What is GMAT and Who Needs It?
You might have heard something about the GMAT but you aren’t sure what is stands for? Or you might be very well aware of its significance, but you aren’t sure whether you should take it. To help you find the answers to your questions, I have decided to give you some useful information on the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test).
So, the GMAT is an acronym and it stands for the Graduate Management Admission Test and it’s a standardized exam that lasts for 3 and a half hours designed specifically to predict how a test taker would perform academically in MBA programs. Basically, graduate business schools use GMAT scores for making admission decisions. Many people who would like to be admitted to a good graduate business school hire the GMAT coach in order to prepare the GMAT in the best possible way.
The GMAT consists of four parts: Analytical Writing Assessment (30 minutes), Integrated Reasoning (30 minutes), Quantitative (75 minutes) and Verbal (75 minutes). Sometimes, this test is referred to as the GMAT CAT meaning that it’s “computer adaptive test”. In fact, the GMAT is nowadays administered only by computers in Northern America, whereas in some other locations a paper-based version still exists. This test is created and developed by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) that determines what and how should be measured. The other organization is, however, responsible for developing the test questions, administering the test and reporting test scores to the schools.
About 2/3 of the graduate business schools world wide require GMAT scores for admission, even though some schools nowadays accept GRE General Test too. But, even if the school of your choice doesn’t require GMAT score, they will welcome it and it might help you get admitted. Simply put, who ever wants to showcase the skills that are important in business schools and beyond should take the GMAT.
