Graduate Management Admission Test

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Graduate Management Admission Test
GMAT Logo Vector.svg
Acronym GMAT
Type Computer-based standardized test
Developer / administrator Graduate Management Admission Council
Knowledge / skills tested Quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning, integr
ated reasoning, analytical writing.
Purpose Admissions in graduate management programs of business schools.
Year started 1953
Duration 3.5 hours[1]
Score / grade range Quantitative section: 0 to 60, in 1 point increments (on
ly 6 to 51 reported),
Verbal section: 0 to 51, in 1 point increments (only 6 to 51 reported),
Integrated reasoning section: 1 to 8, in 1 point increments,
Analytical writing assessment: 0.0 to 6.0, in 0.5 point increments.
Total score: 200 to 800.
Score / grade validity 5 Years
Offered Multiple times a year.
Countries / regions 600 test centers in 114 countries.[2]
Languages English
Annual number of test takers About 250,000 in a year[2]
Prerequisites / eligibility criteria No official prerequisite. Intended for b
achelors degree holders and undergraduate students who are about to graduate. Fl
uency in English assumed.
Fee US$ 250
Scores / grades used by More than 2,100 universities/business schools in US and
other countries.
Website www.mba.com
The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT (/'d?i?mt/ (jee-mat))) is a computer
adaptive test (CAT) intended to assess certain analytical, writing, quantitativ
e, verbal, and reading skills in written English for use in admission to a gradu
ate management program, such as an MBA.[3] It requires knowledge of certain gram
mar and knowledge of certain algebra, geometry, and arithmetic. The GMAT does no
t measure business knowledge or skill, nor does it measure intelligence.[4] Acco
rding to the test owning company, the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMA
C), the GMAT assesses analytical writing and problem-solving abilities, while al
so addressing data sufficiency, logic, and critical reasoning skills that it bel
ieves to be vital to real-world business and management success.[5] It can be ta
ken up to five times a year. Each attempt must be at least 16 days apart.[6]
GMAT is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admission Council. Mor
e than 5,900 programs offered by more than 2,100 universities and institutions u
se the GMAT exam as part of the selection criteria for their programs. Business
schools use the test as a criterion for admission into a wide range of graduate
management programs, including MBA, Master of Accountancy, and Master of Finance
programs. The GMAT exam is administered in standardized test centers in 112 cou
ntries around the world.[5] According to a survey conducted by Kaplan Test Prep,
the GMAT is still the number one choice for MBA aspirants despite the increasin
g acceptability of GRE scores.[7] According to GMAC, it has continually performe
d validity studies to statistically verify that the exam predicts success in bus
iness school programs.[8]
Contents [hide]
1 History
2 Predictive validity
3 Format and timing
3.1 Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA)
3.2 Integrated reasoning
3.3 Quantitative section
3.4 Verbal section
3.5 Scoring
4 Preparation
4.1 Self Study
4.2 GMAT Classes
4.3 GMAT Tutoring
4.4 Scheduling and Taking an Official Exam
5 See also
6 References
7 External links
History[edit]
In 1953, the organization now called the Graduate Management Admission Council (
GMAC) began as an association of nine business schools, whose goal was to develo
p a standardized test to help business schools select qualified applicants. In t
he first year it was offered, the assessment (now known as the Graduate Manageme
nt Admission Test), was taken just over 2,000 times; in recent years, it has bee
n taken more than 230,000 times annually.[9] Initially used in admissions by 54
schools, the test is now used by more than 2,100 schools and 5,900 programs worl
dwide.[9] On June 5, 2012, GMAC introduced an integrated reasoning section to th
e exam that aims to measure a test taker s ability to evaluate information present
ed in multiple formats from multiple sources.[10]
Predictive validity[edit]
The intended purpose of the GMAT is to predict student success in graduate busin
ess programs. According to GMAC, there is a .459 correlation (21% variance) betw
een total GMAT scores and mid-program student grades based on data it collected
between 1997 and 2004.[11] Independent research has shown significantly differen
t results. Independent research has shown that the GMAT can explain only 4.4% of
the variance in final MBA GPA while undergraduate GPA can explain 17.4% of the
variance in final MBA GPA.[12] Additionally, more recent independent research ha
s shown that the GMAT does not add predictive validity after undergraduate GPA a
nd work experience have been considered and that even undergraduate GPA alone ca
n be used in lieu of the GMAT.[13]
Format and timing[edit]
The GMAT exam consists of four sections: an analytical writing assessment, an in
tegrated reasoning section, a quantitative section, and a verbal section.[14] To
tal testing time is three and a half hours, but test takers should plan for a to
tal time of approximately four hours, with breaks. Test takers have 30 minutes f
or the analytical writing assessment and another 30 minutes to work through 12 q
uestions, which often have multiple parts, on the integrated reasoning section a
nd are given 75 minutes to work through 37 questions in the quantitative section
and another 75 minutes to get through 41 questions in the verbal section.
