The GMAT® Exam
Graduate management education programs evaluate applicants from many educational backgrounds. The GMAT® helps your program choose the students who are most likely to succeed academically in your program.
For leading business schools worldwide, the GMAT is recognized as the most effective test available for matching student competencies with program demands – regardless of program type or the race, gender, or national origin of students.The Graduate Management Admission Test® (GMAT) is a critical part of the selective admissions process for over 4,500 graduate management programs at 1,900 schools around the world. For more than 50 years, schools have trusted the GMAT exam, a proven and reliable measurement, to assess candidates' skills and predict their success in graduate business curriculum.
Studies continue to show that only one factor predicts success in graduate business school better than the GMAT exam: combining the GMAT exam with undergraduate GPA.
GMAT® Basics
The Graduate Management Admission Test®
The GMAT® exam is the assessment for graduate business school candidates—it was designed by business schools to measure the skills shown to help graduate business students succeed in the challenging curriculum. A computer-adaptive exam that assesses Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing skills developed over time, the GMAT exam is a valid and reliable predictor of success in graduate business school. (Cost: US$250)GMAT Test Takers
Individuals applying for admission to graduate management programs should take the GMAT exam. Because the market for graduate business education is so diverse, people from myriad regions and backgrounds, with varied work and educational experience, sit for the GMAT exam.How the GMAT Exam Can Help You
Applicants come from different countries, cultures, academic backgrounds, and levels of work experience. Using the GMAT exam gives admissions professionals a consistent, objective measure of skills above all these application variables. The GMAT exam is given under standard conditions around the world, with the highest level of security, to ensure that scores are comparable across applicants.GMAT Appointments & Testing Centers
Generally, GMAT appointments are available six days a week, but testing centers set their own hours to meet local and regional needs. Secure, standardized testing centers deliver the test in 94 countries around the world. To find out more, please visit mba.com tohttps://www.mba.com/NR/exeres/B2D66353-453B-4486-A745-C2451DB8D861,frameless.htm?action=appointmentSearch&SSLSwitch=1
design.
GMAT Exam Format and Length
The GMAT exam is delivered via computer in individualized workstations. Being computer-adaptive (rather than computer-based) allows the GMAT exam to determine a test taker's true ability by selecting questions based on previous answers and the test
Testing Vendors
GMAC® owns the GMAT exam and works closely with two strategic partners to manage the test: ACT, Inc., develops and reviews the questions and prompts used for the GMAT exam, and Pearson VUE delivers the exam at testing centers around the world.What the GMAT® Measures
The Graduate Management Admission Test® (GMAT®) examination is a standardized test designed to measure verbal, mathematical, and analytical writing skills that have been developed over a long period of time through education and work. The GMAT exam measures these skills in three sections:- Analytical Writing Assessment Section
- Quantitative Section
- Verbal Section
- Knowledge of business
- Job skills
- Specific content in undergraduate or first university course work
- Subjective qualities such as motivation, creativity, and interpersonal skills
- Abilities in any other specific subject area
Analytical Writing Assessment Section
The Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) is designed as a direct measure of the test taker's ability to think critically and communicate ideas. The AWA consists of two writing tasks: Analysis of an Issue and Analysis of an Argument.The issues and arguments in the test questions concern topics of general interest related to business or other subjects. Specific knowledge of the essay topic is not necessary—only the test taker’s capacity to write analytically is assessed.
Analysis of an Issue
Test takers must analyze the issue presented and explain their point of view on the subject. There is no correct answer. This task tests their ability to explore the complexities of an issue or opinion and take a position informed by their understanding.
Analysis of an Argument
Test takers must analyze the reasoning behind a given argument and write a critique of that argument. They are not being asked to present their own views on the subject—this task tests only their ability to formulate an appropriate and constructive critique of a specific conclusion based on a specific line of thinking.
