All about GMAT for MBA | GMAT sample test
For any MBA student, their GMAT exam scores are the most essential part of their university application. So, to help with your preparation of GMAT for MBA, this blog tells you all about this study abroad exam and even has a GMAT sample test to help you prep
The GMAT exam is the first step towards a prosperous career in business management. All the top universities in the USA, UK, Canada, and other countries, require GMAT test scores to determine the eligibility of students. If you’re not familiar with GMAT or confused about GMAT preparation, don’t worry. This article covers all you need to know about the GMAT for MBA in universities abroad and the GMAT sample test will help you get the perfect understanding of the test.
What is GMAT Exam?
The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is an exam designed to assess a person’s analytical writing, verbal, quantitative and reading skills in written English. The exam is a pre-requisite for admission in graduate management programs such as MBA and Masters in Finance. The GMAT exam is used as a standard measure of applicants’ abilities and preparedness for graduate-level academic work. All top-ranked business universities include it in their admission criteria
GMAT registration
The GMAT exam is conducted throughout the year. All you have to do is book a slot on the date of your convenience at the test center closest to you. It is usually recommended that you book your slot at least 2-3 months prior to your GMAT exam.
If you’re confused about where and how to register for the GMAT exam, here are 3 easy steps:
Step 1: Register on mba.com and enter your personal details
Step 2: Schedule your GMAT exam based on your date and time preferences
Step 3: Pay the $250 GMAT registration fee
GMAT exam pattern
The new format of the GMAT exam comprises of four sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Section, Integrated Reasoning and Analytical Writing. Students have the option of choosing the order to attempt these sections. While the exam initially lasted longer, right now, the total time for the GMAT exam is clocked at approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes. This includes test instructions and breaks.
The Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative sections have 36 questions. Both of these are clocked at 75 minutes each. While the Analytical Writing and Integrated Reasoning sections are timed at 30 minutes each. You will have to write about a single topic in Analytical Reasoning, and attempt 12 questions in the Integrated Reasoning section.
GMAT Syllabus
1) Analytical Writing
The syllabus of this section is open-ended. For the test, you may be given any relevant topic of interest. These topics are mainly, of general interest or related to the field of business. You may also be asked questions from some of the passages and you have to frame your answers accordingly.
2) Integrated Reasoning
This section tests the student’s ability to understand the data presented in a graphical or tabular format. This section consists of 12 questions which are based on the following topics:
3) Quantitative Section
The Quantitative section has two sub-sections. Both of them have 18 questions each. These questions are objective and multiple-choices, therefore your GMAT prep requires a thorough study of both. Make sure you attempt this section prior in the GMAT sample test. This section comprises of fundamentals in Mathematics like:
Permutation and combinations Geometry Ratio Proportions Linear equations Exponents and roots Arithmetic Elementary Algebra Properties of Integers
4) Verbal Reasoning
Verbal Reasoning has 36 multiple-choice questions and is divided into three sub-sections. These sub-sections are Critical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Sentence Correction. They will cover the following topics:
Subject-verb agreement Critical reasoning Sentence correction related to finding error or omission Rhetorical construction of the sentences Parallelism Countable vs uncountable Reading unseen passages Misplace modifiers
Preparation tips
Most students state that a 10-week study time is enough to prepare for the basics of your GMAT exam while others suggest a good 6-month plan. So, depending on your profession or college schedule, plan out your study time-table. It is recommended that you spend at least 1.5 to 2 hours every day prepping at least one section of your GMAT curriculum. Make sure you read carefully through the specific type of question you are answering before you proceed with your test. Practice, practice, and more practice! It is the ultimate key to good GMAT scores. There are free study materials and guides provided by GMAC, Kaplan, etc. that can very helpful.
GMAT sample test
One of the best ways to prepare for your exam is to practice previous papers or take a GMAT sample test. To help you along, iSchoolConnect put together a mock GMAT paper