Understanding and Preparing
for the GMAT® Exam
© 2013 Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®) All rights reserved.
GMAT is Used by Quality Graduate Management
Programs Worldwide
• Created by management schools for
management schools to be their exam
% of Schools
Using the GMAT
96%
• Most widely accepted entrance exam
by graduate management programs
worldwide
 5,900+ programs
 2,000+ schools
 90+ countries
89%
77%
100%
© 2013 Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®) All rights reserved.
Multiple Program Types at Management Schools
Accept the GMAT exam
MBA
Specialized Masters
Full-Time, One Year
Full-Time, Two Year
Part-Time/Working Professional
Executive
Online/Flex
Accounting
Business Analytics
Economics
Entrepreneurship
Finance
Health Administration
Human Resources
Information Technology
International Business
Management
Marketing
Public Policy Management
Real Estate
Supply Chain Management
Plus, many more…
Dual/Joint Degree
MBA / Public Policy
MBA / Law
MBA / Medicine
Plus, many more…
Doctoral
© 2013 Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®) All rights reserved.
The GMAT Exam
Why it works,
How it’s used,
How it’s structured
© 2013 Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®) All rights reserved.
The GMAT Works for Schools and Students
Reliable, Objective, and Strong Predictor of Academic Success
For 60 years the GMAT exam has been the leader in business school
and management program admissions because it works:
 As a predictor of academic success
 As a means to stand out in a talented applicant pool
 As a means of helping candidates find the right program
© 2013 Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®) All rights reserved.
GMAT is a Strong Predictor of Academic Success
4.00
3.80
3.75
3.70
+
AWA
Applicant
GMAT Total
+
IR
3.65
+
UGPA
+
Other
?
3.45
3.35
Predicted
MidProgram
GPA
3.30
3.25
3.20
0.00
© 2013 Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®) All rights reserved.
GMAT is Part of a Balanced Admissions Process
GMAT Exam
Value to Admissions
• Academic potential
• Compare across all applicants
Value to Applicants
• Opportunity to stand out
• Opportunity to compensate
• Opens doors (admission, scholarships, etc.)
• Confidence
• Preparation for school
Admissions Process
Assesses Other Important Skills
• Leadership skills and potential
• Team skills
• Motivation, creativity, emotional
intelligence, interpersonal skills
• Job skills
• Business knowledge
• Subject-specific knowledge
• Spoken English
© 2013 Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®) All rights reserved.
GMAT Structure
30 minutes
30 minutes
Analytical
Writing
Integrated
Reasoning
(1 question)
Score: 0-6
(12 questions)
Score: 1-8
Approx.
4
Total Score:
200 - 800
75 minutes
Break
Hours
Verbal
Reasoning
Quantitative
Reasoning
(41 questions)
Score: 0-60
75 minutes
(37 questions)
Score: 0-60
Break
© 2013 Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®) All rights reserved.
GMAT Measures Higher Order Thinking Skills
Analysis, synthesis, and evaluation
Analytical
Writing
• Ability to explore the complexities of an argument and formulate
a constructive critique based on a specific line of thinking
Integrated
Reasoning
• Ability to convert data from multiple sources and different
formats into relevant information to solve problems
Quantitative
Reasoning
Verbal
Reasoning
• Ability to reason quantitatively, solve quantitative problems and
interpret data
• Ability to draw inferences from written materials, critically
evaluate arguments, and correct written material
© 2013 Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®) All rights reserved.
GMAT Measures Skills Used in School
Analytical Writing
Integrated Reasoning
Analysis of an Argument
Multi-Source Reasoning
Table Analysis
Graphics Interpretation
Two-Part Analysis
Management Students are Expected to:
Quantitative
Reasoning
Problem-Solving
Data-Sufficiency
•
Analyze arguments
•
Take an informed position
•
Write clearly and effectively
•
Integrate different pieces of information to identify
interrelations, make inferences, and draw conclusions
•
Evaluate a wide-range of data
•
Determine critical and sufficient data
•
Synthesize reading
•
Evaluate arguments
•
Formulate actions and trade-offs and make decision
Verbal
Reasoning
Reading Comprehension
Critical Reasoning
Sentence Correction
© 2013 Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®) All rights reserved.
The GMAT is a Computer Adaptive Test (CAT)
Starts with a middle difficulty item

start


 

 

finish
Correct response = harder item
Incorrect response = easier item
An easier item may = content change
One question at a time
Cannot skip or go back
Every item counts in scoring
Adaptive testing is
More accurate
More efficient
More secure
A better testing experience
© 2013 Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®) All rights reserved.


High
 
45
Score




Low
Easy
Question
Hard
GMAT is a Computer Adaptive Test (CAT)

First
Question
Last
© 2013 Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®) All rights reserved.
Registration, Testing, & Test Preparation
© 2013 Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®) All rights reserved.
GMAT Registration and Testing
Register at mba.com
or gmat.com
You cannot register
at the test center
Secure testing
550+ test centers
110+ countries
© 2013 Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®) All rights reserved.
GMAT Costs and Retesting
Cost $250 USD
Includes sending results to
five (5) programs FREE
Candidates can retest
once a month, up to five
times in 12 months
Twenty percent take the
GMAT more than once with
an average 30-point gain
© 2013 Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®) All rights reserved.
GMAT Preparation – How Much Time?
Depends on:
• Your discipline to study and your study environment
• Your comfort with the subject matter and item types
• Your need for a GMAT preparation program
SOURCE: mba.com Prospective Students
© 2013 Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®) All rights reserved.
Get Ready with the Experts in Your Corner
© 2013 Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®) All rights reserved.
How You Might Structure Your Prep
© 2013 Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®) All rights reserved.
GMAT Testing Centers
Check In
• Valid ID
• Document reader
• Signature
• Digital photo
• Palm Vein recognition
• Use of a locker
© 2013 Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®) All rights reserved.
GMAT Testing Centers
Testing
• Individual testing stations
• Proctored
• Use of a note board
• Video
• Choose score recipients
• Score-cancelling option
• Unofficial Score Report
• Official Score Report
sent within 20 days
© 2013 Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®) All rights reserved.
A Little Advice
• Register Early: 30 – 60 days before you need to take the exam
• Prepare: Helps you do well on the test, in school, and beyond
• Take it and Bank it: Scores are valid for five years
• Download GMATPrep: It’s free!
• Don’t Rule a School Out: Based on your test score
• Believe: In yourself, not the myths
© 2013 Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®) All rights reserved.
A Few GMAT Myths
1. Only the first 10 count
2. Easy = doing badly
3. Advance math needed
4. Accuracy vs. finishing
5. Need a super high score
© 2013 Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®) All rights reserved.
Thank You!
The GMAT Exam
Your Best First Step Towards a Career with Impact
mba.com
gmat.com
© 2013 Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®) All rights reserved.