Over five thousand business and graduate management programs at more than 1800 schools around the world factor an applicant’s score on the Graduate Management Admission Test into the admissions process. Statistics demonstrate that GMAT scores are generally better indicators of first-year grades in these programs than are undergraduate grade point averages. Admissions officers at leading business schools worldwide recognize the GMAT as the most effective predictor of success.
The GMAT consists of three sections
There are optional breaks between each section.
Included within the multiple choice sections are unscored, “experimental” questions that are indistinguishable from scored questions. These questions do not count toward a test-taker’s score, but must be answered just like any other question. Since students can never be certain whether or not a question is experimental, they should treat each one as if it counted toward their score.
The Analytical Writing Assessment measures the ability to effectively communicate ideas through writing and the ability to critically assess an argument. This section requires test-takers to write two different essays—an Analysis of an Issue and an Analysis of an Argument. The essay topics are presented one at a time, and test-takers have 30 minutes to complete each essay. Time that remains at the end of the first essay cannot be added to the time allotted for the remaining essay—i.e., students who finish writing the Analysis of an Issue essay in 25 minutes still have only 30 minutes to write the Analysis of an Argument essay. Thus, students should use the entire 30 minutes for each essay, proofreading and making editorial adjustments if they finish writing before time expires.
The Quantitative section measures the ability to reason quantitatively, solve mathematical problems, and interpret data presented visually. Arithmetic, algebra, and geometry are tested on this section; trigonometry and calculus are not. Test-takers have 75 minutes to complete 37 multiple-choice questions, which come from two distinct categories:
A Problem Solving question presents a mathematical problem and requires test-takers to select the correct solution from among five answer choices.
Data Sufficiency questions are unique to the GMAT. Each question of this type is followed by two numbered statements, and students must determine whether the two statements provide enough information to answer the question. Because Data Sufficiency questions test the ability to analyze information for content and relevance in addition to general mathematical skill, they require a systematic approach. The Two-Three Elimination Technique™ and The Yes/No Stratagem™ help ScorePerfect students navigate even the most complex Data Sufficiency questions with precision and clarity.
Although roughly two-thirds of the questions in the Quantitative section will come from the Problem Solving category, questions from both categories are intermixed throughout. For example, one student’s section might begin with one Data Sufficiency question, followed by two Problem Solving questions, and then two more Data Sufficiency questions, whereas another student’s section might begin with three Problem Solving questions, one Data Sufficiency question, and then one more Problem Solving question.
The Verbal section measures the ability to understand and analyze written material and the ability to recognize and conform to the conventions of standard written English. Test-takers have 75 minutes to answer 41 multiple-choice questions, which come from three distinct categories:
Although roughly one-third of the questions on the Verbal section will come from each category, questions from all three categories are intermixed. For example, one student’s section might begin with two Sentence Correction questions, two Critical Reasoning questions, and then another Sentence Correction question, whereas another student’s section might begin with one Critical Reasoning question followed by four Reading Comprehension questions.
On a Sentence Correction question, students must determine whether the underlined portion of a sentence contains any grammatical or stylistic errors. If the sentence has no errors, answer choice (A) will be correct; if it has at least one error, students must select the answer choice that provides the best corrected version of the sentence. This question category measures knowledge of and facility with the rules of standard written English.
A Critical Reasoning question presents a short passage followed by a question designed to measure a student’s ability to evaluate the information in that passage. This question category may require test-takers to support or weaken an argument or a plan of action, provide a possible explanation for a phenomenon, the information presented, or identify the viewpoint presented in the passage.
Reading Comprehension questions are always presented in clusters of at least three questions. Each cluster of questions is based on the content of a different passage, which can be up to 350 words long. Approximately four unique passages—and thus approximately four clusters of questions—will be interspersed throughout the Verbal section. A Reading Comprehension question may require students to identify the author’s main point, strengthen or weaken an argument made in the passage, or identify what must be true based on the facts presented. These questions test the ability to read, absorb, and analyze written information.
Beginning in June of 2012, the Next Generation GMAT will introduce two important changes to the format of the test.
The Next Generation GMAT will eliminate one of the two Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) prompts; the remaining AWA essay will be scored in the same manner and on the same 0 - 6 scoring scale, but this score will not be averaged with the score of any other essay.
The Next Generation GMAT will also include a new 30-minute section called Integrated Reasoning, which requires test-takers to interpret graphs and charts, analyze different sources of information, and supply reasons for (or likely outcomes of) certain courses of action. Test-takers will receive a separate score for the Integrated Reasoning section.
The current scoring system for the GMAT Quantitative and Verbal sections will remain the same on the Next Generation GMAT, as will the combined 200-800 scoring scale.
For additional information about the the Next Generation GMAT, visit www.mba.com.
