What is GMAT?

The full form of GMAT is Graduate Management Admission Test. It is conducted by Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). It is a computer adaptive test which means the level of difficulty in next question will depends upon the answer you performed in your previous question. It’s a specialized exam for those students who want to pursue MBA or other management courses from foreign universities or B-Schools. If you want to join the top B-school in any foreign university then you must apply for this exam as every B-school will ask you your GMAT score before admitting you in their MBA Programs. The higher your score is the higher your chances become to get admission in the Top B-schools. But never forget that GMAT score doesn’t guarantee you that you will get admission in the top B-school. Candidates with top GMAT score also gets rejected many times and candidates with low GMAT score also get admission in top B-school at times. So, the score of GMAT is not the only criteria to get admission to the B-schools. B-schools have other criterion as well to assess the students like the academic record, letter of recommendation, statement of purpose, scores of IELTS &TOEFL. So, there are other criteria as well but a good score in GMAT exam play a crucial role in your application. Your chances to get admission in top B-schools automatically gets increased if you haves scored good marks in the GMAT. Many B-schools also accepts the GRE scores but GMAT score is still preferred over GRE in many B-schools. GMAT is conducted 5 times a year and its score also remain valid for the 5 years. So, if you have given the GMAT exam you can use its score to get admission in B-schools for up till five years. The fee is $250 US Dollars. You will be given three hours and a few minutes more to complete the exam.

Pattern of GMAT
GMAT exam has 4 sections:

  • Analytical Writing AWA section: In this section you have to find out the reasoning behind the argument and you have to write a critique of the same with relevant examples and explanations.
  • Integrated Reasoning: The IR section is designed to test your analytical skills. You have to solve the complicated problems. You will be provided data in various forms. You have to use that data, analyse it according you have to select the right answer from the Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQ).
  • Quantitative Reasoning: The quantitative section will basically test your mathematical skills in arithmetic, algebra, and geometry.
  • Verbal Reasoning: The verbal section has three sub-sections, reading comprehensive section, critical reasoning and sentence correction. In all these sections your language will be tested that how well you understand and read the English passages. You will be given Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) to answer a right answer from them. In critical reasoning you have to identify the answers based on the reasoning given in the arguments. And in sentence correction you have rectify the errors given in the underline sentences in the paragraph.

Applicant can choose which section he/she want to attempt first. Applicant can adjust these sections according to his/her convenience.

How to Apply for GMAT
Interested students who want to apply for GMAT can visit the official website of the GMAC. The link is given here for the convenience of the students https://www.gmac.com/. Here on the official website of GMAC students can click on the “Register for an Exam” tab or you can directly visit the https://www.mba.com/exams. All the information is available in the official website of the GMAC. If you are interested in GMAC exam you must visit the official website to keep you updated with the latest updates.

GMAT Exam or GMAT Online which to choose?
GMAC offers two options for the applicant. You can either apply from your home computer via GMAT online exam and you can choose a test centre also to apply through the test centre method.
The online exam was devised after the Pandemic and now students can apply from there home only. The GMAT online is conducted online and the candidate is monitored through human proctor via web cam through ProctorU.
So, the applicants have both the options to choose. He/she can either choose GMAT online and apply from the home only or the candidate can choose the old test centre method also. You can select your nearest centre to apply for this exam.

FEES of GMAT
The GMAT examination fee for Indian Applicants is $250 US Dollars.

Rescheduling the exam
If you want to reschedule the exam 60 days prior to the exam then you have to pay additional $50US Dollars but if 15-60 days before the exam then the rescheduling fee is $100 US Dollars. And 14 days or less before appointment then it is $150 US Dollars.

Cancellation Fees
Accordingly, applicant can also cancel the exam as well. If the candidate wants to cancel the examination, then $100 Dollars will be refunded if you are cancelling 60 days before appointment but if you are cancelling just 15-60 days before appointment then $75 US Dollars will be refunded. Or if it is cancelled just 14 days prior to the appointment then only $50 dollars will be refunded.

GMAT Score Board
GMAT Exam has four sections. The time limit, number of questions, types of questions and the score range is given below.

Test Section Time Limit / Number of Questions Question Types Score Range
Analytical Writing Assessment 0 minutes 1 question Analysis of an Argument 0-6 (in 0.5-point increments)
Integrated Reasoning 30 minutes 12 questions Graphics Interpretation, Table Analysis, Multi-source Reasoning, Two-part Analysis 1-8 (in 1-point increments)
Quantitative Reasoning 62 minutes 31 questions Data Sufficiency, Problem Solving 6-51 (in 1-point increments)
Verbal Reasoning 65 minutes 36 questions Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, Sentence Correction 6-51 (in 1-point increments)

Eligibility for GMAT
The candidate must have attained 18 years of age to apply for the exam however there is no upper age limit to apply for the GMAT exam. A person should have a graduate degree from the recognized university to apply for the GMAT exam.

Preparation for GMAT
Books & Self-Study: There are hundreds of books are available in the market that you can buy to start your preparation for the GMAT exam. You can also buy the GMAT official Guide 2021 e-book. This book is designed by the GMAC only. It is considered the best e-book to start the preparation for GMAT exam.
Coaching Centres: there are a large number of coaching centres also that offer coaching classes for the preparation for GMAT exam. Students who are interested in GMAT exam can attend coaching classed that will also brush up your knowledge for the GMAT exam.