GMAT Examinations 2024: Dates, Registration, Eligibility, Exam Pattern, Application Fees

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GMAT Examinations 2024. Check the Dates, Registration, Eligibility, Exam Pattern, and Application Fees below.

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a computer-based test that assesses critical thinking and reasoning skills relevant to graduate business programs such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program.

It is a computer adaptive test (CAT) that tests the candidate’s writing, verbal, and reading skills in English. To ace this test, one must be knowledgeable in reading comprehension, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and grammatical rules. A candidate can take the test for up to five times in one year.

GMAT is owned and controlled by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC).  Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) was started by a group of nine business schools; the group aimed to formulate a standardized test to enable business schools vet and select only qualified candidates for admission.

Most schools in the United States use GMAT results to determine a candidate’s eligibility for admission into MBA, Master of Accountancy, and Master of Finance programs.

In the recent development, GMAT will no longer be available by January 31st 2024, the test will be replaced by GMAT Focus. GMAT will consist of three sections: Verbal, Quantitative, and Data Insights, and is graded between 205 and 805 in 5-point intervals.

Are you considering taking the GMAT and you need all the information you can get on the tests? Read this article to explore the wealth of information available on this examination.

GMAT Examinations 2024: GMAT Examination Type

There are two modes in which the examination can be taken. Candidates can either opt for the online test mode or the test center mode. As the name implies, the online test mode means that candidates who choose this mode get to take their test online. The test center mode requires candidates to select a test center and write the examination. There are test centers spread across the globe except for a few countries.

GMAT Exam: Eligibility

GMAC (Graduate Management Admission Council) does not have a set eligibility criteria. Candidates however, must meet the requirements set by the schools they are applying to after the examinations. To attempt the GMAT examination, applicants must meet the following criteria:-

  1. Candidates should be at least 18 years of age.
  2. Candidates from all nationalities can attempt the GMAT exam
  3. Upper age limit is not there for any aspirant.
  4. Candidates between the ages of 13 – 17 must obtain written permission from legal guardians or parents.
  5. Candidates who want to enroll in MBA/Masters courses must have graduate degrees from any recognized institution.
  6. The GMAT exam is conducted in English; hence, candidates must have a basic command and fluency in the language.
  7. Work experience is not required, working professionals or students can apply to write the examination.

GMAT Examination Registration Process

Candidates can typically register for GMAT Examinations six months prior to the examination date or 24 hours before. However, candidates are advised to register at the earliest possible date as slots may become unavailable a few days to the examination. A candidate can take the examination up to five times in one year and the total times a candidate can take the test in a lifetime is 8 times.

Candidates can register for this examination by postal mail, by phone, or online. Below are the steps for registration:-

  1. Visit the official GMAT site.
  2. Create an account.
  3. Provide personal information, including name, address, etc.
  4. Provide your work and academic information.
  5. Verify your details before submitting.
  6. Schedule your examination date (Ensure that you select a convenient testing center)
  7. Choose a convenient date and time slot accordingly.
  8. Pay the registration fee online via credit or debit cards.
  9. Once you have made payment, your registration will be completed.

N/B: Applicants must ensure that they book their preferred slot three to four months before their preferred date and exam center. The examination can be paid for via cheque.

GMAT Exam Fee

GMAT exam costs $275 for the test center mode and $300 for an online mode. Extra charges may apply if a candidate wishes to switch centers or reschedule their examinations.

GMAT Test Centers: Checking In

GMAC has GMAT exam centers worldwide. There are examination centers in about 110 countries of the world. Below are the procedure for checking in at the centers:-

  1. Candidates are required to provide a valid means of identification.
  2. Candidates will then undergo a palm vein scan, wherever permissible by law.
  3. They will also be required to provide digital signature giving their consent for the terms and conditions to take the GMAT test.
  4. Next step is to take a  digital photograph.
  5. After this, the candidate can then proceed to write the examination.

N/B: Ensure that you adhere to the rules of the examination hall.

GMAT for Aspirants With Disabilities

Candidates with disabilities must submit documents for disabilities, once they qualify, they will be given special consideration. They will be provided with the following:-

  1. They will be allowed extra testing time.
  2. They will be allowed extra or extended rest breaks.
  3. A trackball mouse
  4. A medical device if essential is permissible
  5. Persons with disabilities will be provided a reader to read the questions or record the same for him/her.
  6. A recorder is also provided to record the responses of the aspirant
  7. Enlarged fonts on the monitor of the PC is made available
  8. A sign language interpreter, if required

GMAT Examination: Sections

The GMAT exam is made up of four sections, each section assesses candidates on different parameters. Below are the details for each section:-

  1. Quantitative Reasoning: This section assesses candidates’ ability to analyze data and make informed decisions based on their critical thinking skills.
  2. Verbal Reasoning-: This section assesses candidates’ reading and comprehension skills. Their ability to make to use their understanding of a passage to evaluate an argument is tested in this section.
  3. Analytical Writing Assessment: This section measures candidate’s ability to communicate their ideas and their critical thinking abilities.
  4. Integrated Reasoning: This section evaluates candidates skills in data analysis skills.

