Admissions Tests       Almost all reputable business schools will require an aptitude test as part of their overall application requirements. Business schools attach great importance to these tests, as they allow them to evaluate applicants from different academic and professional backgrounds on an objective, numerical scale. Without these test scores, entry to any MBA programme is nearly impossible. There are only a few important tests and most universities and business schools will require at least one of them for entry to their programmes. Below is a brief overview of the most important ones.

GMAT

The most commonly required admissions test for MBA programmes is the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). The GMAT is often referred to as the ‘gatekeeper’ of business schools and is indeed one of the most complex tests available on the market. It is comprised of three sections that have been designed by business schools to measure a student’s analytical writing skills, their quantitative skills as well as their verbal skills. The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) has conceived the test in 1954 as the first and only graduate business management test. Since then, the test has become one of the most important measures for prospective MBA students. The test specifically does not evaluate business or subject knowledge, rather it seeks to assess the ability to make decisions under time constraints and assesses the test takers’ mental abilities. It is increasingly administered as a computer-adaptive tests which differs somewhat from the traditional pencil-and-paper tests of the past.

The Test

A total of 3.5 hours are allowed for the completion of all three sections. The test typically starts with the Analytical Writing Assessment, which is designed to measure the student’s ability to think critically and communicate ideas effectively. For this section, the test taker has to write a total of two essays, one is an analysis of an issue, the other an analysis of an argument in 30 minutes per essay. The second part of the test, the Quantitative Section, poses 37 multiple-choice questions that must be answered within 75 minutes. This part measures mathematical skills, understanding of elementary mathematical concepts, quantitative reasoning and problem solving as well as the ability to interpret graphic data and data relevance in two types of questions – Problem Solving and Data Sufficiency. Finally, the Verbal Section consists of 41 multiple-choice questions and is scored on a scale of 60 points. This section is comprised of 14 Reading Comprehension questions, 10 Critical Reasoning questions and 17 Sentence Corrections. The Verbal Section of the test evaluates the student’s ability to read and comprehend written material, reason and evaluate arguments and correct written material. For non-native English speakers, this section may pose the greatest challenge and adequate preparation is crucial in making the most of this section.

Scores

The GMAT is scored on a scale from 200 to 800, whereby two thirds of all test takers score within 400 and 600. It is graded on a preset curve corresponding to a percentile. A total score of 650 would then correspond to the 90th percentile, with 90% of the test takers scoring below this particular example score. Recent reports suggest that the average GMAT score required by business schools has been rising substantially as the field becomes more competitive. Top ranked schools such as Harvard, Wharton, Stanford or Columbia in the US and London Business School in the UK all report an average GMAT score of over 700. For the class starting in 2009, a score of 750 is recommended to have any chance at getting into one of the top schools. A lower GMAT score can in some instances be mitigated by outstanding academic, professional and personal qualifications, but reality is that the score is one of the first criteria considered by many admissions officers. So taking the time to prepare for the test adequately is crucial in the MBA admissions process.

Preparation

How best to prepare for the GMAT is often a very personal matter, but there are a multitude of tools that are very useful in helping students prepare effectively for the GMAT. GMAT Preparation courses, study guides, preparation advice, CDs, workshops – all can prove invaluable in preparing for this important test and each MBA aspirant must decide for him or herself which preparation support might be the most effective one. There are numerous online resources offering GMAT questions for free, but we recommend that you take the time to research study guides and purchase one that will work for you. Important is to work on your weaknesses – so if the verbal and writing sections are a breeze for you but you struggle with the quantitative elements, find a guide that focuses on the quantitative elements, without neglecting the other sections of course – and vice versa. Most test prep study guides nowadays come with an interactive CD, which allows you to practice on your computer. There are a number of Test Prep providers that offer courses as well as study material, the most important among them Kaplan and the Princeton Review. If you feel you do better with a tutor, or a workshop, we suggest you explore what test prep centres might be available in your area.

