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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.
Preparing as best as you can for this important test means that you assess your ability for self-study critically. The GMAT is a standardized test and follows a specific logic. If self-study for standardized tests hasn’t worked for you in the past, if you are new to the arena of standardized tests or if you simply prefer to work under the guidance of an expert or within a group, we strongly recommend the GMAT test prep route. The GMAT does not assess intelligence as such, there is an underlying method to test taking of this format and preparing methodologically for the test. Anecdotally, there are many tales of math graduates who had considerable difficulties with the quantitative section, not for its level of difficulty, but simply because standardized testing follows a specific rationality that may not always be intuitive to all students. A test prep course can teach you valuable concepts, routes to problem solving and important strategic approaches to the GMAT. An expert tutor will be able to help you unlock the underlying rationality and convey practice methods for the test.
In order to provide this option to our users, we have teamed up with one of the largest GMAT test prep providers, Kaplan, to offer an effective range of test preparation tools for each individual need. To see all of the course locations and types on offer, click here.
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. |
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