GMAT

GMAT. The Graduate Management Admission Test is a standardized examination used globally as a key component in the admissions process for graduate business programs. Developed and administered by the Graduate Management Admission Council, the assessment is designed to measure skills critical for success in management education. Its scores are accepted by thousands of programs at institutions like Harvard Business School, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and INSEAD.

Overview

The exam was originally created in 1953 by a consortium of nine business schools, including Columbia Business School and Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, to provide a common measure for evaluating applicants. For decades, the test was administered by Educational Testing Service before the Graduate Management Admission Council assumed full operational control. The assessment has undergone several major revisions, most notably the introduction of the integrated reasoning section in 2012 and a shift to a shorter, focused format in late 2023. Its primary function remains to predict academic performance in rigorous programs like those at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the London Business School.

Structure and Format

The current examination is a computer-adaptive test delivered at authorized Pearson VUE test centers and online. It consists of three scored sections presented in a fixed order: the quantitative reasoning section, the verbal reasoning section, and the data insights section, which combines integrated reasoning and data sufficiency questions. The quantitative section tests problem-solving and data sufficiency skills, while the verbal section evaluates reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence correction abilities. The format excludes the separate analytical writing assessment, though those skills are integrated into other sections, marking a significant evolution from the previous structure that included the Analysis of an Argument essay.

Scoring

The scoring system generates a total score on a scale from 205 to 805, reported in increments of 10, which is derived from performance on the quantitative and verbal sections. The data insights section receives a separate score on a scale from 60 to 90. Historically, the total score was famously centered around a mean of 500, with elite programs such as the MIT Sloan School of Management and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business typically reporting median scores above 700. All scores are accompanied by a percentile ranking comparing the test-taker to the historical pool of examinees over the past three years, and results are valid for five years from the test date.

Preparation and Resources

Preparation for the assessment is a significant industry, with major providers including Manhattan Prep, Kaplan, Inc., and The Princeton Review. Many candidates utilize official guides published by the Graduate Management Admission Council and engage with adaptive online platforms like those from Magoosh or Target Test Prep. Preparation strategies often focus on mastering the unique Data Sufficiency question type and honing time management skills under the pressure of the computer-adaptive algorithm. Free resources are also available from organizations like the Khan Academy, though they are not specifically tailored for this exam.

Use in Admissions

In the admissions process for Master of Business Administration programs and other graduate management degrees, the score is one part of a holistic review that typically includes undergraduate transcripts from institutions like the University of California, Berkeley, professional experience, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. While some programs, such as those at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, have adopted test-optional policies, a strong performance remains a considerable advantage at highly competitive schools like the Columbia Business School. The exam is also used by some non-MBA business masters programs and by certain employers, including consulting firms like McKinsey & Company, as a proxy for analytical aptitude.