GMAT exam increases your chances of selection to quality business schools and management programs. After all, GMAT scores are accepted for more than 7,000 programs worldwide. For more than 60 years, the GMAT exam has been the most widely used exam for MBA admissions. With four sections separately timed, you can appear for the GMAT both at a test centre or from the comfort of your home according to your convenience.
So, if you are a GMAT aspirant, this blog will surely serve your purpose. To make the understanding of what is GMAT, we at Yocket have come up with this one-stop guide. Here we have discussed all GMAT exam details, including GMAT syllabus, exam pattern, fees, dates, and much more.
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Why is GMAT Required?
Let us begin our discussion by having an in-depth understanding of what is GMAT and why the advantages of GMAT entrance exam.
The GMAT exam full form is Graduate Management Admission Test, which is hosted by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). A good score in GMAT is your ticket to top universities abroad, offering business and management programs to students across the world. Other than that, the GMAT is important because:
- The GMAT exam measures your critical thinking and reasoning skills. They are the two most relevant skills required for top graduate business programs.
- Secondly, a good GMAT score demonstrates your commitment, motivation, and ability to succeed in your respective business programs.
- Once you graduate from top business schools through a high GMAT score, you are valued by employers worldwide. It increases your earning potential and opens a world of opportunities.
Let us have a brief overview of the GMAT exam in India and abroad below:
|
GMAT Full-Form |
Graduate Management Admission Test |
|
Conducting Body |
GMAC |
|
Nature of GMAT |
Computer Adaptive Test |
|
Mode of Exam |
GMAT in Person or GMAT Online |
|
Age/ Eligibility |
18+ years or 18 years with a letter of consent from parents |
|
GMAT Registration fee |
250 USD |
|
GMAT Exam Duration |
3 hours 7 minutes |
|
Skills Tested |
Writing, Quantitative, Analytical, Verbal and Reading skills |
|
Sections in GMAT Exam |
Analytical Writing, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning & Verbal Reasoning |
|
Section order |
You are allowed to choose your own section order amongst 3 choices in the first minute of the GMAT exam |
|
Breaks between Sections |
2 Breaks of 8 Minutes Each |
|
No. of Attempts |
8 |
|
Announcement of Results |
7 - 20 days after the Test |
Apart from why GMAT exam is required, students often raise concerns about when is the best time to give the GMAT. This question is subjective, as some students may achieve the expected level of test proficiency in 3-4 months, while others may require less or more time. However, being consistent with your preparation is the key to success.
What is GMAT Eligibility Criteria?
There is no GMAT exam eligibility as such that is prescribed by GMAC. As the GMAT aptitude test is an entry ticket to pursuing an MBA or a Business school degree. Candidates who take the test are usually undergraduates or working professionals. However, your grades and performance will affect your final admission process because each university has its own defined criteria.
Apart from that, the age limit for GMAT entrance exam is 18+ for most aspirants. In the case of aspirants who are under 18 years of age, a letter of consent from a parent or guardian needs to be provided.
To know more, check out our GMAT Exam Eligibility Criteria blog.
What is GMAT Exam Pattern?
As we have already mentioned, the GMAT examines your overall knowledge as a student to excel in the field of business and management. To successfully handle a business, it is crucial to have a good command over language, strategic problem-solving capability and a logical mindset. These are the exact skills upon which GMAT exam structure and syllabus is based on. It consists of four sections:
- Verbal Reasoning
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Integrated Reasoning
- Analytical Writing
Do you know, GMAT allows you the flexibility to choose your own section strategy?
Yes, you read it right! The GMAT pattern allows the test-takers the advantage of choosing the order they would wish to answer the GMAT test in. You’re given three variations to choose from. The GMAT exam time is the same for all three of them.
What is GMAT Exam Syllabus 2023?
Now let us have a look at the GMAT syllabus based on the four sections:
Verbal Reasoning
The Verbal Reasoning section of GMAT measures your ability to understand, evaluate and comprehend the English language. Knowledge of the English language is extremely important for this section. There are 36 questions in total here that are to be answered within 65 minutes.
