Basic information about GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)

General introduction to GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test).

The GMAT exam is a must-do if you have serious intentions about business school. For more than 60 years, business leaders have kick-started their business school journey by taking the GMAT exams. It is the first and only standardized exam designed for admission to graduate business and management programs.

The GMAT- Graduate Management Admission Test is an examination designed to assess the skills of scholars interested in a Business degree at the graduate level.

The GMAT exam is a common admission condition for business-related Master’s Degree programs, especially MBA programs. It is accessible both online and at official test centers round the world.

Benefits of GMAT

Every year, over 200,000 business school candidates take the GMAT exam, exclusively for application to a graduate business program.

According to a recent Kaplan survey, the number of admissions professionals recognizing preference for the GMAT exam has increased 44% since 2014. This is because it sets the standard to predict your academic performance in today’s graduate management programs.

Most business schools trust the program as it is designed to specifically assess the skills most relevant to succeed in a graduate management business program.

The GMAT exam gives you an edge during the admissions process. Schools understand that candidates who participate in the GMAT exam are serious about earning a graduate degree. A good performance in this exam demonstrates your commitment, motivation and ability to succeed in business school and your career.

GMAT Exam Organisers

The owner and administrator of the GMAT exam is GMAC. They are committed to ensuring that the exam is valid, reliable and fair for every participant across the world.

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) is the global, non-profit association of leading graduate business programs in the U.S. and worldwide. GMAC actively champions the course of graduate management education, offering best-in-class products and services for schools and candidates.

The GMAC also organizes the GMAT exam, currently employed by over 6,500 graduate business programs at just about 2,100 universities and organizations around the world. It is the only test purpose-built for business school admissions.

The GMAT Exam is Computer Adaptive.

Designed as a computer adaptive test (CAT), some of the exam sections adjust their difficulty on the basis of your previous responses. It implies that, if you respond correctly to the initial questions, the next ones will be more difficult. If you respond wrongly, the next ones will be easier.

To explain further, the first question you are faced with in either the Verbal or Quantitative sections will be of medium difficulty. Upon answering each question, the computer goes ahead to score your answer, using your responses to any preceding question to select the next question.

If you answer the first question correctly, the computer will provide you with a harder question. This process will continue until you complete the section, using responses to all questions you might have answered previously, at which point the computer will have an accurate assessment of your ability in that subject.

Note that you will be unable to skip, return to, or change your answers to questions. It is this way because the computer uses your response to each question to select the next one.

The major skills tested during the GMAT are:

1. English knowledge
2. Math skills
3. Analytical skills

Exam Format

The GMAT Exam has four separately timed sections. You will have the opportunity to take two optional eight-minute breaks during the exam.

Analytical Writing Assessment (30 minutes) – measures your ability to think critically and to communicate your ideas comprehensibly.

You will be given an argument on a certain subject. Consequently, you will be expected to write an evaluation of that argument. Note that the objective isn’t to share your opinion on the subject, but to articulate how well or not the argument has been structured. Make use of examples to support your ideas and reasons.

3. Quantitative Reasoning (62 minutes) – evaluates your ability to analyse data and draw conclusions using reasoning skills

This section has 31 multiple choice questions to test your skill in basic math, algebra and geometry knowledge and reasoning skills.

4. Verbal Reasoning (65 minutes) – rates your ability to read and understand written material, to evaluate arguments and to correct written material to conform to standard written English.

2. Integrated reasoning (30 minutes) – assesses your ability to analyze data and evaluate information presented in multiple formats.

There will be 12 questions in total, assembled into 4 categories on the basis of the skills they assess:

• Multi-Source Reasoning: decide if data is relevant, highlight differences
• Table Analysis: work with data (sort, analyze, filter)
• Graphics Interpretation: find links or insights in a graphic
• Two-Part Analysis: solve complex problems, analyze transactions and compromises.

In total, there are 36 multiple choice questions in this section. You will be tested to ascertain how well you can make sense of the primary and secondary ideas of texts, how well you can understand what is implied. This section will also test your ability to recognize weak or flawed arguments, as well as mistakes in English grammar and sentence structure.

Test Taking Experience

On arrival at your test center, physical or online, you can choose from three options or your exam’s section order:

• Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, Verbal
• Verbal, Quantitative, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment
• Quantitative, Verbal, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment

The essence of this choice is to give you more control and flexibility to take the GMAT exam based on your strengths and testing preferences.

What does it cost to register for the GMAT Exam?

There are two factors that can affect the cost of the GMAT Exam. They are;

• Exam type
• The nation

• Exam type refers to whether the GMAT exam will be taken online, or a test-center.

The flat price for the online GMAT exam flat price of 250 USD. The only nations from which you cannot take the online exam are: Cuba, China, North Korea, Iran, and Sudan.

