If you were looking to enroll into a business school to get your MBA, you have probably heard of the GMAT.
The GMAT is the entrance exam most business schools require to test a potential students aptitude and help the faculty at the graduate business schools to make admission decisions.
Many are intimidated by this exam, but what you should keep in mind is that the GMAT is not terribly difficult.
It's just difficult enough that you can't fly through it.
The reason for people's fear is that they really do not know much about the exam.
So let's get rid of that fear right now.
What is the GMAT exactly? The GMAT stands for Graduate Management Admission Test.
The entire exam is in computer format.
It is administered by the Graduate Management Admission Council (or GMAC), which determines what kinds of skills the GMAT should measure - and how it should measure them.
It is designed to predict how test-takers will perform academically in MBA programs.
This exam is a requirement in almost all English speaking business schools in the U.
S.
, Canada, and Europe.
Also, the GMAT test result can be used for admission to a business PhD program, such as in Ivy League business schools.
Many think that the test reviews what was learned directly at past business programs, such as in a Bachelors degree program.
This isn't necessarily the case.
The GMAT does not actually test your knowledge in one particular subject.
The exam measures verbal, mathematical, and analytical and writing skills that you've developed over time, not just in previous college classes but also in work and real life experiences.
Of course, having a solid base in business studies does increase your chances of scoring higher.
Format and Scoring As mentioned earlier, the GMAT consists of three main parts-the Analytical Writing Assessment, the Quantitative section, and the Verbal section.
You have three and a half hours in which to take the exam and 5 minute optional breaks between each section.
The Analytical Writing Assessment consists of two 30-minute essay questions.
The Quantitative Ability section (75 min.
) contains 37 multiple-choice questions, which consist of both Data Sufficiency, and Problem Solving questions.
And the Verbal Ability section (75 min.
) has 41 questions, consisting of Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, Sentence Correction questions.
One of the interesting parts of the exam being computerized is that it adjusts to your individual ability level.
What does that mean? It means that if you answer one question wrong, the difficulty of the next question will be lower, and if you get it right, then the next question will be harder.
In the end your score is determined by: 1) The number of questions you answer, 2) Whether you answer the questions correctly or incorrectly, and 3) The level of difficulty and other statistical characteristics of each question.
You don't pass or fail a GMAT, and there isn't specific "safe score" either.
Basically, your score is just a way for the graduate schools to see what kind of MBA student you will be.
So you better show them your best.
Now that you know what it's all about, nothing can stop you from taking and acing this test.
Go now and work hard towards a better life.
The GMAT may be the first step.
The GMAT is the entrance exam most business schools require to test a potential students aptitude and help the faculty at the graduate business schools to make admission decisions.
Many are intimidated by this exam, but what you should keep in mind is that the GMAT is not terribly difficult.
It's just difficult enough that you can't fly through it.
The reason for people's fear is that they really do not know much about the exam.
So let's get rid of that fear right now.
What is the GMAT exactly? The GMAT stands for Graduate Management Admission Test.
The entire exam is in computer format.
It is administered by the Graduate Management Admission Council (or GMAC), which determines what kinds of skills the GMAT should measure - and how it should measure them.
It is designed to predict how test-takers will perform academically in MBA programs.
This exam is a requirement in almost all English speaking business schools in the U.
S.
, Canada, and Europe.
Also, the GMAT test result can be used for admission to a business PhD program, such as in Ivy League business schools.
Many think that the test reviews what was learned directly at past business programs, such as in a Bachelors degree program.
This isn't necessarily the case.
The GMAT does not actually test your knowledge in one particular subject.
The exam measures verbal, mathematical, and analytical and writing skills that you've developed over time, not just in previous college classes but also in work and real life experiences.
Of course, having a solid base in business studies does increase your chances of scoring higher.
Format and Scoring As mentioned earlier, the GMAT consists of three main parts-the Analytical Writing Assessment, the Quantitative section, and the Verbal section.
You have three and a half hours in which to take the exam and 5 minute optional breaks between each section.
The Analytical Writing Assessment consists of two 30-minute essay questions.
The Quantitative Ability section (75 min.
) contains 37 multiple-choice questions, which consist of both Data Sufficiency, and Problem Solving questions.
And the Verbal Ability section (75 min.
) has 41 questions, consisting of Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, Sentence Correction questions.
One of the interesting parts of the exam being computerized is that it adjusts to your individual ability level.
What does that mean? It means that if you answer one question wrong, the difficulty of the next question will be lower, and if you get it right, then the next question will be harder.
In the end your score is determined by: 1) The number of questions you answer, 2) Whether you answer the questions correctly or incorrectly, and 3) The level of difficulty and other statistical characteristics of each question.
You don't pass or fail a GMAT, and there isn't specific "safe score" either.
Basically, your score is just a way for the graduate schools to see what kind of MBA student you will be.
So you better show them your best.
Now that you know what it's all about, nothing can stop you from taking and acing this test.
Go now and work hard towards a better life.
The GMAT may be the first step.
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