GMAT evaluates your basic verbal ability, critical reasoning, mathematical and analytical writing skills that you have developed over a long period of time.
GMAT Test Format:
Given below is the test pattern of the GMAT exam:
The total time allotted for the exam is 3 hours 30 minutes.
Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA):
This section checks the writing ability of a candidate. The total time allotted for this section is 30 minutes to compose an essay which analyzes the argument. Following are some basic points which one should keep in mind while preparing for this section:
- A detailed analysis and assessment of the given argument.
- Detect the reason behind the argument and write-up for the same.
- Work out an orderly way to deal with to present your answer.
- Your answer must contain appropriate examples as well as an explanation.
The score for this section is on the two independent ratings. An expert reader will provide a third rating to your essay which will be considered as a final score if the difference between the previous two ratings is more than one point.
Quantitative Ability:
It is a 37-question section which is subdivided into two main sections that are Data Sufficiency (15 Questions) and Problem Solving (22 Questions). The total time allotted for this section is 75 minutes. This section evaluates your mathematical skills such as algebra, arithmetic, geometry, and also data interpretation with some standard problem-solving statements.
Integrated Reasoning:
This 30-minutes section checks the ability to read and examine the charts, graphs, and other ways of data representation. This section contains 12 questions based on the information. Integrated Reasoning is divided into four basic parts which include table analysis, graphics interpretation, two-part analysis, and multi-source reasoning.
Verbal Ability:
In this section, the candidate has to solve 41 questions in 75 minutes. It is divided into mainly three categories: Reading Comprehension (14 questions), Critical Reasoning (12 questions), and Sentence Correction (14 questions). In the reading comprehension section, you have to answer related to written passages based on different subjects. Critical Reasoning section evaluates the knowledge based on logical arguments. The section of Sentence Correction (15 questions) is based on to detect the errors and write it in a correct manner.
Score Range:
The total score is based on the Verbal Ability and Quantitative Ability scores, the remaining two section’s scores do not affect the total scores.
The GMAT total scores range from 200 to 800. The sectional-wise divisions are as follows:
- Analytical Assessment Writing rating extends from 0 to 6.
- Verbal Ability and Quantitative Ability scores range from 0 to 60.
- Integrated Reasoning rating on the scale of 1 to 8.
Some of the questions in Quantitative and Verbal sections may be experimental in nature. Such questions are not counted for score reporting. However, a candidate does not get to know the nature of the questions while attempting the GMAT exam. You can get a combined score of Verbal & Quant section out of 800.
Some important pointers that you should keep in mind before attempting GMAT are:
- GMAT is an online format and requires familiarity with the computer operating. It is a Computer Adaptive Test. Where Integrated Reasoning, Verbal Ability and Quantitative Ability are multiple Answer Choice type Questions, the Analytical Writing Assessment is a writing ability test.
- In an Adaptive Test, the questions appear in a graded order of difficulty. This means that the exam starts with a question which has a medium level of difficulty. The next question's level of difficulty depends upon the previous question's right/wrong response status. In the Computer Adaptive Test, one cannot skip/leave question unanswered or go back to the previous question.
- The validity of GMAT scores is 5 years. However, in India, some institutes limit the validity of GMAT to 1-2 years. If you have taken any test more than once, then most of the universities consider the recent score.
- The score is made available immediately on completion of the test excluding the score of essays. You can book the slots any time during the year. Also, these tests can be cancelled/retaken/rescheduled.
- You have a wide choice of test centres like Ahmadabad, Allahabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Trivandrum. Once booked, the test can also be rescheduled by paying nominal charges.
- To update yourself and get more information, log on to www.gmat.com