Whichever route you take, it is crucial that you practice as much as possible before you take the test. The time needed to prepare for the GMAT varies by test taker – some do best after 10 weeks of study, others need 4 and some only 2 weeks to achieve good results. It is important that you leave yourself enough time to allow for your individual preparation time. Put yourself under exam conditions as often as possible and do various sample tests so that you know how to best pace yourself to meet all the demands of this complex and important test.

GRE

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is less common as a test for MBA admissions and more so for admissions to US and some UK Masters and PhD programs, however, a growing number of business schools are beginning to consider the GRE as an alternative to the GMAT and GRE test administrator Educational Testing Service (ETS) is currently on a mission to convince more and more business schools of the benefits of this generic test. Similarly to the GMAT, the GRE test is principally focused on evaluating the ability to think abstractly in three areas: verbal, mathematical and analytical writing. None of the questions in the test are related to specific subject knowledge, but rather assess the mental ability of the student. The GRE is generally acknowledged to be less demanding than the GMAT in the quantitative skills arena and is presently not including a Data Sufficiency section. As ETS are seeking to make the GRE an attractive alternative to the GMAT, they have recently added a non-cognitive portion to the test that assesses the candidates’ personal potential and creates the Personal Potential Index (PPI) as part of the GRE package. This new section of the test will pilot in July 2009 and is based on external assessments of the candidate.

Like the GMAT, the GRE is a computer-adaptive test in general, but pencil-and-paper versions are offered in areas where computer access is not readily available.

The Test

The GRE is presently structured in three sections: Analytical Writing, Verbal and Quantitative. Additionally, there may be included an unidentified and un-scored section after the Analytical Writing tasks, as well as an identified but un-scored research section at the end of the test. Total testing time is up to three hours, which does not include the research portion of the test. The GRE always starts with the Analytical Writing section, composed of an Issue Task and an Argument Task. For the Issue Task, two choices are presented from which the test taker chooses one. This section must be completed in 45 minutes. The Argument Task does not present a choice and is to be completed in 30 minutes. The Analytical Writing section evaluates the student’s ability to communicate effectively under time constraints. The Quantitative Section is comprised of 28-30 multiple-choice questions (depending on the test format) that must be answered within 45 minutes. The questions are generally less demanding than those formulated in the GMAT Quantitative Section, which is one of the reasons business schools still favour the GMAT over the GRE. The final section, the Verbal Section, tests the ability to understand sentence logic and recognize words or phrases. The student has 30 minutes to answer 30 questions correctly in this section. While the Analytical Writing section is always the first part of the test, the other sections may appear in varying order, including the un-scored sections.

The Scores

The Verbal and Quantitative sections are scored on a scale of 200 – 800 with 10 point increments, the Analytical Writing score, however, is reported on a 0-6 point scale in half-point increments. The highest combined score for the Verbal and Quantitative Section is 1600, the Analytical Writing score is always reported separately. The GRE score required for a particular business school or university may vary widely so that it is recommended you consult with the university or business school directly to find out what the exact requirements are.

Preparation

There are numerous sources to help with preparing for the GRE. There are books, CDs, test prep courses and private tutors, each of which will provide a different approach of preparing for the test. We recommend a mix of sources. A comfortable test taker might be fine with just a book and a CD while a more nervous test taker might benefit from a course or a private tutor. There is a wide variety of books available, make sure you don’t go for the cheapest option but rather find a book or a CD that helps you practice those areas in which you feel you are weakest. However, be sure to practice all sections for the test and give yourself plenty of time to be as prepared as you can. Often the most difficult part of the test is meeting the time limits. It is thus helpful to practice as much as possible under exam conditions.

GRE or GMAT

The GMAT still by far outweighs the GRE in significance for admission to business school. Most schools will not accept the GRE yet as a substitute for the GMAT but there are more and more arguments brought forth for a wider acceptance of the GRE, such as cost (the GMAT test fees are higher than those for the GRE) and geographic distribution (the GRE is more widely administered than the GMAT) and some schools, such as Stanford, have turned to accept the GRE to widen its application pool.

USEFUL LINKS

KAPLAN http://www.kaplan.com/

PRINCETON REVIEW http://www.review.com/

GMAC http://www.gmac.com/

ETS / GRE http://www.ets.org/bin/getprogram.cgi?test=gre