Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)

What is the GMAT?

The Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) is a standardised exam that has been used for many years by the world’s leading graduate business schools and universities to assess and compare candidates wishing to study for an MBA or other post graduate business and management course. The GMAT is acknowledged by academics to be an accurate way of predicting an applicant’s academic ability and potential.

The exam is used worldwide by leading business schools, in the UK these include The University of Oxford Said Centre, The London Schools of Economics  and Cambridge Judge Business School – The University of Cambridge as well as international business schools such as Harvard.

The result of your GMAT test score must be included in your MBA/university application form and a high GMAT score is an important factor in determining success. The higher the score, the more likely you are to get a place at the most prestigious university or business school so it really is worth taking time to prepare and getting expert advice and support if you feel you need help in any of the three areas of the test. Simply Learning Tuition has a phenomenal track record in this area so do get in touch if you would like to find out how we can help you prepare for the GMAT.

The GMAT test should not be confused with GAMSAT which is the test used for applications to Medical Schools

 

The exam takes 2 hours, 15 minutes.  There are 3 sections and a total of 64 questions – there is no longer a writing assessment component.  The 3 sections are:

• Quantitive Reasoning
• Verbal Reasoning
• Data Insights

Each section has between 20 – 23 questions.  Applications are marked down if they don’t complete each section of the exam. Your official score is sent to you by GMAC (Graduate Management Admission Council – the GMAT coordinator) up to 21 days after completing the exam, with most applicants receiving their score within 3 days.

Exam dates and where to take the exam

You can choose whether you take the GMAT at a test centre or online.

Test Centre: if you wish to take the GMAT at a test centre it is important to register early at the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC) or mba.com to find a centre close to you and book a slot for the test.  GMAT test dates vary from test centre to test centre.  The GMAT examination dates tend to fill up quickly, so register in good time, well ahead of the business schools’ individual application deadlines.

Online: the online GMAC test can be done at a time to suit you, throughout the year, 24/7.  You will need to register with GMAC to choose a date and time for the test.

How and when to register for the GMAT

Candidates should register online at Graduate Management Admissions Council or at www.mba.com

Whether you choose an online or test centre exam, it is important to register early and start your preparation for the exam some months ahead of MBA application deadlines. This will give you the best chance of success.

Most business schools have between 3 and 4 applications rounds each year. Research these deadlines carefully and work backwards to register and prepare for your GMAT exam; if you would like us to help with expert, experienced tutor support with the GMAT do contact Simply Learning Tuition three months before you intend to sit the exam. You should give yourself several months to prepare for the exam and ensure you have completed it within good time of a business school’s application deadline.

How much does the GMAT cost?

If you are taking the GMAT in the UK, the cost is £250 if you take it in a test centre, and £275 if you take it online.

How to prepare for GMAT

It is crucial you adequate time to prepare for the GMAT exam so you give yourself the best chance of gaining the highest GMAT score possible.  Some people will enlist the help of tutors who specialise in this area and Simply Learning Tuition can assist with this, we work with a number of tutors with extensive experience in helping candidates successfully prepare for the GMAT.

Another option, which also works well alongside individual tutoring support, is to look at the sample questions made available by GMAC.  Please find an example of a Quantitive Reasoning question below:

Question:
If a certain wheel turns at a constant rate of x revolutions per minute, how many revolutions will the wheel make in k seconds?

(A) 60kx
(B) kx
(C) x÷k
(D) x÷(60k)
(E) kx÷60

Answer: (E)

More sample questions can be found here.

 

What is the difference between GMAT and GRE

The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is accepted by some business schools as an alternative to GMAT for a broad range of graduate and professional programs, including business and law.

How can Simply Learning Tuition Help?

Simply Learning Tuition offers expert, personalised support across all stages of business school applications. Services include:

• Academic tutoring in Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Analysis
• GMAT preparation and practice
• Guidance on university selection and application timelines

Enlisting the help of an experienced tutor can vastly improve chances of success in the exam. Simply Learning Tuition offers a range of tutors specialised in getting students a head start on their preparation, feeling confident to take on the GMAT, and ultimately achieving their desired results.