Planning to apply to an MBA or MiM programme at a prestigious business school abroad? Then you must know that the GMAT score is an admission requirement by most schools. If that has left you wondering what the GMAT is and how it is structured, this article will help you understand all the essentials you need to know about this widely accepted standardised test.
What is the GMAT?
MBA or MiM programmes taught at business schools are quite intensive and require students taking admissions into these programmes to possess adequate critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Hence, to gauge these skills in an applicant, business schools rely on the GMAT exam. The GMAT full form is Graduate Management Admission Test. The exam is structured in a way that any student preparing for it naturally learns how to solve complex problems. All the questions require students to think critically and logically and solve questions within a limited span of time.
To understand how to prepare for the GMAT, let us begin to understand the structure of the exam.
Structure of the GMAT
The GMAT is divided into four sections and is a 3-hour 7 minutes (excluding breaks) exam. Moreover, the GMAT is a computer-adaptive test, which means the difficulty level of the next question depends on how the previous one has been answered. The exam is scored on a scale of 200-800.
The table mentioned below comprises the complete breakdown of each section of the GMAT along with its scoring, questions and time duration.
| GMAT Section | Questions | Scoring | Duration |
| Analytical Writing Assessment | One Essay:Analyse an argument | 0-6 with a half-point increment | 30 minutes |
| Integrated Reasoning | 12MCQs. Questions are of four different types:Two-part analysisMulti-source reasoningGraphics interpretationTable analysis | 1-8 with a single-point increment system | 30 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 31 Questions. Two types of questions.:Data sufficiency Problem-solving | 6-51 with a single-point increment system | 60 minutes |
| Verbal Reasoning | 36 Questions. Three types of questions:Reading comprehensionSentence correctionCritical reasoning | 6-51 with a single-point increment system | 60 minutes |
As mentioned before, it is understood from the above table that the GMAT’s sections are designed to evaluate your ability to think critically and logically within a limited time.
Registering for the GMAT
To successfully register for the GMAT 2022 exam, you need to visit the official website and create an account. Once you have successfully created an account, you can schedule a date by completing the registration process and paying the GMAT registration fee of $250 (INR. 18750 approximately). The exam registration fee can be paid using a debit or credit card. Furthermore, to successfully register for the GMAT 2022 exam you will need valid ID proof for which your passport or Aadhar card will qualify.
Now that we have provided you with a comprehensive overview of the GMAT 2022 and its structure, you’re in a better position to kick start your preparation.