Section Duration in minutes Number of questions
Analytical writing assessment 30 1 essay
Integrated reasoning 30 12
Quantitative 75 37
Verbal 75 41
The quantitative and verbal sections of the GMAT exam are both multiple-choice a
nd are administered in the computer-adaptive format, adjusting to a test taker s l
evel of ability. At the start of the quantitative and verbal sections, test take
rs are presented with a question of average difficulty. As questions are answere
d correctly, the computer presents the test taker with increasingly difficult qu
estions and as questions are answered incorrectly the computer presents the test
taker with questions of decreasing difficulty. This process continues until tes
t takers complete each section, at which point the computer will have an accurat
e assessment of their ability level in that subject area and come up with a raw
score for each section.
Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA)[edit]
The AWA consists of one 30-minute writing task analysis of an argument. It is impo
rtant to be able to analyze the reasoning behind a given argument and write a cr
itique of that argument. The essay will be given two independent ratings and the
se ratings are averaged together to determine the test taker's AWA score. One ra
ting is given by a computerized reading evaluation and another is given by a per
son at GMAC who will read and score the essay themselves without knowledge of wh
at the computerized score was. The automated essay-scoring engine is an electron
ic system that evaluates more than 50 structural and linguistic features, includ
ing organization of ideas, syntactic variety, and topical analysis. If the two r
atings differ by more than one point, another evaluation by an expert reader is
required to resolve the discrepancy and determine the final score.[15]
The analytical writing assessment is graded on a scale of 1 (minimum) to 6 (maxi
mum) in half-point intervals (a score of zero means the answer was gibberish or
obviously not written on the assigned topic or the test taker failed to write an
ything at all on the AWA).
Essay score Description
1 An essay that is deficient.
2 An essay that is flawed.
3 An essay that is limited.
4 An essay that is adequate.
5 An essay that is strong.
6 An essay that is outstanding.
Integrated reasoning[edit]
Integrated Reasoning (IR) is a section introduced in June 2012 and is designed t
o measure a test taker s ability to evaluate data presented in multiple formats fr
om multiple sources. The skills being tested by the integrated reasoning section
were identified in a survey of 740 management faculty worldwide as important fo
r today s incoming students.[16] The integrated reasoning section consists of 12 q
uestions (which often consist of multiple parts themselves) in four different fo
rmats: graphics interpretation, two-part analysis, table analysis, and multi-sou
rce reasoning. Integrated reasoning scores range from 1 to 8. Like the Analytica
l Writing Assessment (AWA), this section is scored separately from the quantitat
ive and verbal section. Performance on the IR and AWA sections do not contribute
to the total GMAT score.
The integrated reasoning section includes four question types: table analysis, g
raphics interpretation, multi-source reasoning, and two-part analysis.[16] In th
e table analysis section, test takers are presented with a sortable table of inf
ormation, similar to a spreadsheet, which has to be analyzed. Each question will
have several statements with opposite-answer options (e.g., true/false, yes/no)
, and test takers click on the correct option. Graphics interpretation questions
ask test takers to interpret a graph or graphical image. Each question has fill
-in-the-blank statements with pull-down menus; test takers must choose the optio
ns that make the statements accurate. Multi-source reasoning questions are accom
panied by two to three sources of information presented on tabbed pages. Test ta
kers click on the tabs and examine all the relevant information, which may be a
combination of text, charts, and tables to answer either traditional multiple-ch
oice or opposite-answer (e.g., yes/no, true/false) questions. Two-part analysis
questions involve two components for a solution. Possible answers are given in a
table format with a column for each component and rows with possible options. T
est takers have to choose one response per column.