Quantitative Section
This part of the GMAT exam measures mathematical skills, understanding of elementary concepts, and the ability to reason quantitatively, solve quantitative problems, and interpret graphic data. Two types of multiple-choice questions are intermingled- Arithmetic
- Elementary algebra
- Commonly known concepts of geometry
- Mathematical skills
- Understanding of elementary mathematical concepts
- The ability to reason quantitatively and solve quantitative problems
- Analyze a quantitative problem
- Recognize which information is relevant
- Determine at what point there is sufficient information to solve a problem
Verbal Section
This part of the GMAT exam measures the test taker's ability to—- Read and comprehend written material
- Reason and evaluate arguments
- Correct written material to conform to standard written English
Reading Comprehension passages are up to 350 words long. Topics from the social sciences, physical or biological sciences, and business-related areas (marketing, economics, human resource management, etc.) are discussed.
All questions can be answered on the basis of what is stated or implied in the reading material, so no specific knowledge of the material is required. Interpretive, applied, and inferential questions measure the test taker’s ability to understand, analyze, and apply information and concepts presented in written form.
This section evaluates the test taker's ability to—
- Understand words and statements in reading passages. Questions of this type test understanding of terms used in the passage and of the English language.
- Understand the logical relationships between significant points and concepts in the reading passages. Test takers must determine the strong and weak points of an argument or evaluate the importance of arguments and ideas in a passage.
- Draw inferences from facts and statements in the reading passages. Test takers consider factual statements or information and, on the basis of that information, reach a general conclusion.
- Understand and follow the development of quantitative concepts as they are presented in verbal material. Questions of this type involve the interpretation of numerical data or the use of simple arithmetic to reach conclusions about material in a passage.
Critical-Reasoning Questions
These questions are designed to test the reasoning skills involved in making arguments, evaluating arguments, and formulating or analyzing a plan of action. Questions are based on materials from a variety of sources, so no familiarity with the specific subject matter is needed.
This section measures the test taker's ability to reason effectively in the following areas:
- Argument construction. Questions of this type may ask the test taker to recognize the basic structure of an argument, properly drawn conclusions, underlying assumptions, well-supported explanatory hypotheses, or parallels between structurally similar arguments.
- Argument evaluation. Questions of this type may ask the test taker to analyze a given argument, recognize factors that would strengthen or weaken an argument, reasoning errors committed in making an argument, or aspects of the methods by which an argument proceeds.
- Formulating and evaluating a plan of action. Questions of this type may ask the test taker to recognize the relative appropriateness, effectiveness, or efficiency of different plans of action; factors that would strengthen or weaken a proposed plan of action; or assumptions underlying a proposed plan of action.
Test takers must choose which of the five choices best expresses an idea or relationship. The questions will require test takers to be familiar with the stylistic conventions and grammatical rules of standard written English and demonstrate their ability to improve incorrect or ineffective expressions.
This section tests two broad aspects of language proficiency:
- Correct expression. A correct sentence is grammatically and structurally sound. It conforms to all the rules of standard written English; e.g., noun-verb agreement, pronoun consistency, pronoun case, and verb tense sequence. A correct sentence will not have dangling, misplaced, or improperly formed modifiers; unidiomatic or inconsistent expressions; or faults in parallel construction.
- Effective expression. An effective sentence expresses an idea or relationship clearly and concisely, as well as grammatically. The best answer choice should contain no superfluous words or needlessly complicated expressions. An effective sentence also uses proper diction—the standard dictionary meanings of words and the appropriateness of words in context. In evaluating the diction of a sentence, test takers must be able to recognize whether the words are well chosen, accurate, and suitable for the context.
Why You Can Rely on GMAT® Scores
We deliver the GMAT® exam under standardized conditions around the world with the highest level of security, maintaining a level playing field so that admissions professionals can reliably compare applicants from a wide variety of academic, work, and personal backgrounds. For more than 50 years, the GMAT exam has been repeatedly studied, tested, and modified to ensure that it continues to meet the assessment needs of graduate management programs.Test scores are not precise measures—even the best possible test can provide only an estimate of an individual's abilities. Because they are estimates, test scores (like other measures) are subject to a certain amount of chance variation that is inherent in the measurement process.
Reliability
Reliability indicates the probability that a test taker would keep the same score if he or she were to take the test more than once. On a scale where perfect reliability is 1.00, the average reliability for GMAT scores is:- Total score: 0.92
- Verbal score: 0.90
- Quantitative score: 0.89
However, repeat test takers are unlikely to get the exact same scores each time. The chance variation between their scores can be estimated statistically, though, and given a value known as the standard error of measurement.
