GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is a computer based standardized test that assesses the aptitude abilities in a person for accomplishing the academic of business curriculum. Students from different backgrounds belonging to different countries in the world can take the GMAT test. This test is a decisive part for admissions in more than 4000 graduate programs in 1800 schools around the world. Presently, several leading Business Schools in India also require GMAT scores for admission.
Test Modules
The GMAT test consists of following three modules that determines fundamental verbal, mathematical and analytical writing skills in the test taker. The maximum score for GMAT is 800 and the mean score is 533 in 2005-06. The test score is valid for 5 years.
- Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA)
In this module test taker has to prevail two writing tasks, Analysis of an Issue and Analysis of an Argument. The maximum time limit will be 30 minutes for writing each essay. The range of test score in AWA range from 0-60 points, representing the average ratings of two essays. - Quantitative section
This module consists of 37 multiple choice questions, which has to be completed within 75 minutes. The test evaluates the competence of arithmetic, elementary algebra, and common geometry which are categorized into two types of tasks: Data Sufficiency and Problem Solving. The range of test score in Quantitative section range from 0-60 points - Verbal section
This module consists of 41 multiple choice questions, which are categorized into three tasks – reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence correction. The maximum time limit for completing this module is of 75 minutes. The range of test score in verbal section range from 0-60 points. Moreover, there will be few pretest questions (they are not scored) assorted in verbal and quantitative sections, which cannot be identified. Therefore you have to answer all the questions in the test.
Maximum Time Limit: 3 hours and 45 mts
Maximum Test Score: 800
Mean Score (2005-06): 533
Test Fee: U.S. $ 250 Worldwide
Additional Test score Reporting Fee: U.S. $ 28
Structure of the GMAT Test
| Modules | Number of Questions | Time Limit |
| Analytical Writing Analysis of an Argument (30 minutes) Analysis of an Issue (30 minutes) |
2 Essays | 60 Minutes |
| Optional 5 Minutes Break Quantitative Section Problem Solving (23 to 24 questions) Data Sufficiency (13 to 14 questions) |
37 | 47 Minutes |
| Optional 5 Minutes Break Verbal Section Critical Reasoning (14-15 questions) Sentence Correction (14-15 questions) Reading Comprehension (4passages with 12-14 questions) |
41 | 75 Minutes |
GMAT Changes
With an addition of 300 new questions (within the question bank) in two of the three sections of GMAT, the test has become tougher for students to crack. Altogether about 33% questions have been added, which brings in a change of more than one third to the test. These changes have been announced in May 2009.
Following are the changes made:
Verbal Section:
Sentence Correction type – More questions emphasizing on pronoun and modifier rules. Lesser focus on comparisons and idioms-related questions. A total of 57 new questions have been added to the question bank.
Reading Comprehension type – Two Biology related passages have been replaced with one on Social Science and the other on Business.43 questions have been introduced.
Critical Reading type – 50 old questions have been replaced with 50 new questions.
Quantitative Section:
Problem Solving type – 19 questions have been removed in this section and 56 questions have been added.
Data Sufficiency type – Reduction of questions related to fractions, decimals and percentages. Questions related to Algebra have also been reduced. Also, 75 old problems have been replaced with 94 new problems in the question bank.
Data Sufficiency question type within this test has got more new questions introduced than other sections.
No changes have been made to the Analytical Written Assessment (AWA) Section.
