Graduate Management Admission Test
The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT (/ˈdʒiːmæt/ (JEE-mat))) is a computer adaptive test (CAT) intended to assess certain analytical, writing, quantitative, verbal, and reading skills in written English for use in admission to a graduate management program, such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. Answering the test questions requires knowledge of English grammatical rules, reading comprehension, and mathematical skills such as arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) owns and operates the test, and states that the GMAT assesses analytical writing and problem-solving abilities while also addressing data sufficiency, logic, and critical reasoning skills that it believes to be vital to real-world business and management success. It can be taken up to five times a year but no more than eight times total. Attempts must be at least 16 days apart.
| Acronym | GMAT |
|---|---|
| Type | Computer-based standardized test |
| Developer / administrator | Graduate Management Admission Council |
| Knowledge / skills tested | Quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning, integrated reasoning, analytical writing. |
| Purpose | Admissions in graduate management programs of business schools. |
| Year started | 1953 |
| Duration | 3 hours and 7 minutes or 187 minutes |
| Score / grade range | Quantitative section: 6-51, in 1 point increments, Verbal section: 6-51, in 1 point increments, Integrated reasoning section: 1 to 8, in 1 point increments, Analytical writing assessment: 0.0 to 6.0, in 0.5 point increments. Total score (from verbal and quantitative sections only): 200 to 800. |
| Score / grade validity | 5 Years |
| Offered | Multiple times a year. |
| Restrictions on attempts | No |
| Countries / regions | 650 test centers in 114 countries. |
| Languages | English |
| Annual number of test takers | 74,810 unique candidates in 108,851 GMAT exams (T.Y. 2023) |
| Prerequisites / eligibility criteria | No official prerequisite. Intended for those interested in graduate management education. Fluency in English assumed. |
| Fee | US$ 275 |
| Scores / grades used by | More than 7,000 programs at approximately 2,300 graduate business schools around the world accept the GMAT exam. |
| Website | mba |
GMAT is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admission Council. More than 7,000 programs at approximately 2,300+ graduate business schools around the world accept the GMAT as part of the selection criteria for their programs. Business schools use the test as a criterion for admission into a wide range of graduate management programs, including MBA, Master of Accountancy, Master of Finance programs and others. The GMAT is administered online and in standardized test centers in 114 countries around the world. According to a survey conducted by Kaplan Test Prep, the GMAT is still the number one choice for MBA aspirants. According to GMAC, it has continually performed validity studies to statistically verify that the exam predicts success in business school programs. The number of test-takers of GMAT plummeted from 2012 to 2021 as more students opted for an MBA program that didn't require the GMAT.