GMAT OVERVIEW
The Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) is the standardized test that every business school applicant must take. While admissions committees do consider many other factors (including your grades, transcript, essays, resume, and interview), it is important to do well on the GMAT if you hope to get into a competitive business school.
GMAT Overview
The GMAT is a four-hour computer-based test offered at approved testing centers around the world. Here’s how the GMAT is structured:
- An Analytical Writing Assessment that includes two 30-minute essays (followed by an optional short break).
- A 75-minute, 37-question multiple-choice Quantitative (Math) section (followed by an optional short break).
- A 75-minute, 41-question multiple-choice Verbal section.
You must answer a question in order to get to the next question—which means you can’t skip one and return to it. And while you are not required to finish any of the sections, your score will be adjusted downward to reflect questions you did not get to.
Scoring
Your GMAT score is determined based on the number of questions you answer correctly and the difficulty of those questions. The easiest questions come at the beginning of each section, and are weighted more heavily than those that come at the end.
Business schools tend to focus on your overall (or composite) score. The composite score includes both the Math and Verbal sections of the test, and ranges from 200 to 800 in 10-point increments. The Analytical Writing Assessment section is scored on a scale of 0 to 6, and is not included in your composite score.
Taking the Test
The GMAT is offered most weekdays throughout the year, as well as a few Saturdays. Register early if you want to take the test on a Saturday. You can register for the GMAT at mba.com, or by calling 1-800-717-GMAT. You can re-take the test, although you must wait a month in between test dates.
Business schools will see your three most recent GMAT scores from the last five years, so you should make sure you’re prepared. To get familiar with the exam, try a free online practice test. Or check out The Princeton Review’s GMAT Test Prep.