The current standard error of measurement for the GMAT Total score is 29, which means the reported GMAT Total score is within 29 points above or below a score reflecting true performance—a repeat test taker with Total scores within 29 points of each other knows he or she has performed consistently.
The standard error of measurement for the Verbal section is 2.8, and for the Quantitative section it is 3.0.
Validity
Validity is the degree to which GMAT scores predict first-year grades in graduate management programs. Since 1978, GMAC has conducted many validity studies in which GMAT scores, undergraduate grade point averages, and average grades for the first year of graduate school were analyzed.The most recent studies indicate that the average correlation between GMAT Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) scores and mid-program graduate management school grades was 0.48 (where 1.0 indicates perfect accuracy of prediction). The correlation between undergraduate grade point average (GPA) and first-year graduate management school grades was 0.28. When GMAT scores were combined with undergraduate GPA, the median correlation was 0.53.
These results indicate that GMAT scores are generally better than undergraduate GPAs for predicting average grades in the first-year of graduate management school. However, the best predictor is combined
GMAT scores and undergraduate GPA.
The GMAC Validity Study Service can help you pinpoint the relationship between GMAT scores and performance in your school’s program. This free service analyzes your admissions criteria and lets you know exactly how valid the GMAT exam is for your program.
Fairness
We take the fairness of GMAT questions very seriously. Three procedures are used in the test development process to ensure that questions are not biased against any sub-population group of GMAT test takers.- Writers of GMAT questions are well trained to guard against potentially biased test questions by avoiding topics that tend to cause bias. For example, certain topics may involve vocabulary that is more familiar to test takers from one gender, or geographic or ethnic group, thus making test questions relating to the topics potentially easier for these test takers. Writers of GMAT questions are trained to avoid topics and test questions that may favor or disadvantage particular subgroups of test takers.
- Before new questions are included in the GMAT exam, they are reviewed by independent panels of fairness experts. If fairness reviewers identify potential issues of sensitivity or bias in a question, it is revised or discarded.
- Every new question is first asked on a non-scoring basis on the GMAT exam, and test-taker response data are analyzed. Only after passing statistical criteria are GMAT questions used in calculating GMAT scores. One of the statistical analyses performed on all new GMAT questions is called Differential Item Functioning (DIF), which identifies questions that may favor test-takers from one subgroup over another. Questions flagged by DIF methods are further reviewed by test development experts and then revised, discarded, or approved. Revised items are reanalyzed. Only approved questions are subsequently scored on the GMAT exam.
Security and Integrity of the GMAT® Exam
We administer the GMAT® exam under strict supervision and security measures. Our priority is to ensure that the person whose scores you receive is the same person who arrives for orientation.Security at Test Facilities
GMAT test security requires each test taker to provide a digital signature and photograph when he/she first checks in to take the exam. A fingerprint and/or palm vein pattern match is required every time he or she enters the testing room. That unique fingerprint or palm vein pattern, along with a digital photograph and signature, becomes a permanent part of a test taker’s record.GMAT test premises are subject to audio/video recording and other real-time monitoring, and strict rules about materials entering and leaving the test facility are enforced.
For complete details about these policies, please see the GMAT Information Bulletin.
Data Security in Record Keeping
The Council's data security procedures protect the integrity of test information at all times. GMAC® uses security safeguards within an enterprise security program (ESP), which is administered by GMAC officials and incorporates administrative, technical, and physical safeguards over data and GMAC systems. The ESP is incorporated into audit and review processes and employee awareness training. Payments, registration, and all data transfers to third parties on gmac.com are protected by SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption. (Score report downloads are also SSL-protected.)Data Access, Integrity, and Retention
Schools are permitted to receive individual GMAT scores and personal data only when designated by the test taker. Test takers can access their mba.com profile and score reports at any time to modify personal information, and they are responsible for the accuracy of that information and for keeping their User ID and password secure.Otherwise, the only people with access to GMAT data are our key service providers (Pearson VUE and ACT, Inc.) and schools subscribing to the Graduate Management Admission Search Service® (GMASS®).