The GMAT verbal reasoning comprises questions on reading comprehension, critical thinking and sentence correction. Common topics here include:
- Idioms
- Pronouns
- Modifiers
- Comparison
- Verb Tenses
- Subject- Verb Agreement
Quantitative Reasoning
The GMAT Quantitative Reasoning is all about analyzing mathematical data and drawing conclusions using your reasoning skills. It consists of 31 multiple-choice questions, which need to be solved in 65 minutes. The GMAT quantitative syllabus has two types of questions: Problem-solving and data sufficiency. It includes questions for the following domains:
- Arithmetic
- Algebra
- Geometry
- Modern Math
Most of the students find this section to be the most challenging. To ease up your learning and boost your confidence, check out our GMAT Quants Preparation Tips blog.
Integrated Reasoning
The GMAT Integrated Reasoning section is a combination of both Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning. This means you need to master the skill of sorting the presented data, identifying relevant information and incorporating strategies to solve the given questions. This exclusive section consists of 12 questions to be answered in 30 minutes.
There are four types of questions in this section:
- Multi-Source Reasoning Questions
- Table Analysis Questions
- Graphics Interpretation Questions
- Two-Part Analysis Questions
Analytical Writing
Regarded as one of the most important sections of the GMAT exam, the Analytical section tests your writing skills. In the GMAT AWA section, you are expected to assess a given argument and present your findings and express your validations for the same. You’re presented with a passage from any field, such as business, arts, science, etc. Assessing the given passage, you’re required to compose ONE argumentative essay in 30 minutes.
GMAT AWA preparation again needs a lot of practice from your end.
To know more, check out our GMAT AWA topics blog.
GMAT Scores & Results
According to experts a GMAT score that ranges anywhere from 650 to 690 makes for a good score. However, surpassing the good GMAT score for a better 700, 760 or an out-of-out 800 is a great score. But how are GMAT scores calculated? Let us first have a brief overview of the GMAT score scales of each sections:
|
GMAT Sections |
Scoring Scale |
|
Verbal Reasoning |
6-51 score scale, with 1 point increment |
|
Quantitative Reasoning |
1-8, with 1 point increment |
|
Integrated Reasoning |
1-8, with 1 point increment |
|
Analytical Writing |
0-6 score scale, with 0.5 increments |
Many aspirants get perplexed by the GMAT score reporting of percentages. Also, a few have confusion around negative marking in GMAT. There is absolutely no negative marking in the GMAT exam. However, since the exam is adaptive in nature, the questions keep getting tougher if the ones you answered are correct. On the other hand, if your attempted questions are incorrect, the next set of questions is easy.
The GMAT results come in percentiles. To know more, check out our GMAT Scores and Results blog.
How to Register for GMAT Exam?
GMAT exam registration is hassle-free and easy. To apply for GMAT, sign in to the official mba.com account and follow the steps mentioned to register:
- Create a GMAT account and log in.
- Create your GMAT Profile.
- Fill in your personal and academic details.
- Verify your profile.
- Select your preferred GMAT test centre, date, and time.
- Pay the GMAT registration fees and you're done.
What is GMAT Exam Fee?
The GMAT exam fee varies depending on your location and currеncy. The standard fee for the GMAT exam delivered at a test cеntеr is INR 22,904.75, inclusivе of GST in India. Thе standard fее for thе GMAT onlinе еxam is INR 24,987.00.
You can pay the fee by credit card, dеbit card, monеy ordеr, or pеrsonal chеck. You can also reschedule or cancel your GMAT exam appointment, but you must pay additional fees depending on the notice period.
Thе reschedule fee is INR 2,082.25, and thе cancеllation fее is INR 8,329.00 if you do so at least 24 hours before your appointment time. If you reschedule or cancel your GMAT exam within 24 hours of your appointmеnt timе, you will forfeit the entire exam fee.
