What is GMAT?

GMAT stands for ‘Graduate Management Admission Test’, which is known and accepted test by majority of B-schools all over the world. This entrance exam serves as a ticket to target business schools, it also provides an insight of MBA aspirants’ academic proficiency. As a part of study abroad guide, GMAT test does not have questions to be answered. It is a computerized test conducted six days a week, which comes to 52 weeks in a year. This test is very flexible and can be taken almost anytime of the year, but as per rules it can be appeared once per 31 days and maximum 5 times in a year.

Students aspiring for education in Germany should know that GMAT is a computer adaptive test. The format is very novel and student friendly. The paper does not have set of fixed questions to be answered, instead the students have to answer questions of moderate difficulty that are based on answers to the previous questions. Best thing about it is, this test is not pre-set in advance. GMAT test starts with a question of standard difficulty and it is answered right, then the next question would be little harder than the previous one. And if the answer to previous question is wrong, the next question would be slightly easier. The entire format of GMAT test is purely based on the ability level of the student and offers a valid score. Here the most important thing that counts is the real-time performance for the final score, GMAT experience is different from other entrance.

GMAC which stands for Graduate Management Admission Council develops GMAT test. They decide what skills should be measured by GMAT and how it should be measured. The test questions, test administration and reporting of test scores is done by another organization byon the order of the GMAC.

As a part of study abroad guide, students who want admission in MBA programs, may have to compulsorily take GMAT. Out of 1,900+ B-schools all over the world, 2/3 of them accept need the GMAT scores for giving admission to deserving candidates. There are some business schools that accept the scores of other entrance exams such as the GRE scores as an option for GMAT scores.

Analytical writing, quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning and integrated reasoning are four major areas that are measured through GMAT test.

• Analytical writing is a 30 minute test.
• Quantitative reasoning is a 75 minute test with 37 different choices of questions.
• Verbal reasoning is a 75 minute test with 41 different choices of questions.
• Integrated reasoning is a 30 minute test with 12 multiple choice questions.

Every business school has its own set of rules and policies for the use of GMAT test scores in admission process. Several B-schools consider combined scores of GMAT and undergraduate GPA scores.

Success mantra to score high in GMAT is to plan well, study and practice. Some students prepare months in advance, some take the test more than once. Thus prior planning is important. Ideal study time to score in GMAT is 2-4 months, meanwhile students can search for the right B-school programs.