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The Graduate Management Admission
Test (GMAT) is a computer-adaptive test that measures
basic verbal, mathematical, and analytical writing
skills that are developed over a long period of
time. The GMAT is designed to help graduate schools
assess the qualifications of applicants for advanced
study in business and management. Many graduate
management programs throughout the world require
the GMAT scores.
 Does
the GMAT test business knowledge?
The GMAT does not presuppose any specific knowledge
of business or other specific content areas, nor
does it measure achievement in any particular
subject areas. The GMAT is entirely in English
and all instructions are provided in English.
How do schools
use GMAT scores?
Your GMAT scores are only one predictor of academic
performance in the first year of graduate management
school. Most schools look at GMAT scores, undergraduate
performance, work experience, recommendations
and your application to evaluate your fit with
their program. To find out how your GMAT scores
will be factored into the application review process,
you should contact the admissions office at the
school(s) to which you are applying.
What is a Computer-Adaptive
Test?
In a computer-adaptive test (CAT), questions are
selected while each individual takes the test.
As you answer each question, the computer scores
that question and use that information to determine
which question to present next. Your next question
will be the one that best reflects both your previous
performance and the requirements of the test design.
This means that different test takers will be
given different questions.
What is the
format of the GMAT?
The GMAT includes verbal, quantitative, and analytical
writing sections. The verbal and quantitative
sections are multiple-choice and computer-adaptive.
For the analytical writing section of the test
you will be presented with two essay topics and
will write your responses using the computer keyboard.
What is the
Analytical Writing Assessment?
The Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) portion
of the GMAT consists of two 30-minute writing
tasks - Analysis of an Issue and Analysis of an
Argument. The scoring of your essays will be based
on the overall quality of your ideas about the
issue and argument presented: your overall ability
to organize, develop, and express those ideas;
the relevant supporting reasons and examples you
used; and your ability to control the elements
of standard written English.
What is tested
in the verbal section of the GMAT?
The verbal section of the test measures your ability
to read and comprehend written material, to reason
and evaluate arguments, and to correct written
material to conform to standard written English.
Three types of multiple-choice questions are used
in the verbal section of the GMAT-Reading Comprehension,
Critical, Reasoning, and Sentence Correction.
Reading comprehension questions measure your ability
to understand, analyze, and apply information
and concepts presented in written form. Critical
Reasoning questions are designed to test the reasoning
skills involved in (I) making arguments, (2) evaluating
arguments, and (3) formulating or evaluating a
plan of action. Sentence Correction questions
ask you which of the five choices best expresses
an idea or relationship. The questions will require
you to be familiar with the stylistic conventions
and grammatical rules of standard written English
and to demonstrate your ability to improve incorrect
or ineffective expressions
What Should
I expect in the quantitative section of the gmat?
The quantitative section of the test measures
basic mathematical skills, understanding of elementary
concepts, the ability to reason quantitatively,
solve quantitative problems and interpret graphic
data. Two types of multiple-choice questions are
used in the quantitative section-Problem Solving
and Data Sufficiency. Both types of questions
are intermingled throughout the section and require
knowledge of arithmetic, elementary algebra, and
commonly know concepts of geometry.
Problem solving questions are designed
to test basic mathematical skills, understanding
of elementary mathematical concepts, and the ability
to reason quantitatively and to solve quantitative
problems.
Each Data Sufficiency question consists
of a question and two statements labeled (I) and
(2) that contain additional information. You must
decide whether the data given in the statements
are sufficient for answering the question. Data
Sufficiency questions are designed to measure
your ability to analyze a quantitative problem,
to recognize which information is relevant, and
to determine at what point there is sufficient
information to solve the problem.
How much time
will I have to take the test?
You will have 4 hours in total to take the test,
including two optional breaks. You will have one
hour for the Analytical Writing Assessment and
75 minutes for the Quantitative Section and another
75 minutes for the Verbal section. You will be
able to take tow 5-minute breaks during the test.
Can I skip
questions on the GMAT?
Because the computer scores each question before
selecting the next one, you must answer each question
when it is presented. Once you answer a question
and move on to another, you cannot go back and
change your answer. The computer has already incorporated
both your answer and the requirements of the test
design into its selection of your next question.
How should
I prepare for the GMAT?
The organization that creates the GMAT, the Graduate
Management Admission Council, and the Educational
Testing Service believe that it is important for
all GMAT test takers to be familiar with the format
of the test and the kinds of questions. So GMAC
now offers, free of charge, test preparation software
for the GMAT called PowerPrep. PowerPrep is interactive
software that features two computer-adaptive tests
that are timed and presented just like the actual
GMAT. It includes hundreds of practice questions,
answers, and explanations, as well as a comprehensive
math review, and real-time scoring. Both the tutorials
and the complete POWERPREP software can be downloaded
for free from MBA.com. A free CD-ROM version of
POWERPREP is also offered to everyone who makes
an appointment to take the GMAT.
Can I repeat the GMAT?
Sometimes a management school may request that
you repeat the GMAT. This may happen if the school
would like to see more recent evidence of your
performance. You may not take the GMAT more than
one time in any calendar month, even if you have
taken the test and canceled your scores.
Should I repeat
the GMAT to improve my scores?
If your scores seem unusually low compared with
other indicators of your preparation for graduate
management study, or unless there are other reasons
to believe that you did not do your best on the
test, taking the GMAT again may not be helpful.
It is unlikely to result in a substantial increase
in your scores, and, in fact, your scores may
decrease.
How do I Send
my Scores to Schools?
Before you begin the test, you will have an opportunity
to select up to five graduate institutions or
programs to receive copies of your score report.
Once you have confirmed your selections you will
not be able to make changes, deletions, or additions.
How is the
GMAT scored?
The GMAT yields four scores: verbal, quantitative,
total, and analytical writing. Each of these scores
is reported on a fixed scale. Total scores range
born 200 to 800, with about two-thirds falling
between 400 and 600. Verbal and quantitative scores
range from 0 to 60, although scores below 10 and
above 50 are rare. The verbal and quantitative
scores measure different things are and are not
comparable to each other. Analytical writing scores,
which range from 0 to 6, are computed separately
from the scores for the multiple-choice sections
of the test and have no effect on the verbal,
quantitative, or total scores.
Author: Karla Lacey, Graduate
Management Admission Council
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