Graduate Management Admission Test

Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)
AcronymGMAT
TypeComputer-based standardized test
AdministratorGraduate Management Admission Council
Skills testedQuantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning, data analysis
PurposeAdmissions in graduate management programs of business schools.
Year started1953 (71 years ago) (1953)
Duration2 hours and 15 minutes long (with one optional 10-minute break)[1]
Score rangeQuantitative section: 60-90, in 1 point increments,
Verbal section: 60-90, in 1 point increments,
Data Insights section: 60 to 90, in 1 point increments.
Total score: 205 to 805.
Score validity5 Years
OfferedMultiple times a year.
Restrictions on attemptsYes
Regions650 test centers in 114 countries.[2]
LanguagesEnglish
Annual number of test takersDecrease 74,810 unique candidates in 108,851 GMAT exams (T.Y. 2023)[3]
PrerequisitesNo official prerequisite. Intended for those interested in graduate management education. Fluency in English assumed.
FeeUS$ 275
Used byMore than 7,700 programs at approximately 2,400 graduate business schools around the world accept the GMAT exam.
Websitemba.com

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT (/ˈmæt/ (JEE-mat))) is a computer adaptive test (CAT) intended to assess certain analytical, quantitative, verbal, and data literacy skills for use in admission to a graduate management program, such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program.[4] Answering the test questions requires reading comprehension, and mathematical skills such as arithmetic, and algebra. The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) owns and operates the test, and states that the GMAT assesses critical thinking and problem-solving abilities while also addressing data analysis skills that it believes to be vital to real-world business and management success.[5] It can be taken up to five times a year but no more than eight times total. Attempts must be at least 16 days apart.[6]

GMAT is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admission Council.[7] More than 7,700 programs at approximately 2,400+ graduate business schools around the world accept the GMAT as part of the selection criteria for their programs.[8] Business schools use the test as a criterion for admission into a wide range of graduate management programs, including MBA, Master of Accountancy, Master of Finance programs and others. The GMAT is administered online and in standardized test centers in 114 countries around the world.[5] According to a survey conducted by Kaplan Test Prep, the GMAT is still the number one choice for MBA aspirants.[9] According to GMAC, it has continually performed validity studies to statistically verify that the exam predicts success in business school programs.[10] The number of test-takers of GMAT plummeted from 2012 to 2021 as more students opted for an MBA program that didn't require the GMAT.[11][12]

  1. ^ "GMAT Exam Structure".
  2. ^ "GMAC Statistics". gmac.com. Archived from the original on May 4, 2012.
  3. ^ "GMAT Geographic Trend Report: Testing Year 2023" (PDF).
  4. ^ "The GMAT Advantage". Archived from the original on July 15, 2013. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Learn About the GMAT Exam". Graduate Management Admission Council(GMAC).
  6. ^ "Retake the GMAT Exam". MBA.com. GMAC. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  7. ^ "GMAC Copyrights, Trademarks and Logos". Graduate Management Admission Council. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  8. ^ "GMAT™ Accepting Universities & Schools". Graduate Management Admission Council. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  9. ^ Alison Damast (April 26, 2012). "Study: Few MBA Applicants Consider Taking the GRE". Businessweek. Archived from the original on April 27, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  10. ^ "Validity, Reliability and Fairness". Graduate Management Admission Council(GMAC). Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  11. ^ Byrne, John A. (January 27, 2022). "GMAT Test Taking Volume Plunges To A Historic Low". Poets&Quants. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  12. ^ Pickin, Dr Rhiannon (May 2, 2023). "Best Online MBA Programs: No GMAT Required". Degreechoices.com. Retrieved August 29, 2023.