Note that these four sections have their allotted time. Candidates can take two 8 minute breaks during the examination. See table below for details on the sections and their allotted time:-

Section of Examination Question Count and Timing Type of Questions Range of Scores
Analytical Writing Assessment 1 question and 30 minutes Analyzing any passage/argument 0-6 (via 0.5 point increments)
Integrated Reasoning 12 questions and 30 minutes Interpreting Graphics, Reasoning from multiple sources, Analyzing Tables, Two-part analytical questions 1-8 (increments in 1 point each)
Quantitative Reasoning 31 questions and 62 minutes Solving Problems and Data Sufficiency 6-51 (increments in 1 point each)
Verbal Reasoning 36 questions and 65 minutes Critical Reasoning, Comprehension and Reading and Correcting Sentences 6-51 (increments in 1 point each)

GMAT Exam Syllabus

GMAT is a 3 hour 30 minutes test. The maximum score for this exam is 800, below is the syllabus for GMAT.

1.  Analytical Writing Assessment

  •  Argument Essay: This session covers argument analysis/reasoning.
  • Issue Essay: Candidates will be asked to write essays on a given topic with a word count of about 600. They can argue for or against the topic provided.

2.  Integrated Reasoning

  • Table Analysis: This section assesses candidate’s ability to analyze and sort tables containing specific data.
  • Two-Part Analysis: This part assesses candidates’ complex problem-solving abilities. They may be quantitative, verbal or both.
  • Multi-Source Reasoning: Here, candidates ability to analyze data from various tables/sources, text passages, and graphics is evaluated.
  • Graphics Interpretation: Candidates will be asked to interpret information in graphical images like pie charts or curves and graphs.

3.  Quantitative Reasoning

  •  Data Sufficiency: Candidates are asked to analyze problems of quantitative nature, identify vital data and determine necessary data for problem solving. The topics for this analysis include Geometry, Elementary Algebra,  Arithmetic,  Ratio Proportions, Exponents and Roots, Integers and their Properties, Linear Equations, and Permutation and Combinations.
  • Problem Solving: Candidates use analytical reasoning techniques and logic for problem-solving.

4.  Verbal Reasoning

  • Reading Comprehension: Candidates demonstrate the ability to absorb logical connections between vital points, create inferences, understand statements and words and follow quantitative concepts. Reading skills include  logical structure, style, application, inference, main idea, and support for an idea.
  •  Critical Reasoning: This section evaluates candidates’ abilities to evaluate and create arguments while formulating strategies or action plans.
  • Sentence Correction: This section covers sentence structure and correcting grammar. Candidates will work on aspects like rhetorical sentence construction, subject-verb agreement, finding errors,  unseen passages, countable and uncountable, parallelism, and misplaced modifiers.

Calculation of GMAT Scores

There are fixed scores for the four sections of the GMAT exam and the total score. Below are the details of GMAT by each section.

Section Score Band
Quantitative 0-60 (with percentile)
Verbal 0-60 (with percentile)
AWA 0-6 (half integers and with percentile)
Integrated Reasoning 1-8 (integer)
Total 200-800 (with percentile)

GMAT Score Range

Below are the minimum and maximum scores for each GMAT exam section.

Examination Portion Range of Scores (Minimum-Maximum) Mean Score Threshold
AWA 0-6 4.5
Verbal 0-60 27
Integrated Reasoning 1-8 4
Quantitative 0-60 38
Total Score 200-800 548

FAQs About GMAT 2024

Below are some of the frequently asked questions about GMAT and adequate answers:-

1. What is GMAT Exam?

It is a computer-adaptive test that assesses critical thinking and reasoning skills relevant to graduate business programs such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program.

2. How many times GMAT exam is conducted in a year?

There are no fixed timelines for GMAT exams, however, a candidate can attempt the exam for up to five times in a year.

3. What is GMAT exam used for?

Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a common entrance exam that is conducted to take admissions for MBA and masters in management related areas. The GMAT score is accepted worldwide for admissions in some postgraduate programs.

4. Who conducts the GMAT exam?

The exam is conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC).

5. What is the duration of the GMAT exam?

The total duration on the examination is 3 hours and 7 minutes excluding two 8-minute breaks each which rounds it up to 3hours 23 minutes. The duration of each section are as follows:-

  • Analytical Writing – 30 minutes
  • Integrated Reasoning – 30 minutes
  • Quantitative Reasoning – 62 minutes
  • Verbal Reasoning – 65 minutes

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