ABOUT GMAT
The Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) is a standardized test that most business school applicants need to take in order to join credited MBA and a few other courses. While the admission- committees do consider many other factors (including your college grades, transcripts, essays, resume, work-experience, and interview), it is important to do well on the GMAT if you aspire to get into a competitive business school.Taking the GMAT opens your gateway to various top-notch B-schools in the USA, Canada, Singapore, and many other countries including India.
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The GMAC is the owner and administrator of the GMAT® exam, the first and only standardized test specifically designed for graduate business and management programs. It oversees the GMAT and administers it around the world. B-schools use your scores to compare you with other applicants. High GMAT scores can truly help you stand out in the application process.
The GMAT is a computer adaptive test. It has 4 sections – Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Integrated Reasoning, and Analytical Writing Analysis (AWA). You may use the Select Section Order facility to choose from any of the following three section orders:
GMAT Exam Structure
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The exam is divided into 4 sections with a total time of 3 hours 30 minutes, including breaks and tutorials. Let us have a closer look at basic structure of the GMAT examination.
Section 1:
Analytical Writing Assessment (1 Topic on Argument Analysis in 30 minutes)
Section 2:
Integrated Reasoning (12 Questions in 30 minutes)
Multi-Source Reasoning
Graphics Interpretation
Table Analysis
Two-Part Analysis
Section 3:
Quantitative Reasoning (31 Questions in 65 minutes)
Problem Solving
Data Sufficiency
Section 4:
Verbal Reasoning (36 Questions in 65 minutes)
Reading Comprehension
Sentence Correction
Critical Reasoning
The total time that the candidate will spend in the examination hall is 4 hours including the breaks. The actual test time is 3½ Hours
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What is the scoring scale for the GMAT?
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AWA section scores range from 0-6 in 0.5-point increments
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IR section scores range from 1-8 in 1-point increments
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Quantitative scores can range from 6-51 in 1-point increments
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Verbal scores can range from 6-51 in 1-point increments
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Total score can range from 200-800 in 10-point increments

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GMAT FAQ's
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How can I prepare to take the GMATâ„¢ exam?
“You should prepare until you are comfortable with the test question formats and timing. It is critical that you understand what types of items to expect and how to pace yourself. Preparation time differs from individual to individual but may take seven weeks or more.
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Can I reschedule a GMAT appointment?
One can reschedule even 1 day before the test date. No appointment changes can be made or modified within 24 hours of the exam appointment time. The reschedule fees is structured in three tiers based on your scheduled appointment day. It varies from $50 to $150. Check mba.com to know the latest fee structure.
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Do business schools have a minimum GMAT score requirement?
Most schools will not set a minimum requirement for GMAT scores, although most will publish the average GMAT score of their students. This information is usually readily available on schools’ websites. So, do your research and find out the average scores for the schools you want to apply to.
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How long are GMAT scores valid for?
Your GMAT scores will be valid for 5 years. Every time you take the test and send your score to a school, the school will be able to see every GMAT score you have attained in the previous 5 years.
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How many times can I take the GMAT?
You can retake the GMAT up to 5 times in a rolling 12-month period and not more than 8 times in a lifetime. However, if you want to take it more than that then you can submit an application to GMAC. You must also understand that you should give a concrete reason; otherwise, your request will be cancelled. Also, if you score an 800 on the exam, you will not be allowed to retake the test for another 5 years!