•  The nation. Below are some of the fees for the standard GMAT exam available at test centers globally:
• GMAT in the US: 275 USD
• GMAT in the UK: 225 GBP
• GMAT in Australia: 250 USD
• GMAT in Germany: 250 EUR
• GMAT in Norway: 285 USD

GMAT Exam Payment Information

• Credit Cards and Debit Cards

If you need to make any payments for a product or service with a credit or debit card, you should take note of the following:

• VISA, Master card, American Express and Discover Network Cards are all acceptable.
• Charges on your credit card statement will most likely appear as “VUE*GRAD MGMT TEST”\.
• Your appointment will be automatically canceled if your credit or debit card is declined. However, with a valid payment, you can schedule another test appointment.
• Using a stolen or fraudulent credit or debit card will mean that your registration will be canceled, any of your previous GMAT scores may be canceled, and Graduate Management Admission Council may notify both schools and law enforcement authorities.
• Do not wrongfully challenge or dispute the fee with your credit card company. You may be blocked from taking further exams or from requesting additional score reports.

Some banks will not allow debit cards to be used on the internet unless the merchant participates in Verified by Visa or MasterCard Secure Code, although this only happens In India. This requires that you enter a pin number. We do not participate in this program. You might have to contact your bank for assistance. Some banks may be willing to issue their customers a special one-time use card, or lift the pin restriction, so you can use it on our website.

• How to use Cashier’s Checks, Money Orders, and Personal Checks

You might have to consider the following when paying for your GMAT exam by cashier check, money order, or personal check:

• Your payment must be payable to Pearson VUE-GMAT, in US dollars and drawn on a US bank and for the full amount, including taxes, where applicable.
• List the current date (do not postdate).
• Have the appropriate signature(s).
• Have the bank name and its location preprinted on the face of the check.
• Be received at least 10 days before the appointment date to allow for processing. If your check is returned for insufficient funds, Pearson VUE may deduct a service fee from your account electronically and your appointment will be canceled. You are responsible for scheduling another test appointment with a valid payment.

What you need to Register (Identification Requirements)

At the Test Center or Online, you will need to present acceptable and valid identification.

• Some ID requirements may vary by location.
• You must have an ID with you at a test center on exam day. If not, you will forfeit your exam fee, and you will need to pay the full fee to reschedule.
• You must have previously uploaded an appropriate ID with you or you will forfeit your exam fee.

Acceptable forms of ID

• International travel passport (a passport is usually required when taking the exam outside of your country of citizenship.
• Expired passports are unacceptable.

The following forms of identification will not be accepted at your test center:

• Expired identification*
• Passport cards
• Social security cards
• Draft classification cards
• Credit cards
• Employee or student IDs
• Letters from your university or college
• IDs with physical descriptions in place of photos
• Photocopies of any form of IDs

The GMAT Exam Handbook

Everything you need to know about registering for, and taking the GMAT Exam has been collated in a comprehensive guide. It provides for essential and significant information about the GMAT Exam such as:

• Rights and responsibilities of test takers
• Registration and scheduling instructions
• Test fees, policies, and procedures
• What to expect on exam day
• Testing rules
• Receiving and evaluating your score
• Sharing your score report with schools

Download the GMAT Handbook Here

How the GMAT Exam is delivered

Usually, the testing room is quiet and distraction free to motivate candidates. The exam is delivered only on a computer, which ensures consistency and fairness. The computer exam allows you to:

• Test around the world on almost any day of the year.
• Track your time and the number of questions you have to answer.
• Receive unofficial scores when you finish the test.

Summary of GMAT Exam Administration Rules

Common Policies

• To check in at the test center, you will require present valid, original identification. You will be asked to confirm that you agree the GMAT Examination Testing Rules & Agreement by the test administrator. This will be done with a digital signature.
• A digital photograph of the candidate will be taken. Audio and video are recorded in the testing room at all centers during the exam. Refusal to participate in any part of the check-in process will disqualify you from the GMAT Exam.
• Limited storage space is available and as such, personal items are not permitted in the testing room. Any electronic or photographic devices or potential aids of any kind are not permitted. Access to telephones, mobile phones will not be permitted at the test center at any time.
• Weapons and dangerous items are not allowed on the premises. This policy also affects off-duty law enforcement officers.
• The GMAT Exam begins once the candidate is seated. It will last for approximately 3 and half hours.
• Without the test administrator’s permission, you may not leave the testing room.

Possible Consequences of Policy Violations

Policy violations may result in the following:

• Minimum 31-day wait to retest
• Revoked/cancelled scores
• Notification to schools
• Forfeiture of test fees
• Up to 3 years of ban from testing.

GMAT Exam scores

Scores for the test are between 200 and 800. They are usable for up to five years and this applies to both the standard and the online GMAT test.

A good GMAT score is a score that enables you to apply and be admitted by your favorite Business school.

Quick Links

1. Register for the GMAT as a test Taker without Disabilities
2. Register for GMAT as a Test Taker with Disabilities
3. Compare the test-center GMAT™ exam to the GMAT™ Online
4. Find a Test Center
5. GMAT Exam Structure
6. Download the GMAT Handbook
7. Prepare to Perform Your Best on Test Day
8. GMAT Exam Preperation page
9. Scores and Score Reports