The Graduation Management Admission Test, or as we all know it, GMAT is a computer-adaptive that assesses a candidate on three parameters- analytical writing, quantitative, verbal, and reading skills. By computer-adaptive, we mean that the level and difficulty of the question present before the candidate depends upon the previous answer given by them. This exam is conducted for taking in applications of MBA aspirants who want to get admission in the top and most prestigious business colleges in the world. Unlike before, now the exam duration is shortened to be 3.5 hours, which includes the instruction period along with the short break.
Updates
Previously the exam duration was 4 hours, and the change in the duration was made effective from April 16th in the year 2018. The duration of the Verbal Reasoning and Quant section has been reduced while the Integrated Reasoning and Analytical Writing Assessment remain the same. The maximum score for the exam is still the same. GMAT exams provide the students with the convenience of deciding the order of the sections so as to optimize their performance.
Highlights
It is the most extensively acknowledged test for MBA applicants around the world. No other test is as inclusive as GMAT.
| Exam Name | Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) |
| Official Website | www.mba.com |
| Organizing Body | Graduate Management Admission Council |
| Accepted by | around 2300 business schools and colleges around the world |
| Mode of Exam | The computer-based, adaptive test |
| Fee | USD 250(INR 17,700 approx) |
| Score Range | 200-800 |
| Test Centers | 650 around the globe |
| Helpline | +852-3077-4926|+91 120-439-7830(India) Email – [email protected] |
Exam Dates
The GMAT examination date can be chosen as per the convenience of the candidate. Although you can register for GMAT even a day before the exam, it is suggested that you register yourself at the earliest so that you have enough time to prepare and have a more extensive choice of dates to give the exam.
Difference between GRA vs GMAT
The GMAT is the regulated examination for getting enrolled in a business college/ school while GRE is required for applying for a graduate college. Presently, even MBA colleges have begun accepting GRE too. Like GRE, the GMAT test involves a Verbal and Quantitative segment. In GMAT, the two segments are consolidated to give a composite score of 800.
Eligibility
The GMAT eligibility is as mentioned below:
- Age: 18 and above, (No upper limit)
If the candidate is between 13-17, they should provide the parents’/legal guardian’s consent in writing. - Education: A graduation degree in any discipline from a recognized organization/institute.
However, there has been no official guideline regarding educational background from GMAC.
Registration
The GMAT Registration can be easily done online as the enrollments are accepted throughout the year. You can enrol for the GMAT in the range of half a year to 24 hours before your chose test date in case you’re registering through the web or by phone. In case if you want to enrol via mail, at that point, your application form along with your cheque, must arrive a minimum ten days before your exam date.Candidates need to enter their name, email id, and password for registration. Also, they must fill all the correct details in the application form, including personal and academic details.
You can Schedule your GMAT exam by registering on the official website. Once you have created your profile and filled in the personal and educations details, you can choose your closest and select the preferred date and time slot. Complete the scheduling process by paying online through debit or credit cards.
Application Fee
The fee for taking the GMAT exam is 250 USD, which is equivalent to 17,750 INR (approx.). An additional 50 USD is charged if the candidate wishes to change their exam centre.
Rescheduling and Retaking
Rescheduling of the GMAT test is possible online or by phone. This is possible before seven days of the test by paying $50. Additionally, in the event that you wish to reschedule your within a 7-day window of the test date, at that point you would be charged $250 additionally. It will be ideal if you note that the test can’t be rescheduled on the test date. The main distinction in rescheduling the test through the telephone is that you would need to pay $10 additional charge alongside the $50 rescheduling expense.
Retaking the GMAT test will be possible after maintaining a gap of at least 16 days within your GMAT attempts. You can reappear for a GMAT examination by keeping a gap of 16 days or more within the two attempts. However, you can attempt the exam only five times a year.
Exam Centers
According to GMAC (Graduate Management Admission Council), around 90% of MBA admissions are made through the GMAT Score. It wouldn’t be a shocker that around 2300 business schools and colleges around the world enrol students based on GMAT. It has solid 650 GMAT Exam Centers spread over 114 countries to conduct this exam. Moreover, it also offers the students the flexibility to choose the order of the exam sections.
Exam Pattern
The GMAT Exam Pattern gives information about the number of segments, type of questions, weightage, duration, etc. of a questions paper. The GMAT exam paper consist of four sections:
- Analytical Writing
- Integrated Reasoning
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Verbal Reasoning
Syllabus
The GMAT Syllabus is very vivid. A candidate is provided 210 minutes to attempt four sections with a total score of 800. These tests assess the candidate in a very comprehensive manner by including various sections viz:
- Analytical Writing— It is used to assess a candidate’s ability to show connections between snippets of data. It is utilized to differentiate, survey or critically think and evaluate a piece of information
- Integrated Reasoning— tests the capacity of a contender to investigate the information introduced in different arrangements and take care of related issues.
- Quantitative Reasoning— measures competitors capacity to break down information and reach inferences utilizing reasoning skills
- Verbal Reasoning— measures the capacity of the candidate to peruse and comprehend composed material, to assess contentions, and to rectify text data to comply with standard English rules.
Preparation Tips
To start preparing for GMAT, you must begin as soon as possible. The best way to start out is to prepare one section at a time so that you can concentrate on one and then move on to others. You also need to brush up your mathematics and practice time management. Buy books and sample papers for GMAT and give as many mock tests as possible. This will prepare you for the kind of questions you will face of the D-day.
Scores
After you give the GMAT 2020 test, you will receive a total of five scores comprising of: Quantitative, Verbal, Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, and Total. Your total GMAT is dependent on your Verbal and Quant scores. However, your GMAT total score remains unaffected by your Analytical Writing Assessment and Integrated Reasoning scores.
Along with this, you also get a percentile which refers to how many candidates have you excelled over. For example, if your percentile is 85%, that means you have performed superior to 85% of candidates. The maximum score for GMAT is 800.
The validity of GMAT Score
The validity of GMAT scores is intact until five years from the date when you took the test.
Top MBA Colleges that accept GMAT score
GMAT allows you to apply in the best business schools in the world as it is accepted around the world. Here is the list of best business schools that take admissions through GMAT.
- Columbia University (NY)
- Dartmouth College (Tuck) (NH)
- Harvard University (MA)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan)
- Northwestern University (Kellogg) (IL)
- Stanford University (CA)
- University of California Berkeley (Haas)
- University of Chicago (Booth)
- University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
- Yale University (CT)
