What is GMAT and How do I Prepare for It?

What is the GMAT Exam?

The GMAT exam is the Graduate Management Admission Test. The test is a standardized test that helps business schools assess your skills. The test measures your basic verbal, mathematical, and analytical writing skills. These are skills that you have developed throughout your education.

The test is composed of three sections. These sections include analytical writing assessment, the quantitative section and the verbal section. The analytical writing assessment includes two separate writing tests over analysis of issue and analysis of argument. You are allowed thirty minutes to complete each section.

The quantitative section contains thirty-seven multiple-choice questions. These questions are divided into two section as well including data sufficiency and problem solving. You are allowed seventy-five minutes for this section of the test.

The verbal section contains forty-one multiple-choice questions over three sections. These sections include reading comprehension, critical reasoning and sentence correction. You are allowed seventy-five minutes for these sections as well.

The GMAT does not measure your knowledge of business or your job skills. The test also does not measure any specific coursework that you may have taken in college or your abilities in specific subject areas. The test does not measure your creative skills or subjective qualities. Schools use the test as a tool for predicting how you will do in MBA programs or other management graduate programs.

Schools use your scores with two characteristics in mind. These characteristics that are measured by the test will show how you have developed skills that are found to be important in graduate study programs. The test is also used to predict if you will have academic success your first year of graduate study. GMAT scores also provide graduate schools consistent and standardized evaluation of students. The meaning of your score to one school may be different to another school. The test does not provide a “pass” or “fail” evaluation of your skills.

The key to studying for the test is to start early. Students should also pace themselves as they study for the test. Students may want to review their basic math skills as well as writing skills. Students should purchase practice tests and practice, practice, practice. There are several review questions that can be downloaded off the Internet. There are also computer programs available that will help you study for the test as well. Student will want to review and study one section at a time, try not to mix and match too much.