GMAT Exam
The GMAT is an acronym for Graduate Management Aptitude Test for admissions into. It is the only test whose score is accepted for 7000 plus programs across 2300 plus campuses about 110 countries in the world.
In India, premier B-schools such as Indian School of Business (ISB) consider an aspirant’s GMAT score for admission.
The areas of the test in this pan-world exam is more defined than other management exams. Hence, it helps graduates require a minimum amount of time for preparation.
In the coming section, you will learn the following things in brief:
- GMAT Exam Overview
- GMAT Exam Registration
- GMAT Exam Fee Structure
- GMAT Exam Syllabus
- GMAT Exam Structure
- GMAT Exam Score
- GMAT Exam FAQs
- GMAT Exam Overview
If you want to study abroad in management programs, you will need the GMAT exam score. Taking up the GMAT exam has been a prerequisite for admissions into tens of hundreds of management courses at many B-school campuses around the world.
Take a look at the brief outline of the GMAT exam:
| GMAT Exam Conducting Body | Graduate Management Admission Council |
| GMAT Exam Registration | Online |
| GMAT Exam Frequency | Throughout the year |
| GMAT Exam Mode | Computer-Based (Adaptive) Test |
| GMAT Exam Attempts Allowed
in a Year |
5 times with an interval of 16 days gap for each attempt |
| GMAT Exam Life-time Attempts | 8 times |
GMAT Exam Registration
For taking the GMAT exam, you can register for the test through:
- Online
- Phone
You can register for the GMAT exam before 6 months or 24 hours before the exam date. And there are no particular dates for the GMAT exam. It all depends on your planning and preparation in what season you want to get into B-school.
GMAT Exam Fee Structure
See the below for all kinds of the fee you can expect to pay:
| GMAT Exam Fee | US $ 250 |
| GMAT Exam Cancellation Fee | $ 200, before 1-14 days prior to the exam
$ 175, before 15-60 days prior to the exam $ 150, before more than 60 days prior to the exam $ 250, before 24 hours of the exam (deduct the cancellation fee from the exam fee to get refund amount) |
| GMAT Exam Rescheduling Fee | $ 150, before 1-14 days prior to the exam
$ 100, before 15-60 days prior to the exam $ 50, before more than 60 days prior to the exam |
If you do not show up for the exam, there will be no refund of the fee. And you will be charged the full fee amount.
GMAT Exam Syllabus
The GMAT exam syllabus has four sections. Each section tests the ability of candidates to make sure that they have the required raw-skillset to pursue the management programs.
- Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA): The AWA ascertain a candidate’s critical thinking and communication abilities.
- Quantitative Reasoning (QR): The QR measures a candidate’s maths skills.
- Integrated Reasoning (IR): The IR section helps to know the candidates’ skills in analysing the information to draw solutions from them.
- Verbal Reasoning (VR): The VR tests the candidates’ language skills and checks whether it conforms to the Standard English.
GMAT Exam Pattern/Structure
The GMAT exam lasts for three and a half hours (including two optional breaks of eight minutes each). Here is the distribution of time and the exam pattern:
| Test Section | Time & Number of Questions | Question Types |
| AWA | 30 minutes 1 Question | Analysis of an argument |
| IR | 30 Minutes 12 Questions | Graphics Interpretation, Table Analysis, Multi-source Reasoning,
Two-part Analysis. |
| QR | 62 minutes 31 questions | Data Sufficiency, Problem Solving |
| VR | 65 minutes 36 questions | Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, Sentence Correction |
GMAT Exam Score
The GMAT score is given in 800 points. Each section has a different score range as given in the table. And the GMAT score is valid for 5 years.
| Test Section | Score Range |
| AWA | 0 – 6 |
| IR | 1 – 8 |
| VR | 0 – 60 |
| QR | 0 – 60 |
| Total | 200 – 800 |
The GMAC sends a link to the unique email ID of a candidate. With guidelines given in the mail, the candidates can check their GMAT scores.
GMAT Exam FAQs
Some of the frequently asked questions about the GMAT exam are given below:
1. What is the educational eligibility to write the GMAT exam?
A: There is no such educational eligibility to take the GMAT exam. However, if you want to pursue management programs, you must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institute/university.
2. What score is considered as a good GMAT score?
A: Around 680 is considered to be a good GMAT score. However, the GMAT score cut-off depends on the B-school you choose.
3. What’s the difference between GMAT and GRE?
A: The GMAT exam is tailored to test candidates’ skills for pursuing management programs. But the GRE is for joining in programs such as Master of Science. However, some B-schools are accepting the GRE score for admissions into the management programs. You have to check which B-school considers while applying.
4. What’s the maximum age limit to take the GMAT exam?
A: There is no such max. age restriction.
