GMAT EXAM: Full Form, IBT Test, Dates, Fees, Registration

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) has reduced the duration of the exam by 30 minutes in April 2018. The exam duration is now 3 hours and 30 minutes long, including breaks and test instructions. The Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning sections were decreased by 13 and 10 minutes, respectively. There have been no changes to the Integrated Reasoning and Analytical Writing Assessments, as well as the Score Preview and optional break time. The Quantitative and Verbal sections have become shorter as the number of unscored questions has been reduced by The Graduate Management Admission Council.

According to the Graduate Management Admission Council, in India, the Aadhar Card will be accepted as valid ID proof for the GMAT online exam starting April 8, 2021. Candidates will require to prove their identity using their Aadhar Card or Passport as part of the registration process.

GMAC, the administering body of the GMAT, hasn’t set any fixed prerequisites for taking the GMAT exam. However, the students who take the test are required to fulfill the eligibility criteria set by the respective universities/colleges. These include:

Age Limit: Although there is no upper age limit, The candidate must be at least 18 years old; if a candidate is under the age of 18, a no-objection certificate from a parent or guardian is required.

Educational Qualification: GMAC sets no specific qualification criteria regarding the minimum education qualification of candidates for GMAT. However, the candidates must possess a minimum educational qualification from a recognized institution or college.

Number of Attempts: The applicants can attempt the GMAT up to 8 times in total. However, the maximum number of attempts should not exceed more than 5 attempts in a year. Also, note the gap between each test has to be 16 days.

The GMAT Exam curriculum is divided into four sections:

• Analytical Writing

• Integrated Reasoning

• Quantitative Aptitude Section

• Verbal Reasoning Section

Analytical Writing: The analytical writing portion comprises themes on which you will be required to write passages that you may read and answer questions about. The GMAT AWA section evaluates your critical reasoning, communication, and grammar abilities. You should be aware of correct language usage and make every effort to prevent grammatical faults.

Integrated Reasoning: The GMAT Syllabus has recently been updated to include an Integrated Reasoning portion. This component assesses your ability to assess data provided in the form of a graph or table. 

Quantitative Aptitude Section: The GMAT Quantitative Reasoning part is timed at 62 minutes, and you must solve 31 questions in that time. The section is graded on a scale of 0 to 60 points, with 1-point increments. The GMAT Quant syllabus includes Arithmetic, Geometry, and Algebra.

Verbal Reasoning Section: The verbal reasoning section of the GMAT consists of three types of questions: Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, and Sentence Correction. It has 36 multiple-choice questions that must be answered within 65 minutes. The goal of the GMAT Verbal section is to assess your ability to read textual content and recognize logical relationships.

Applicants must review the GMAT exam pattern to have clarity about the format of the test, the types of questions offered, the level of difficulty, and the time allocation.

Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning are the four portions of the GMAT.

The above four sections, each with their own set of questions and time intervals. Before the start of the test, GMAT test takers can choose the order in which they will attempt the parts. Based on their strengths and interests, the student must make an informed decision.

The GMAT test is aimed to evaluate candidates' critical thinking, analytical thinking, verbal communication, and English language skills, among other things.

The GMAT is the most difficult exam for MBA and other management schools abroad, therefore it's natural to feel worried about taking it.

Without a doubt, studying for the GMAT requires a considerable amount of time, a comprehensive study strategy, persistence, and hard effort, it will almost surely result in a respectable GMAT score.

Having said that, the amount of time you should devote to test preparation is entirely up to you, though starting your GMAT study sooner will allow you to accrue more preparation hours.

Students must achieve a score of at least 650 out of 800 on the GMAT to gain admission to top management schools abroad. 

With the appropriate planning and strategic approach to exam preparation, you can achieve a score of above 650.

GMAC does not specify precise GMAT test dates because the exam is given throughout the year, giving students the flexibility to choose an exam date that is convenient for them. The exam, however, may be held on several test dates in various places across India.

Applicants can register for the GMAT up to 6 months ahead of schedule, however it is recommended that they do so two to three months in advance. Check the application dates for the graduate business programs you're interested in and plan your GMAT exam appropriately.

While the GMAT at an exam centre is available 7 days a week during the centre's working hours, the GMAT Online Exam is available 24 X 7, enabling candidates even more scheduling flexibility.

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), which administers the exam, announces GMAT results.

The results are available online. By entering in with their registered email ID and password, applicants can view their official GMAT scores online. Your scores will be available to you within five to 20 days. The GMAT exam result can be viewed 20 days after the exam date.

It contains the candidate's GMAT exam scores. On the GMAT scorecard, the overall score and percentile, as well as the candidates' information, will be given.

Applicants should double-check all details and alert the proper authorities if any inconsistencies exist. Before submitting their results/scores, applicants should check the GMAT cut-off marks for their selected universities.

The GMAT is conducted all year long at multiple locations throughout the world. The easiest way to apply for the GMAT is to do it online, where applicants can select from a list of dates, times, and test centres in their region.

While students have the option of taking the exam on their preferred date and location, selecting a good slot may be challenging if an appointment is not arranged at least 2 weeks before the exam date.

Applicants must thoroughly understand the GMAT application process before applying. Applicants can only take the GMAT after completing the registration process successfully. Before applying for the GMAT, applicants should make sure they meet the eligibility requirements.

Students must first understand the GMAT exam structure and syllabus before beginning their preparation. Aspirants should take the GMAT Practice Test series for better preparation. 

Applicants can take a series of GMAT mock tests on the official GMAT website to prepare and study for the exam by knowing the exam pattern and syllabus clearly and distinctly.