The Graduate Management Admission Test, also known as the GMAT, is the standard used to gauge the readiness of candidates who want to take higher studies in the business administration program.
Graduate programs will first check if the candidate has passed the GMAT exam before assessing all the documents submitted along with the application. It’s a very stringent process, which is understandable because programs want to weed out applicants who are not yet ready.
So what should you remember when taking the GMAT exam?
1. The Test is Divided into Four Separate Sections
The four sections of the GMAT exam include integrated reasoning, analytical writing, quantitative reasoning, and verbal reasoning.
- Analytical Writing: This will test your ability to express your ideas and communicate them clearly and succinctly. It will also gauge your critical thinking ability.
- Integrated Reasoning: This will test your ability to dissect and break down data in multiple formats. You also need to analyze information to present solutions to complex problems.
- Verbal Reasoning: This will test your comprehension skills based on the written material presented to you. It will also test your grammar skills, as well as your capacity to support or refute arguments based on facts presented.
- Quantitative Reasoning: It will test your mathematical skills. Algebra will be a crucial skill in this part of the test. You need to know how to appreciate data and present your conclusions.
2. You are on the Clock
Each section will have a time limit. The time factor will also test your ability to handle stress. Not only will the exam test your mental prowess, but it also assesses your ability to manage your time. Time management is essential, which is something that you will learn in a GMAT prep course. Typically, the whole test will take three and ½ hours to finish or less.
3. You Get Limited Breaks
The applicant does get timeouts. However, these are typically limited to two breaks. They are also optional, so you can choose to continue the test with no interruption.
4. There are About 80 Questions in All
The four sections in the GMAT test will have a total of 80 questions in all. The verbal reasoning will have 36 items, which you will answer in about an hour. Quantitative reasoning will have 32 questions, and you also have one hour to answer them. The integrated reasoning has 12 questions, and you have 30 minutes to finish them all. Lastly, the analytical writing only has one question, and you have to present your argument in under 30 minutes.
All these can be very intimidating, but you can prepare yourself by taking a GMAT prep course, which will equip you with key strategies to boost your chances of passing the exam.
You will also get important strategy guides, answer practice questions based on previous GMAT tests, and official materials.
Essentially, the comprehensive course helps you enter the exam area with the right frame of mind–forget all the distractions and focus on answering the questions.