GMAT scores are maintained for 10 years, along with testing records and necessary personal data.
GMAT® Scores
GMAT® test takers receive four scores—- Verbal
- Quantitative
- Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA)
- Total
Test takers may print an Unofficial Score Report after they finish the exam, but this does not include the AWA score and should not be accepted in lieu of an Official Score Report.
Verbal, and Quantitative Scores
The Verbal and Quantitative scores range from 0 to 60. Scores below 9 and above 44 for the Verbal section or below 7 and above 50 for the Quantitative section are rare.The Verbal and Quantitative scores measure different constructs and are not comparable to each other.
Total GMAT Score
Total GMAT scores range from 200 to 800. Two-thirds of test takers score between 400 and 600.Analytical Writing Assessment Score
The AWA score is an average of the two independent ratings for each section: Analysis of an Issue and Analysis of an Argument. These average scores can range from 0 to 6 in half point intervals.Writing scores are computed separately from the scores for the multiple-choice sections of the test and have no effect on the Verbal, Quantitative, or Total scores.
The Score Report
GMAT score reports include all test results achieved in the last five years, the most recent AWA essay responses, and the following background information:- Country of citizenship
- Gender
- Date of birth
- Telephone number
- Undergraduate institution, grade point average (GPA), major, and date of graduation
- Intended graduate study
- Highest level of education attained
GMAT Score Availability
Test takers may print their Unofficial scores from the Verbal and Quantitative multiple-choice sections, along with the Total score, immediately after completing the test.Official GMAT score reports that include the AWA scores are available to the test taker and his or her designated score-report recipients (schools) approximately three weeks after the test.
"Old" GMAT Scores
Official GMAT score results are kept for 10 years. Candidates may request score reports up to 10 years old if they do not have more recent, valid scores. Most schools accept scores no older than five years.How to Use GMAT® Scores
Why Use GMAT® Scores?
There are two main reasons:- The GMAT® exam is a reliable and valid measure of verbal and quantitative skills found to be important in the graduate business study. In repeated research studies, GMAT scores have been found to be an accurate predictor of academic success in the first year of an MBA or other graduate management program.
- Unlike grade point averages (GPA)—which vary in meaning according to the grading standards of each school—GMAT scores are based on the same standard for all test takers; applicants' GMAT scores can be directly compared to each other.
Appropriate Uses of GMAT Scores
GMAT scores should be used for the following purposes:- Selection of applicants for graduate study in management
- Selection of applicants for financial aid on the basis of academic potential
- Counseling and guidance
Inappropriate Uses of GMAT Scores
GMAT® scores should not be used for the following purposes:- As a requisite for awarding a degree
- As an achievement test
Guidelines for Using GMAT Scores
Use Multiple CriteriaThe GMAT exam is only one factor in the admissions decision, and it does not measure every discipline-related skill necessary for academic work, nor does it measure subjective factors important to academic and career success, such as motivation, creativity, and interpersonal skills.
Find out How GMAT Scores Work for Your Program
Our free Validity Study Service (VSS) is designed to help schools demonstrate empirically the relationship between test scores and performance in a specific academic program.
Avoid the Use of Cutoff Scores
Cutoff scores should only be used when clear empirical evidence shows that a large proportion of students with score in that range were less successful in the curriculum. Schools must also demonstrate that use of cutoff scores does not result in discrimination based on sex, age, ethnicity, or any other characteristic not proven to indicate their competence or predict their success.
Do Not Compare GMAT Scores with Scores on Other Tests
The GMAT exam has not been equated with other tests. GMAT score scales may seem similar to those of other standardized tests, but comparisons with scores from other tests [such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE®)] are not appropriate. Likewise, GMAT scores cannot be estimated from scores on other tests. In addition to the differences between the tests, the populations taking the tests have different characteristics.
Use GMAT Scoring Guides to Interpret AWA Scores
The article Understanding and Using the Analytical Writing Assessment Scores provides more guidance for using AWA scores.
