The GMAT (short for Graduate Management Admission Test) is a test that is required for admission to many MBA programs. It’s similar to the GRE and other entrance exams, in that it is used by admissions officers to determine whether a prospective student will succeed in business school, and it determines this by testing your problem solving, communication, analytical, and reasoning skills.
Text and design by: Anna Palmer
When it comes to scoring, the GMAT is complicated. The Analytical Writing section is graded on a scale of 0 to 6, with half-points being granted. The Integrated Reasoning section is graded on a scale of 1 to 8, with no half-points granted. Both the Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning sections are graded on a scale of 6 to 51, with no half-points granted. Your total score will range between 200 and 800 (in intervals of 10) and only takes into account your performance on the Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning sections of the test.
Over 700,000 individuals took the GMAT between January 2015 and December 2017; the average total score was 560. However, score reports that are sent to schools include individual subsection scores (and your essay response) as well as the total score, so it’s important that you try your best on the Analytical Writing and Integrated Reasoning sections as well.
Before test day, make sure you’ve studied the material, whether you choose to take a prep course, use online resources, or buy a study guide. As test day approaches, make sure you sleep and eat well. Good luck!
