What is GMAT^® 

The GMAT ^® exam is a test of general skills and abilities that you have acquired over time. Do your best by understanding the format and content of the test.

GMAT^® [The Graduate Management Admission Test] is a standardized assessment—delivered in English—that helps business schools assess the qualifications of applicants for advanced study in business and management. Schools use the test as one predictor of academic performance in an MBA program or in other graduate management programs.

What the GMAT ^® Test Measures

The GMAT^® exam measures basic verbal, mathematical, and analytical writing skills that you have developed in your education and work. It does NOT measure:

• Your knowledge of business, your job skills,
• Specific content in your undergraduate or first university course work,
• Your abilities in any other specific subject area, or
• Subjective qualities – such as motivation, creativity, and interpersonal skills.

GMAT Exam Structure

         The GMAT^™ Exam Has Four Sections:

1. Analytical Writing Assessment—Measures your ability to think critically and to communicate your ideas.

Time: 30 Minutes ( Analyze an argument)

Argument construction:  Questions of this type may ask you to recognize the basic structure of an argument, properly drawn conclusions, underlying assumptions, well-supported explanatory hypotheses, or parallels between structurally similar arguments.

Argument evaluation:  Questions of this type may ask you to analyze a given argument, recognize factors that would strengthen or weaken an argument, reasoning errors committed in making an argument, or aspects of the methods by which an argument proceeds.

1. Integrated Reasoning—measures your ability to analyze data and evaluate information presented in multiple formats. There are four types of questions in the Integrated Reasoning Section.

Time: 30 Minutes ( 12 Questions)

• Multi-Source Reasoning—Measures your ability to examine data from multiple sources text passages, tables, graphics, or some combination of the three—and to analyze each source of data carefully to answer multiple questions. Some questions will require you to recognize discrepancies among different sources of data. Others will ask you to draw inferences, and still others may require you to determine whether data is relevant.
• Table Analysis—Measures your ability sort and analyze a table of data, similar to a spreadsheet, in order to determine what information is relevant or meets certain conditions.
• Graphics Interpretation—Measures your ability to interpret the information presented in a graph or other graphical image (scatter plot, x/y graph, bar chart, pie chart, or statistical curve distribution) to discern relationships, and make inferences.
• Two-Part Analysis—Measures your ability to solve complex problems. They could be quantitative, verbal, or some combination of both. The format is intentionally versatile to cover a wide range of content. Your ability to evaluate trade-offs, solve simultaneous equations, and discern relationships between two entities is measured.

1. Quantitative Reasoning—measures your ability to analyze data and draw conclusions using reasoning skills.

              It consists of 31 multiple-choice questions. You will have 62 minutes to complete it. There are two Types of Questions in the Quantitative Section.

                Time: 62 Minutes (31 Questions)

·         Problem Solving: Measures your ability to use logic and analytical reasoning to solve quantitative problems. You solve the problem and indicate the best of five answer choices.

·         Data Sufficiency: Measures your ability to analyze a quantitative problem, recognize which data is relevant,  and determine at what point there are enough data to solve the problem. You will be given a problem that consists of a question and two statements. Using the data in the statements, plus your knowledge of math and everyday facts, you decide whether you have enough data in the statement to answer the question asked.

4.    Verbal Reasoning—Measures your ability to read and understand written material, to evaluate arguments and to correct written material to conform to standard written English.  It consists of 36 multiple-choice questions. You will have 65 minutes to complete it. There are three Types of Questions in the Verbal Section.

Time: 65 Minutes ( 36 Questions)

·         Reading Comprehension

Measures your ability to understand words and statements, understand logical relationships between significant points, draw inferences, and follow the development of quantitative concepts. Specifically, the following reading skills will be tested: main idea, supporting idea, inference, application, logical structure, and style.

·         Critical Reasoning

Measures your ability to make arguments, evaluate arguments, and formulate or evaluate a plan of action.

·         Sentence Correction

Measures two broad aspects of your language proficiency. First, correct expression, referring to sentences that are grammatically and structurally sound. Second, effective expression, referring to sentences that effectively express an idea or relationship clearly, concisely, and grammatically.

In total the test takes just under 3.5 hours to complete, including two optional breaks. The GMAT Exam has four   separately timed sections. You will have the opportunity to take two optional eight-minute breaks during the exam.

The  GMAT Exam is Computer Adaptive. What Does That Mean?

The Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning sections of the GMAT are computer-adaptive, meaning the difficulty of the test tailors itself in real-time to your ability level. This feature allows the exam to assess your potential with a higher degree of precision and deliver scores that business schools trust.

How does it work?

The first question you receive in either the Verbal or Quantitative sections will be of medium difficulty. As you answer each question, the computer scores your answer and uses it as well as your responses to any preceding question to select the next question. If you answer the first question correctly, the computer will usually give you a harder question. If you answer the first question incorrectly, your next question will be easier.  This process continues until you complete the section, using responses to all previously answered questions, at which point the computer will have and accurate assessment of your ability in that subject.

You will not be able to skip, return to, or change your answers to questions. This is because the computer uses your response to each question to select the next one.

How is the GMAT Exam Scored?

You may be tempted to pay attention only to your Total score, but the other scores are also meaningful. Those scores offer you and the programs receiving your scores insight into your strengths and areas for development.

Analytical Writing Assessment: Each essay is scored at least twice, once by a human reader and once by a computer. The scores are averaged to provide one section score, reported in intervals of 0.5. Total score will be in between 0 – 6.

Scores are reported in intervals of 1. The total score of this section in between 1-8.

Scores are reported in intervals of 1 and the standard error of measurement is 3 points. Total score of this section  will be in between 6-51.

Scores are reported in intervals of 10. The standard error of measurement is 30-40 points. The total final score will be in between 200-800.

Note that there is a penalty for not completing each section of the exam. If you do not finish in the allotted time, your scores will be calculated based upon the number of questions answered. Your score will decrease significantly with each unanswered question. Exam Scored?

What Computer Skills do you need?

You need only minimal computer skills to complete the GMAT^® exam. Familiarize yourself with the mechanics of taking a computer-adaptive test by using the GMAT^® Tutorials that is included with the Free GMAT^® POWERPREP^® Software. The tutorials cover such topics as: using a mouse

• Entering responses
• Moving on to the next question
• Using the word processor
• Accessing the Help function

Before the day of your test, review the testing tools covered in the tutorials. Although you will be able to use a Help function during the test, the time spent doing so will count against the time allotted for completing a test section.