Management: GMAT Exam

The Graduate Management Aptitude Test, widely known as GMAT, is conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). The purpose of this exam is to check the verbal, reasoning and analytical abilities of candidates willing to pursue an MBA or management degree in future. 

The exam is tried and tested by so many B-schools, and almost 2,400 institutes in India using GMAT scores for more than 7,700 management programs. GMAT has test centres in more than 114 countries, and candidates who are willing to study abroad can also consider GMAT as an entrance exam for their management studies. 

GMAT exam is a computer-adaptive test that selects every question based on the candidate’s ability, which means it makes the exact measurement of an individual’s ability; it is more efficient than PBT mode, where all need to answer the same set of questions. Advanced identification procedures and standardized test administration ensure the security level of the GMAT exam. The exam has multiple patterns of displaying questions that any two candidates can hardly see the same questions.

GMAT Exam Highlights

Eligibility Criteria

A candidate needs to fulfil certain criteria to apply for the GMAT exam, you can check your eligibility below:-

• Candidate must have a bachelor’s degree in any field, from a recognised university,
• There are no minimum marks required to appear for the exam,
• There is no age limit but the candidate must be at least 18 years old,

(Note:- One can apply 5 times a year for the exam and 8 times in a lifetime.)

Exam Pattern

If we look at the exam pattern of the GMAT exam, which consists of 80 questions divided into four sections Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning, look below for all the details about the exam pattern.

Few things to remember:-

1. A candidate can take two 8 minutes breaks during the exam.
2. No negative marking in the exam
3. You can select the order of the sections but you can’t change the timings allotted for each sections.

GMAT Syllabus

About Analytical Writing Assessment

This section is for analysing the writing and mental approach to one situation, following are some vital parts of assessment section of GMAT:-

• Brainstorming 
• Writing an introduction
• Writing body of paragraph
• Conclusion of essay

Two types of essays can be asked in the GMAT exam,

• The question may ask to analyse the reasoning and then present your argument, it will all depend on how you act to the argument and present your views 
• Question may ask you to write an essay on the issue given to you in about 600 words.

How to Prepare for the GMAT exam?

GMAT is not an easy nut to crack if you are appearing for the exam, you need a proper study plan and proper knowledge about the exam, as we know the value of this exam, this can be your entry ticket to your dream course and college, below are few tips on how to prepare well for the GMAT exam:-

• You need to go through the complete syllabus of the GMAT and need to make a study plan for the exam.
• Focus on your weak areas.
• Make a routine for regular study.
• Appear in mock test to boost your confidence
• To prepare for the exam strategy you need to solve some PYQs so that you get to know about the pattern of question paper.
• Get complete sleep of 7 to 8 hours, to enhance your learning skills.

Useful books for GMAT preparation 

• Manhattan Prep Complete GMAT Strategy Guide Set.
• GMAT Official Advanced Questions
• Kaplan GMAT Prep Plus 2023
• Veritas Prep Complete GMAT Course Set
• Beyond the MBA Hype by Sameer Kamat
• Power Score GMAT Critical Reasoning Bible by David M. Killoran
• GMAT Advanced Quant (Manhattan Prep)

Colleges that are accepting GMAT Score for admission

• S P Jain Institute of Management & Research, Mumbai
• Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai
• Institute of Management Technology (IMT) Ghaziabad
• KJ Somaiya Institute Of Management Mumbai
• T A Pai Management Institute Manipal