Information about the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)

Overview – all details about the GMAT

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a standardized examination used to assess graduate business school applicants in the United States and several other countries. It is accepted by more than 5,200 graduate business programs at over 2,100 universities, and is taken by about 250,000 students each year. The test is owned by the Graduate Management Admission Council, a "non-profit organization of leading graduate management schools around the world," and is administered by Pearson VUE. As a general introduction to the GMAT, please have a look at the following topics: 

  • GMAT Basics
    This page discusses general information about the GMAT, including the purpose of the test, a brief overview of GMAT scoring, and statistics on GMAT performance at selected business schools. Students will also receive a summary of Graduate Management Admission Council data on averages and percentiles for all test-takers, which is valuable information for all business school applicants.
  • GMAT Format
    Consult this page for information on the structure of the GMAT. Students can find details on the individual GMAT sections, how the GMAT is administered, an overview of the GMAT's computer-adaptive testing, and how the GMAT's organization is relevant to student preparation.
  • 2018 Changes to the GMAT
    This page provides a summary of the 2018 changes to the GMAT, which include the introduction of the integrated reasoning section and the reduction of the analytical writing assessment to a single task. Also discussed are the motives for these content changes, additional policy revisions that apply to the 2018 test, and how the changes impact GMAT preparation and applying to business school.
  • GMAT Administration
    See this page for an overview of GMAT administration. Topics covered include general administration policies, test center rules and regulations, standards for academic honesty, and test security measures. This page also discusses available accommodations for students with disabilities and the procedures for gaining access to those accommodations.
  • GMAT Registration
    Information about GMAT registration can be found on this page. Learn about registration procedures, requirements for acceptable identification, how to find available dates and test centers, applicable registration fees, GMAC privacy policies and protections for student data, and relevant federal and state regulations for the use of student information.
  • Computer Test versus Paper Test
    Read this page for information about the discontinued GMAT paper test and a comparison with the GMAT computer test, which was first administered in 1997 and is now the only available form of the exam. Subjects discussed include availability, distinctions between the tests, using paper tests as material for practice, and how computerized testing is associated with GMAT score inflation and higher GMAT standards at business schools.
  • GMAT Test-Taking Strategies
    Learn how to approach the GMAT strategically by reading this page. Receive helpful tips for strategic practice and preparation with official and unofficial GMAT exercises, developing the most effective time management skills, guessing answers, and general advice for improving performance through stress reduction and physical well-being.
  • GMAT Scores
    This page features a discussion of GMAT scoring. Students can learn about total scores and section scores, and can gain an understanding of how scores are converted on the computer-adaptive sections of the GMAT. Also included is a summary of typical GMAT performance (average scores and score ranges of accepted students) at highly selective business schools in the United States, such as Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton.
  • GMAT History
    Consult this page for an overview of the GMAT's history from its first administration in 1954 to the present. Students will learn about the circumstances surrounding the creation of the GMAT, the content of earlier versions of the test, major revisions from the 1950s through the most recent round of changes in 2012, and the consistency and security of the GMAT.
  • GMAT versus GRE
    Business school applicants can get a comparison of the GMAT and the GRE by reading this page, which will help you decide which test is right for you. Each test has its own distinct advantages and disadvantages with respect to content, degree of acceptance, and accessibility.

 

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