Score Comparison
Scores by themselves have no significance; they take on meaning only when compared against a standard or norm. Using the "percentage below" numbers, you can relate the performance of one test taker to those of all test takers in the last three years. It may be more useful, however, to know how a test taker compares with others applying to your school.Direct Score Comparison
We recommend caution in directly comparing the scores of two applicants. The standard error of difference for the Total GMAT score is about 41, so chances are about two out of three that the difference between the Total GMAT scores received by two test takers is within 41 points above or below the difference between the test takers' true scores. The standard error of difference for the Verbal score is 3.9, and for the Quantitative score, it is 4.3.
Educationally Disadvantaged Test Takers
We advise that you use special care in interpreting test scores when the test taker is believed to be educationally disadvantaged as a result of social and environmental circumstances. Scores may, under those circumstances, reflect the extent of educational damage resulting from unequal opportunity, rather than potential to succeed academically in the first year of a graduate management program. However, GMAT scores should still be considered as part of the applicant's overall application.
Test Takers with Limited English Proficiency
In assessing the ability of a test taker whose native language is not English, it is important to carefully consider how much the scores may have been affected by a limited proficiency with English. GMAT scores, especially the Verbal and AWA scores, may reflect the test taker's deficiency in English rather than his or her reasoning ability.
Tools & Support for Test Takers
GMAT® Cost and Additional Fees
The cost of the GMAT exam is US$250. For information about additional fees and services for prospective students, please read the article in this section.GMAT Test-Prep Materials
We believe that every GMAT test taker deserves the best test-preparation materials available, so we developed a variety of products to help them get ready for the GMAT exam. These products use real, retired GMAT test questions and give prospective students the best chance of success on the GMAT exam.Testing Centers
The GMAT exam is generally offered six days a week at more than 400 testing centers around the world, although individual testing centers operate their own schedules based on local needs and expectations. In 2006, we also began operating a GMAT Mobile Testing Center.Testing Accommodations
We offer testing accommodations in accordance with the U.S. Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable laws in other countries. Review the Supplement for Test Takers with Disabilities for further information.GMAT Information Bulletin
This guidebook helps steer prospective students as they navigate their path to graduate business school.Price & Fees for the GMAT® Exam
All prices and fees in US$ unless otherwise noted and are subject to change without notice.
GMAT® Registration
The cost to take GMAT exam is US$250 worldwide (this cost is subject to taxes when you schedule an exam in certain countries).Rescheduling Fees
Appointments rescheduled at least seven full calendar days before the original appointment: US$50.Appointments rescheduled within seven calendar days of the original appointment: US$250 (original testing fee is forfeited; this cost is subject to taxes when you schedule an exam in certain countries).
For details on how to reschedule a test date or transfer from one test center to another, please see Reschedule a GMAT Appointment on mba.com.
Refunds
Appointments canceled at least seven full calendar days before your appointment: US$80.Refunds are not available for appointments canceled within seven full calendar days of the appointment date and time. For details, please see Cancel a GMAT Appointment on mba.com.
Additional Services
Additional Score Report (ASR) Fee: US$28 per report (this cost is subject to taxes when you request ASRs in certain countries).For more information, please see Selecting Your Score-Report Recipients on mba.com.
How to Pay
- Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or JCB)
- Debit card (Visa or MasterCard only)
- Cashier’s check (by mail)
- Money order (by mail)
- Personal check (by mail)
Taxes must be included where applicable and the appointment date must be at least 10 calendar days after the check is received to allow time for the check to clear. Please keep in mind that it can take up to eight weeks for mail to reach the
The Next Generation GMAT®
Background—The Current GMAT® Exam
The GMAT® exam is the only admissions test designed by business schools for business schools. It was created in 1953 by nine business schools that decided they needed their own special test to evaluate and admit the best students for their programmes. Five decades of research and continuous improvement have proven the GMAT exam to be the most reliable indicator of academic success in graduate management education. Today, it is used by almost 5,000 programs in 1,900 schools, including all schools in the EIU ranking.In 2009, more than 250,000 prospective business students took the GMAT exam in more than 90 countries. The reach and stature of this computer-adaptive exam reflect its ability to help quality schools find the students around the world who are the best match for their programmes and for the demands of the marketplace. The process of continually reviewing and revising the exam is a rigorous one. An international panel thoroughly studies each potential new question before it is pilot-tested with candidates who represent the diversity of the GMAT test-taking pool. Questions are carefully screened to ensure they are culturally bias-free.
