary. Questions involve either straight-forward problem solving, or data sufficiency, which requires you to analyze the data required to answer a problem.
• Verbal: Testing your English writing and reading skills, with questions in reading comprehension, sentence correction, and critical reasoning.

What’s a good GMAT score?

The writing section, scored separately, is scored from 0-6 in half points, and a score of 4.5 or above is considered good. Your total score incorporates both the verbal and quantitative sections, and is measured from 200-800, with the average score falling around 530. A higher score than 550 is good. Note, however, that a good percentile on each individual section might also be helpful even if your total score isn’t great. Remember that your percentile score is usually a better indication of your performance than the actual score.

How does the GMAT work?

The GMAT is a computer-adaptive standardized test. That means the GMAT uses a special adaptive computer program to measure your score- your earlier responses determine the difficulty of later questions in order to zone in on your correct score. GMAT scores are then always converted to percentiles in order to offer a standardized way to compare the marks to earlier GMAT takers and ensure the fairness of the GMAT’s skills measurement.

Why write the GMAT?

Do you want to get into a good business school and get your MBA degree? If so, it’s pretty much guaranteed that you’ll need a GMAT score. All good, respectable English-speaking business schools have a minimum GMAT score as a requirement necessery for admissions. If a school will accept you without a GMAT score, be wary- the school is probably not that good. A great GMAT score will make you a fierce competitor when it comes to admissions into top business programs across the globe.

How do I write the GMAT?

There are GMAT test centers all over the world- you can find them in the MBA.com website, where you can register to write the test. The test is offered on a limited-schedule basis a few times a month. It costs $250, and you can either call a test center, or register online.

Where can I find good ways to practice for the GMAT?

Right here! Visit the GMAT Format page to learn more about the format of the GMAT and find information pages that will explain every area specifically. And then, visit the [info:gmat-preparation Preparation] page for good tactics on preparing for the GMAT. We have lots of practice tests online, just click the GMAT tag above this page to find them all!

Good luck on the GMAT!