MBA Aspirants, Time To Start Preparations As GMAT Testing Year Begins

The Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT) 2016 testing year begins on July 1 for all those interested in securing admission to various Business schools and management programs across the world.

The process for appearing in the standardized computer adaptive test involves filling of the application form online at the official website along with uploading all the necessary documents.

The test fee, $250 worldwide, could be remitted through credit/debit card, cashier’s check (mailed forms only), money order (mailed forms only) and personal cheques (mailed forms only).

The process for appearing in the standardized computer adaptive test involves filling of the application form online at the official website along with uploading all the necessary documents.

The GMAC (Graduate Management Admission Council) conducts the on-line test at designated examination centres. The test also has a score preview feature that allows candidates to report or cancel the score. The test could be taken again after a gap of 16 days.

While the candidate could decide when to take the examination again, the number of attempts is limited to five in a year. An Enhanced Score Report (ESR) facility is also available that pinpoints areas of strength and weakness to help improve scores at retests, for a payment of $24.95.

Yet another facility is that the cancelled scores could be restored also at a later date if further attempts do not result in enhanced performance. But, remember it costs $100 to reinstate a cancelled score and the request for reinstatement has to be filed within 60 days.

While taking the test, it should be kept in mind that each incorrect answer would be followed by an easier question which would, however, carry less marks. It amounts to a situation of easier the question, lesser the marks thus affecting the total scores. Another difficulty with the test is that questions cannot be skipped.

Introduced way back in 1954, the test has undergone number of changes over the years. According to GMAC President & CEO Sangeet Chowfla, efforts are on to make it more innovative and stress free for candidates.

The three and half hour long test comprises of four sections. The first is Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA). To be completed in 30 minutes, it measures the candidates’ ability to think critically and to communicate their ideas on a given topic.

The second is Integrated Reasoning having 12 Questions involving Multi-Source Reasoning, Graphics Interpretation, Two-Part Analysis and Table Analysis to be completed in 30 minutes.

The third, Quantitative section, comprises 37 Questions on Data Sufficiency and problem solving to be completed in 75 minutes.

The fourth, Verbal section, has 41 Questions involving Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning and Sentence Correction to be completed in 75 Minutes.

As far as scoring is concerned, total GMAT Scores range from 200 to 800 where the two-thirds of the test takers score between 400 and 600. Any score in the range of 680- 720 would be considered competitive at the Top Ten and Ivy League schools, and anything above 720 would be considered in the topmost rungs.