GMAT

Find out about GMAT tests

The GMAT is a standardized test that quantifies your mathematical and English language faculties as a means of gauging your aptitude for graduate-level studies in business. The Graduate Management Admission Test is used by business schools across the United States as one of many admissions criteria.

Understanding the GMAT Test

The GMAT exam has three sections: analytical writing, quantitative reasoning and verbal aptitude. In the analytical writing section of the GMAT exam, you’ll be asked to write two essays. The first will ask you to analyze the soundness of an argument, and the second will ask you to express an opinion on an issue. Each essay is scored from 0 to 6.

The quantitative reasoning section contains multiple choice questions that will test your problem solving and data sufficiency skills. In the problem solving section, you’ll use your arithmetic, geometry and algebra skills to solve mathematical problems. In the data sufficiency section, you’ll be given sets of complex or incongruous directions and asked to draw logic-based conclusions.

The verbal section consists of sentence correction, critical reasoning and reading comprehension questions. Like the GRE, your GMAT score is drawn from the quantitative and verbal sections; the essays are graded independently. GMAT scores range from 200 to 800, with a median near the 500 range. Scores are distributed on a bell curve.

GMAT Test Preparation Tips

GMAT preparation is essential to your success. It is a very, very rare test-taker who is able to score well without studying hard beforehand. Thus, it’s highly recommended that you take a GMAT course or get GMAT tutoring, well in advance of the test.

In a GMAT course, you’ll be matched with an instructor who has scored extremely well on the test – most of them placed in the 98th percentile or higher when they took it. The instructor will go over the types of questions you’ll face in great detail, and teach you how to solve problems and make good educated guesses if you’re stumped. GRE tutoring offers the same sort of thing, except on an individual basis. Taking a course is generally cheaper than hiring a tutor, though.

Scoring well on the GMAT will open doors to the best graduate business schools in the country. Prepare thoroughly, and well in advance, and you’ll put yourself in a position to do well.