The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a standardized exam used by business schools worldwide to assess applicants for their MBA and other business-related graduate programs. It’s important because it helps admissions committees evaluate candidates’ quantitative and verbal reasoning skills, critical thinking, and data analysis abilities, all crucial for success in demanding graduate-level business studies. A strong GMAT score can significantly boost an applicant’s chances of getting accepted into a top program and potentially lead to higher earning potential after graduation.
The GMAT exam is comprised of three sections that showcase the specific skills needed to succeed in a graduate management program:
The GMAT provides a common benchmark for comparing applicants from diverse backgrounds, allowing business schools to assess candidates fairly.
The GMAT is designed to gauge skills relevant to business school, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and data analysis, which are strong indicators of future academic performance.
Many top business schools rely on GMAT scores as a key factor in their admissions decisions, alongside other factors like GPA, work experience, and essays.
A high GMAT score can open doors to highly competitive MBA programs, leading to better job opportunities and potentially higher salaries after graduation.
A strong GMAT score can also increase your chances of receiving scholarships and other financial aid.
A good GMAT score shows a commitment to pursuing a business education and a willingness to invest the time and effort required for success.
The GMAT exam is comprised of three sections that showcase the specific skills needed to succeed in a graduate management program:
The GMAT exam is 2 hours and 15 minutes long (with one optional 10-minute break) and consists of 64 questions in total. Let us now try to understand the GMAT exam pattern for international applicants in brief:
|
GMAT Exam Sections
|
Time Allocated
|
Number of Questions
|
|---|---|---|
|
Quantitative Reasoning
|
45 Minutes
|
21 questions
|
|
Verbal Reasoning
|
45 Minutes
|
23 questions
|
|
Data Insights
|
45 Minutes
|
20 questions
|
The minimum GMAT score is 205 while the maximum you can score on the test is 805. Although schools consider your application holistically, at the vast majority of schools worldwide, scoring above 645 is extremely competitive. However, a score of above 605 will place you in the competitive top 30% of test takers.
|
School
|
Average GMAT Score
|
|---|---|
|
Stanford University
|
738
|
|
New York University (Stern)
|
733
|
|
University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
|
732
|
|
Harvard University
|
740
|
|
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan)
|
730
|
|
Columbia University
|
732
|
|
University of California, Berkeley (Haas)
|
730
|
|
Dartmouth University (Tuck)
|
727
|
|
Yale University (School of Management)
|
730
|
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