The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is a standardized test used to determine admission to many graduate business programs, including MBA programs.
The GMAT exam is administered by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) and is offered at testing centres worldwide. The exam is computer-based, and it consists of four sections:
Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA): Examination of an argument, and you will have 30 minutes to finish this task. The Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) is one of the four sections of the GMAT exam. It assesses your ability to analyze and communicate complex ideas effectively and clearly in writing.
The argument will be presented as a brief passage, and you will be asked to evaluate its logic and provide evidence to support your analysis. You will not be expected to have any specific knowledge about the topic of the argument, but you must use your critical thinking and writing skills to analyze and evaluate it.
A human reader and a computer-based scoring system will evaluate your essay. The essay is scored on a scale of 0-6 in half-point increments. The human reader will evaluate your essay based on the following criteria:
- Analysis of the argument: Does your essay clearly and accurately analyze the idea? Do you provide evidence to support your research?
- Development and support: Does your essay present a well-developed argument analysis with clear and logical reasoning? Do you provide sufficient evidence to support your research?
- Organization: Is your essay well-organized, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion?
- Writing style: Is your essay written clearly and concisely, with appropriate grammar and syntax?
Integrated Reasoning (IR): Analyze and interpret data from multiple sources. You will have 30 minutes to end this task.
The Integrated Reasoning (IR) section of the GMAT exam assesses your ability to analyze and interpret data from multiple sources, such as tables, graphs, and written passages.
Four types of questions may appear in the IR section:
- Table Analysis: You will be presented with a data table and asked to analyze and interpret the data to answer a question or solve a problem.
- Graphic Interpretation: You will be given a graph or chart.
- Two-Part Analysis: The problem has two parts; you must solve both to answer the question.
- Multi-Source Reasoning: Information from multiple sources, such as tables, graphs, and written passages.
The IR section is on a scale of 1-8 in single-point increments.
Quantitative Reasoning: Solve problems using basic math skills. You will have 62 minutes to complete this task.
This section of the GMAT exam assesses your ability to understand, analyze, and interpret quantitative information. The points you may experience in this section include algebra, geometry, and data analysis.
The Quantitative Reasoning section deals with problem-solving and data sufficiency.
- Problem Solving: In this type of question, you will be given a problem and asked to solve it. All the information to solve the problem may be provided, or you may need to make assumptions or use logical reasoning.
- Data Sufficiency: Here, it is a problem and two data statements. Determine whether the data provided is sufficient to solve the problem or whether you need additional information.
Verbal Reasoning: Read and understand written materials and analyze and evaluate arguments. You will have 65 minutes to complete this task.
The Verbal Reasoning section of the GMAT exam assesses your ability to read and understand written materials and analyze and evaluate arguments.
In this section, you will be given various written materials, including passages from books, magazines, and newspapers, and answer questions about the materials. The questions you may confront in this section include reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence correction. You will have 65 minutes to complete this task.
The Verbal Reasoning section has three questions: Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, and Sentence Correction.
- Reading Comprehension: In this type of question, you will be given a passage and asked questions about the selection. You must understand the passage’s main idea and the details supporting it.
- Critical Reasoning: In this type of question, you will be given a short argument and asked to evaluate its reasoning. Identify the argument’s strengths and weaknesses or suggest alternative courses of action.
- Sentence Correction: A sentence containing an error, and you have to choose the sentence version correctly.
The scoring scale of 0-60 in single-point increments.
The GMAT exam score is on a scale of 200-800, with an average score of around 550. The scores for the individual sections will be reported separately, and the scores for the AWA and IR sections will be excluded from the total score.
There is a fee to take the GMAT exam, and you can register online or by phone. You can also take the exam at a testing centre or through the GMAT Online, a proctored, live online exam.
Allow yourself sufficient time to prepare for the GMAT exam. It is a challenging test that requires a strong foundation in math and verbal skills. Many resources are available to help you prepare, including practice tests, study guides, and online courses.