Quantitative section[edit]
The quantitative section of the GMAT seeks to measure the ability to reason quan
titatively, solve quantitative problems, interpret graphic data, and analyze and
use information given in a problem. Questions require knowledge of certain alge
bra, geometry, and arithmetic. There are two types of quantitative questions: pr
oblem solving and data sufficiency. The use of calculators is not allowed on the
quantitative section of the GMAT. Test takers must do their math work out by ha
nd using a wet erase pen and laminated graph paper which are given to them at th
e testing center. Scores range from 0 to 60, although GMAC only reports scores b
etween 6 and 51.[17]
Problem solving questions are designed to test the ability to reason quantitativ
ely and to solve quantitative problems. Data sufficiency is a question type uniq
ue to the GMAT designed to measure the ability to understand and analyze a quant
itative problem, recognize what information is relevant or irrelevant and determ
ine at what point there is enough information to solve a problem or recognize th
e fact that there is insufficient information given to solve a particular proble
m.[18]
Verbal section[edit]
The verbal section of the GMAT exam includes the following question types: readi
ng comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence correction. Each question typ
e gives five answer options from which to select. Verbal scores range from 0 to
60; however, scores below 9 or above 44 are rare.[18]
According to GMAC, the reading comprehension question type tests ability to anal
yze information and draw a conclusion. Reading comprehension passages can be any
where from one to several paragraphs long.[19] According to GMAC, the critical r
easoning question type assesses reasoning skills.[18][20] According to GMAC, the
sentence correction question type tests grammar and effective communication ski
lls. From the available answer options, the test taker should select the most ef
fective construction that best expresses the intent of the sentence.[21][22]
Scoring[edit]
The total GMAT score ranges from 200 to 800 and measures performance on the quan
titative and verbal sections together (performance on the AWA and IR sections do
not count toward the total score, those sections are scored separately). Scores
are given in increments of 10 (e.g. 540, 550, 560, 570, etc.). From the most re
cent data released by GMAC, the average GMAT score of all test takers is about 5
40.
The score distribution conforms to a bell curve with a standard deviation of app
roximately 100 points, meaning that 68% of examinees score between 440 and 640.[
18] More precisely, the mean score is 545.6 with a standard deviation of 121.07
points.[23]
The final score is not based solely on the last question the examinee answers (i
.e. the level of difficulty of questions reached through the computer adaptive p
resentation of questions). The algorithm used to build a score is more complicat
ed than that. The examinee can make a mistake and answer incorrectly and the com
puter will recognize that item as an anomaly. If the examinee misses the first q
uestion his score will not necessarily fall in the bottom half of the range.[24]
After previewing his/her unofficial GMAT score, a GMAT test taker has two minute
s to decide whether to keep or cancel the GMAT score. A cancelled score can be r
etrieved within 60 days for a fee of $100. After 60 days a cancelled score is no
t retrievable.[25]
Preparation[edit]
Self Study[edit]
Test preparation resources include GMAT preparation books, sample tests, and fre
e web resources.[26][27]
GMAT Classes[edit]
Many test preparation companies offer GMAT courses.[28] Class size is generally
between 8-15 students. Some companies claim noteworthy GMAT results for their GM
AT classes, including average or guaranteed score increases over 90 points.[29][
30]
GMAT Tutoring[edit]
Most companies offering classes also offer private tutoring. Some companies or i
ndividuals specialize in private GMAT tutoring and help students who have lofty
score goals and/or want to learn at an accelerated pace. One GMAT tutoring compa
ny guarantees students specific GMAT scores for both in-person and online tutori
ng.[31] One independent GMAT tutor scored an 800 in 2001.[32]
Scheduling and Taking an Official Exam[edit]
Test takers may register for the GMAT either online at mba.com or by calling one
of the test centers.[33] To schedule an exam, an appointment must be made at on
e of the designated test centers. The GMAT may not be taken more than once withi
n 31 days, even if the scores are canceled. Official GMAT exam study materials a
re available on the mba.com online store and through third-party vendors. The co
st of the exam is $250. All applicants are required to present valid ID when tak
ing the test.[34] Upon completion of the test, test takers have the option of ca
nceling or reporting their scores. As of July 2014, test takers were allowed to
view their score before making this decision.[35]