A Time to Explore and Innovate—The Next Generation
Advancements in technology and measurement are making a significant impact on assessments. At the same time, more specialized master’s programmes and more variations on the traditional MBA are available worldwide. As the business marketplace has changed, so too has graduate management education. All of these factors have inspired GMAC to take an innovative approach to the GMAT exam.The Next Generation GMAT, slated for completion in 2012, will build on the solid foundation of the current exam, while utilizing advances in testing technology and science to provide better, even more precise measures of skills. It will also offer measures of new skills applicable to both traditional MBA and new business programmes. The development process is rigorous, detailed, and collaborative so that the Next Generation GMAT can provide the right information to help schools admit the best students for their programmes.
The Three-Phase Process
The process of developing the Next Generation GMAT involves three phases over the next five years: skills research, pilot-testing, and operational readiness. Throughout each phase, GMAC will solicit feedback from key school professionals, including faculty, admissions officers, and programme directors.Phase One: Skills Research
GMAC is currently identifying and reviewing potential new skills that the GMAT could measure. Faculty members from leading business schools around the world are being recruited to review and rate the importance of various skills and make recommendations for change based on new expectations of students for a new era.Phase Two: Pilot-Testing
During this phase, GMAC will utilize the first phase research to design and pilot-test enhancements to meet the needs of business schools. The goal will be to determine the most effective approaches to measuring the skills that are valued in a graduate management programme classroom and creating the optimal test-taker experience.Phase Three: Operational Readiness
Before launching the new test, GMAC will ensure that it is easily accessible to all test takers and that test centres are upgraded as needed. New test-preparation materials will be developed and made available to candidates before the first new tests are delivered.The Final Result
What will the Next Generation GMAT look like? Will it be more difficult? Will there be more or fewer questions, perhaps in a different format? Right now, numerous options are being identified, reviewed, and measured—an important and time-consuming activity that is critical before a new test begins to evolve. Developing the best assessment possible hasn’t happened overnight—and GMAC is committed to conducting the thorough review and continual testing at each step along the way to deliver a successful Next Generation GMAT, meeting the needs of business schools and students well into the future.The GMAT® Advantage
GMAT...Delivering the Results You Need
When it comes to admission testing there’s only one thing that matters: Results.
With more than half a century of testing expertise, GMAT is the proven leader in predicting academic success in business schools. With more than 300 validity studies in the last ten years alone and decades of peer-reviewed research, business schools can be confident that GMAT delivers quality candidates for all programs, from MBA to PhD. GMAT is designed specifically for graduate business school students with 100% of test candidates destined for management programs; and with GMAT, schools can identify students they feel best suited to meet their program needs.
If results matter to you then GMAT’s speak for themselves…
- Global Standard
More than 4,800 programs in 1,900 business schools around the world use the GMAT exam, making it the most widely accepted assessment test. - Validity
Over half a century of GMAC research on the predictive validity of GMAT exam scores documenting high validity for numerous sub-groups by gender, age, citizenship, language, and undergraduate major. - Reach
Nearly 400,000 global business education candidates who have specifically asked their details be made available to management schools through the Graduate Management Admission Search Service® (GMASS®). - Accessibility
Available in 111 countries at more than 530 test centers worldwide on almost every day of the year. - Diversity
Since 2005, the number of tests taken by women is up 36%; by African Americans, 27%; by 18- to 23-year- olds, 132%; by Europeans, 42%; by those with non-business undergraduate degrees, 40%. And more than half of all tests taken in the last year were non-U.S. citizens. Test takers represent 193 citizen groups. - Security
Dedicated to highest measures of exam integrity and security, GMAT is delivered in a computer adaptive testing (CAT) format and uses leading edge biometric palm vein technology. - Support
Dedicated to quality customer care, GMAC staff are available to meet schools’ research and testing needs. - Value Add
GMAC’s comprehensive research and market insight is directly aimed at supporting school recruitment efforts.
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