Preparing for thе Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) rеquirеs stratеgic planning and disciplinеd study habits. As a standardised test taken by students globally, thе GMAT assеssеs a candidate's readiness for graduate-lеvеl businеss programs.
Whilе thеrе arе numеrous rеsourcеs availablе for GMAT prеparation, including thе official GMAT wеbsitе and matеrials from rеputablе third-party providеrs likе Thе Princеton Rеviеw and Kaplan, success on thе еxаm oftеn hinges on a candidatе's approach to studying. Hеrе arе fivе essential tips to guide your GMAT preparation.
The GMAT exam fee varies based on the country and location of the test. However, for most countries around the world, the GMAT fee comes to around $250. The GMAT cost for India is given below:
|
GMAT Registration Fee |
250 USD |
|
Additional Score Report |
35 USD each |
|
Score Cancellation after GMAT |
25 USD |
|
Score Reinstating |
50 USD |
|
Analytical Essay Re-Evaluation |
45 USD |
|
GMAT Rescheduling Fee |
50-150 USD depending upon days before appointment |
|
GMAT Cancellation Fee |
50-100 USD refunded depending upon days before appointment |
So this all about GMAT application fee and related costs. Now let us move on to GMAT exam dates:
GMAT Exam Dates 2023
GMAT dates are not fixed. You can fix the test on your desired date by booking a slot from your official GMAT mba.com account. Other facts about GMAT exam dates 2023 are:
- GMAT test dates for GMAT at the test centres are available seven days a week during the test centre working hours.
- GMAT Online can be taken anytime during the week at the available appointment time. Book an appointment online and take the GMAT test.
- The GMAC also allows you to reschedule or cancel your GMAT 2023 exam date before appearing. However, you need to do to pay extra costs to do the same and the costs of rescheduling and cancellation may get increase with time.
What are GMAT exam Centres?
If you are opting for an in-person test, there are many GMAT test centres in India for all major states like:
- Mumbai
- Delhi
- Bangalore
- Kolkata
- Ahmedabad
- Lucknow
- Pune
- Jaipur
While choosing the GMAT exam centres in India, do keep in mind the following things:
- Your GMAT exam centre must be easily accessible.
- If possible, opt for the nearest exam centre depending on your place of residence.
GMAT Scholarships
A GMAT scholarship for Indian students can be a great way to fund their study expenses abroad. The universities with various management courses offer grants/scholarships based on the GMAT score. These schemes either cover a student's complete or partial tuition fees. The following are a few parameters of the GMAT exam scholarship:
- GMAT scholarships are of the following types: need-based, merit-based, diversity/ gender-based, and external scholarships (by agencies and organisations).
- Every GMAT scholarship for Indian students has specific eligibility criteria, application deadlines, etc.
- A high GMAT score doesn't always guarantee you a scholarship as your student profile also plays a vital role in this regard.
How to Prepare for GMAT Exam?
Now that we have covered all aspects of GMAT exam in India, let us look at some tips for GMAT preparation:
- Self Test Assessment - Recognize Where You Stand: Take a test to understand where you stand. Identifying your strengths and weaknesses is a very important part of facing a test.
- Refer And Plan - Identify Your Path and Map Your Plan Of Action: Once you’ve identified your GMAT knowledge gap, come up with a progressive plan of action to achieve your desired GMAT score.
- Preparing and Revising: Prepare thoroughly with each of the GMAT sections and revise multiple times. Don’t miss out on any concepts.
- Test Day Ready: Have your essentials in place. Be calm, confident, and wholly prepared to face the GMAT entrance exam.
The GMAT test is an opportunity to showcase your talent in reaching your highest aspirations. With strategic planning and consistent efforts, you can surely score a high percentile in your GMAT exam and opt for the best business school abroad. So, analyze the above-mentioned information and kickstart your GMAT preparation today!
For any guidance to ease your study abroad journey, do get in touch with our counselors at Yocket.