Table of Contents
- 1. What is the GMAT test, and Why’s it so Important?
- 1.1 What is the GMAT test for?
- 2. Why Are Schools Requiring it?
- 3. What Skills Does it Test?
- 3.1 Analytical Writing
- 3.2 Integrated Reasoning
- 3.3 Quantitative Reasoning
- 3.4 Verbal Reasoning
- 4. What is an Average GMAT Score?
What is the GMAT test, and Why’s it so Important?
MBA Programs are well known for wanting the GMAT test as an academic indicator of business strengths, and placement. But what else?
What is the GMAT test for?
The GMAT test is a leading staple of academic prediction. GMAT stands for Graduate Management Admission Test and measures students’ skills in verbal, mathematics, and analytics. The test is composed of four sections: Analytical Writing, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, and Verbal. Check the 700+ Club’s guide to these sections, here.
Why Are Schools Requiring it?
Studies have found that the GMAT is a firm, accurate predictor of an applicant’s aptitude in crucial business sectors for countless reasons:
1. Consistency
The GMAT is widely praised for its multi-cultural approach to questions, minimizing the US-centralized test biases. It allows for individuals from across the globe to sit for the exam without cultural handicaps.
2. Adaptability
The GMAT is computer-adaptive, and tailors questions based on students’ ability levels. As technology is ever-transforming, researchers are constantly improving questions and formats to match the changing stage of the modern world.
3. Security
Over 2,000 universities scattered around 115 countries use the GMAT exam. Test centers are plenty and supervised strictly to guarantee all applicants get the same experience. Questions are rarely repeated verbatim, making it impossible to cross-share answers.
What Skills Does it Test?
Analytical Writing (1 essay question- 30 minutes)
This essay portion shows your writing abilities as you’ll be given an argumentative prompt to criticize and pick apart. Critique the author’s reasoning, provide sample analysis, and communicate your thoughts clearly to score highly. It will not factor this score into your final GMAT score, as it is graded independently by an essay grader.
Integrated Reasoning (12 multi-part questions- 30 minutes)
Your strength in this section reflects your data interpretation and evaluation skills. Decode graphics and charts to formulate a conclusive analysis.
Quantitative Reasoning (31 questions- 62 minutes)
Of course, with any technical exam, there must be a mathematics section. In this component, you’ll be answering questions on basic math topics such as geometry, algebra, data sufficiency, and problem-solving.
Verbal Reasoning (36 multiple choice questions- 65 minutes)
This section is adaptive, so questions are curated based on previous answers’ validity. It tests for applicants’ critical thinking, sentence correction, and reading comprehension.
What is an Average GMAT Score?
Each skill test has its own scoring range, but most schools look directly at the overall total, ranging from 200 to 800.
| Percentile | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of all test takers | 710+ |
| Top 25% of all test takers | 650+ |
| Top 50% of all test takers | 580+ |
| Below 50% percentile of all test takers | 570 |
