What is the GMAT? And How to Prepare

Administered by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), the GMAT, or the Graduate Management Admission Test, is a multiple-choice, computer-based exam that is used widely for admission to graduate management and business programs, such as MBA programs. 

The purpose of this standardized test is to provide business school admissions departments with a way to easily measure an applicants’ readiness for graduate-level work, along with your work experience, academic record and any supporting materials. A high score on the GMAT exam is likely to have a positive impact on your business school application, similar to the way high SAT scores can positively impact undergraduate admissions. If you’re asking, “What is a good GMAT score?” we’ll have an answer to that in the FAQ section. 

As we continue to work through the question of “what is the GMAT”, let’s take a look at what’s on the exam. The test is broken out into 4 sections, each of which is scored separately. The Quantitative and Verbal sections are combined to generate your total score. You can choose how you want to start the exam, beginning with either the quantitative, verbal or writing sections.

Containing both data sufficiency and problem-solving questions, the Quantitative section covers math concepts like arithmetic, algebra and geometry to test your quantitative reasoning. For this section, you may have to relearn some of the quantitative concepts you first learned in high school. The problems in this section may be written in either pure math or story format, testing your ability to translate a story into math concepts to solve them. Precise calculations aren’t emphasized here. You are encouraged to work in round numbers and estimations, as you would in many instances in the workplace.

Many graduate-level academic programs emphasize verbal and written communication skills development. The verbal section of the GMAT is intended to test your command of standard written English, your skills in analyzing arguments and your ability to read critically. Critical reasoning, sentence correction and reading comprehension are the 3 question types in this section.

Designed to resemble problems you’re likely to encounter in business school or during your career, the integrated reasoning section is intended to test complex reasoning. Question types in this section include graphics interpretation (your ability to interpret data presented visually, in charts or graphs), multi-source reasoning (your ability to take information from multiple sources and boil it down) and table analysis (your ability to analyze information presented in a sortable table similar to a spreadsheet).

This is the essay portion of the test. You’ll be expected to write 2 essays for this section, with the more challenging one being the analysis of an argument. A simple and to-the-point, 5-paragraph format is recommended to recap the argument that is presented, make your statement regarding to what extent the argument has merit, and provide a road map to guide the reader through your description of the argument’s flaws. A final paragraph recaps and presents your explanation of how those flaws could be remedied to make the argument stronger.

Next in our “what is the GMAT” discussion is preparing for the test. Thoughtful and disciplined preparation for the GMAT is a must and may include options like guidebooks and practice tests. Because each of us learns and manages their time differently, there probably isn’t one single process that works for everybody, but you may find these 6 GMAT preparation tips to be useful.

Make a list of your business schools of interest and find out their application deadlines. This is what your GMAT preparation and testing timeline will be based on. Allow enough time prior to the application deadline to enable you to re-take the test if necessary, and still make the application deadline. While you’re doing this, find out the average scores of students who’ve been accepted.

Use what you’ve found out about average scores to set your own target score. It’s important to know your target score on test day, as you will see your Integrated Reasoning, Verbal and Quantitative and total scores after you finish the test and will be asked whether you want to keep the scores or cancel them. By having a specific target score in mind, you’ll know right away whether you’ve achieved the results you need to get into the graduate program of your choice.

You will find an abundance of practice resources out there. How do you know which will best help you meet your goals? Look for GMAC practice tests. The GMAC offers 2 full-length GMAT practice tests included in the cost of their practice software. Looking for more practice materials? You may find some high-quality practice tests from third-party providers online. Many students take a practice test every 2 to 3 weeks to measure their progress.

A diagnostic practice test will help you develop a clear sense of your GMAT starting point and see the areas where your results are strong as well as those where you need significant improvement. This will allow you to prepare as efficiently as possible, putting more work into the areas that will help you work toward earning your target score.

If you’re planning to enroll in a graduate program and you’re balancing work, family obligations or both, you’ll need to make time to study and that requires a plan-- especially if you’ve been out of school for a while. Take a close look at your schedule and allocate the same amount of study time on the same days of the week to establish a routine. It’s also a good idea to choose a place to study that helps you to focus without distractions or interruptions.

Include several important aspects in your study plan, such as:

•  Your weekly target number of study hours

•  Number of study sessions each week

•  What GMAT prep materials you’ll be using and how long it will take to work through them

•  When you’ll take practice tests and your target score for each of them

•  Plans to boost your practice test scores if you need it

After you’ve determined how long you need to study for the GMAT, set your test date and register a few months in advance. By registering early, you’ll be doing what you can to make sure that your preferred test date is available and giving yourself a firm deadline for your study schedule.

To advance your education or prepare to change careers or pursue a management role in your current occupation, it’s important to find a program that fits your busy life. At DeVry University and our Keller Graduate School of Management, our general MBA degree¹ can be completed in as few as 10 courses² and gives you the option of studying 100% online or in a hybrid format that combines online learning with an on-campus experience.³ 

This program also gives you the choice of 10 different industry-focused specializations in areas like accounting, marketing, project management, human resources and more.

Online learning with DeVry can help you balance your commitment to education with work, family and other aspects of your busy life. Classes start soon.