Learning About the GMAT Exam
The Graduate Management Admission Test – or GMAT – is the test that's administered to students who are seeking entrance into graduate level business school. The GMAT test is a standardized test that measures how capable students will be in the study of business.
While the GMAT exam is only given at selected locations throughout the world, it's now a computer-exclusive test, eliminating the outdated method of filling in tiny ovals that so many people associate with standardized testing. In areas where computers aren't accessible, the GMAT test is offered at temporary computer way stations or on paper as a last resort.
Unlike many standardized tests which require a small fee for participation, the GMAT is actually quite pricey. Currently, the cost of taking the exam is $250 – which doesn't include any extra rescheduling fees you incur if you change your test date or location at the last minute. Because of the high cost of the exam, it's critical that you prepare appropriately to be sure you get the best possible score the first time you take the exam. To accomplish this, you need to understand that the test is designed to accurately measure your verbal, mathematical, and writing skills. If you're weak in any of these areas, try to set up a GMAT preparation program that adequately addresses your trouble spots.
You don't need to know which business schools you'd like to attend immediately after taking the GMAT. If you've been preparing for the exam, but receive a better job offer or suffer a family emergency – don't worry. Most schools will accept your GMAT score for up to five years from the point at which you took the test until you graduate. Since most MBA programs take approximately three years to complete, that means that you could wait as much as two years after taking the test before entering a business school. However, if you only intend to go to college part-time, it may take closer to five years to complete the program and you may need to retake the GMAT.
While there is no particular minimum GMAT score you must have in order to be allowed into college, most business schools have an average score of what they allow for students entering their MBA programs. For example, many of the higher tier graduate programs report an average GMAT test score in the lower seven hundreds. The maximum score that you can achieve on the GMAT is 800, but the average score is around 550. Because the GMAT is designed to measure English verbal and writing skills it's extremely difficult to for a person who learned English as a secondary language to get a high score on the GMAT. Schools who accept a lot of foreign exchange students generally understand this and will usually have a lower GMAT entrance average as a result.
Preparing to take the GMAT is a serious commitment, so it's important to fully research the colleges you're thinking about attending to find out what their average GMAT test scores are before you take the test. This way you can be fully prepared for the test what you to expect before you go to the testing facility – being as prepared as possible for the GMAT exam is the best way to get the score you want.
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