A guide to GMAT
The GMAT test
A good GMAT score is required for admission and scholarships to most top global business schools for MBA, Executive MBA, and specific Master's certificate programs. The GMAT's owner, the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), recently presented another test for Executive MBA candidates – Executive Assessment – however, the GMAT is still widely used for both MBA and EMBA programs.
Over 6,000 graduate business programs at over 1,700 colleges and associations worldwide accept the GMAT.
The GMAT is an English-language computer adaptive test (CAT). It now has four sections: Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA), Integrated Reasoning (IR), Quantitative, and Verbal.
The GMAT assesses your verbal, numerical, critical thinking, and analytic writing abilities, which you have developed through your education and work. It does not quantify your understanding of business, your work abilities, subjects in your undergrad or college course work, or your capacities in other subjective qualities such as motivation, creativity, and interpersonal skills.
GMAT content and duration
Currently, the GMAT consists of the four segments described in the accompanying request:
Analytical Writing Assessment
The Analytical Writing Assessment – section 1 of the GMAT exam – lasts 30 minutes and focuses on the analysis of a contention. In the first segment, rising stars explain the Reasoning behind a specific argument and present their point of view. Basic Reasoning and the ability to impart are evaluated here.
Arrangement: Essay
Theme: Analysis of an argument
Time: 30 minutes
Score: 0-6 in half-digit spans
Critical/Integrated Reasoning
Integrated Reasoning aims to assess the ability to interpret information from various sources, decipher data and the likelihood of outcomes, and change over quantitative information among graphical and verbal arrangements. It consists of 12 questions that must be answered quickly. Candidates may use calculators, but they may not return to previous questions to change their answers or return to skipped questions. Graphic interpretation, two-part analysis, table investigation, and multi-source thinking are all areas of IR.
Organization: 12 questions
Point: Multi-Source Reasoning, Graphics Interpretation, Two-section Analysis, Table Analysis
Time: 30 minutes
Score: 1-8 in single-digit stretches
Quantitative aptitude
The Quantitative section has a time limit of 75 minutes and requires test takers to answer 37 questions. The quantitative section assesses critical thinking and quantitative reasoning abilities.
Organization: 37 inquiries
Point: Data Sufficiency, Problem Solving
Time: 75 minutes
Score: 0-60
Verbal
The Verbal section allows 75 minutes and requires test takers to answer 41 questions. Understanding perception, critical thinking, and sentence revision questions are all part of the verbal area.
Organization: 41 inquiries
Theme: Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, Sentence Correction
Time: 75 minutes
Score: 0-60
The testing time is 3 hours 30 minutes but plans on spending around four hours if you want to take the optional breaks.
GMAT scoring
The total score from the Verbal and Quantitative sections ranges from 200 to 800. The AWA (0-6 scale) and IR (1-8 scale) scores are evaluated separately.
It should be noted that even if you have an excellent composite score if there is a significant gap between your verbal and quantitative scores, this may act as a barrier to admission to top schools. As a result, it is preferable to demonstrate the best of both abilities concurrently rather than focusing solely on one.
What is a decent GMAT score?
A GMAT score of 600 or higher is considered good. However, if you require a perfect GMAT score, you will need to score higher than 700. The 50 highest level business colleges typically expect a score of at least 660, though this varies by business college. Top management consulting firms also consider job applicants' GMAT scores during hiring.
How long to study for the GMAT
GMAT test-takers devote approximately 100 hours to exam preparation. This time is typically divided into guided preparation (course or self-study), self-study, and practice. Your learning style, budget, and availability of preparation options in your area influence your decision.
A typical GMAT prep course lasts 40-50 hours. Depending on the intensity of the course, they can last two or three months. Make an effort to answer as many questions as possible.