Graduate Management Admission Test

The Graduate Management Admission Test, better known by the acronym GMAT, is a globally standardized test to determine the suitability for postgraduate Master 's programs at business schools (English " Graduate School of Business " ) to be measured. The test result is used by more than 1,500 public and private universities and colleges, especially in the U.S. and the UK as an important criterion for admission for further studies (English " graduate " ), for example, a Master of Business Administration ( MBA). The GMAT is the Graduate Management Admission Council ( GMAC ®) - designed and is in the order performed in authorized testing centers in many countries for a fee ( currently U.S. $ 250 VAT) - an association of many leading business schools. The GMAT is filed annually by over 100,000 participants. To verify the identity comes the GMAT a palm vein recognition used.

GMAT test method

The test is designed to test the ability of a test subject for a postgraduate degree in economics ( as opposed to a " knowledge test"). It consists in its current form from an essay, a section of questions on the interpretation of data sources ( " Integrated Reasoning Section" ) and two multiple choice questionnaires ( " Quant Section" and " Verbal Section" ). For the essay ( "Analytical Writing Assessment Section" ) is 30 minutes processing time. During this time a given topic must be processed analytically. In the " Integrated Reasoning Section" 12 questions on various data sources ( tables, charts ) are made in 30 minutes. The last two questionnaires ( Quant and Verbal Section) are to be processed in 75 minutes each. The first questionnaire ( " Quantitative Section" ) examines mathematical, logical and quantitative skills and knowledge. The second questionnaire ( " Verbal Section" ) examines linguistic and analytical skills, English grammar and reading comprehension. The test is held entirely in English. He is, in contrast, for example, the TOEFL ( Test of English as a Foreign Language), however, not a pure language test, but rather measures the analytical and logical skills of the person to be examined.

The GMAT can be stored for several years in most countries only on a computer as CAT (Computer Adaptive Test). That is, the computer selects questions from a predetermined pool and adjusts the difficulty level (and thus the final result) with each question automatically to the user, depending on whether the previous question was answered correctly or incorrectly. The test participant will receive first submitted to a prestigious than average difficult question in each section. He answers the question incorrectly, the next a little easier and the test result falls, he answered it correctly, the next a little more difficult and the test result increases. The test program tries to find out which level of the participants still met and at what level of difficulty he fails. Over time, the GMAT should be difficult for each participant, but this is desirable from a results perspective.

Because the test method described and the time pressure of the Graduate Management Admission Test is despite the rather limited Verified content difficult and unfamiliar for most European students and therefore requires a correspondingly thorough preparation. Since the test was previously aligned to Western ( American ) cultural standards, he will now be reviewed by the Graduate Management Admissions Council ( GMAC ).

GMAT Score: Determination and significance

By the method described above, the outcome or level of the panelists is determined, known as the "score". The two essays are evaluated directly from the computer and controlled by one or in case of disagreement of two human examiners and together form the so-called "Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA ) score ", which is measured on a scale from 0 to 6 in half-point numbers. This result is shown on the score report, but currently contributes not to the overall result (Total Score) at.

The overall result consists of the result of the mathematical (quantitative) and linguistic ( verbal ) part and is on a uniform scale of 200 to 800 ("Total Scaled Score" ) and frequently also in percentages from 1 to 99 ("Total Percentile " ) specified. The preliminary result is displayed to the subscriber immediately after completion of the test, the official report form with the results achieved in all sections will be sent approximately two weeks later. The score is then sent on request by the examination institute at the university, at which a test taker has advertised.

Average Results: The average GMAT participants reached a value of about 500 to 550 points (about 40 to 60% percentile) in recent years. However, the students at many of the famous and leading universities have average GMAT scores of over 650, some even in excess of 700 points. This means that 77 % and 89 % of the participants in the last three years were less favorable. Most universities have this average of their students as an orientation value from (these may be for marketing purposes ), but give no minimum number of points ahead. This is also recommended by the creators of the GMAT, among other things because the test a statistical deviation from the " actual " ability of a participant has ( "true score " ) of almost 30 points, eg due to the days of the participants and the selection of the questions by the computer. A - almost - perfect score of 98 % or more than 740 points every now and then before, but is it really necessary for any university, because for the authorization procedure also other criteria are used ( notes in the first degree, resume and work experience, letters of recommendation, cover letter, job application interview, etc. )

Repeat testing: If a participant is not satisfied with his result, the test can be repeated several times, at the earliest 31 days after the most recent attempt. Theoretically, the number of repetitions is hardly limited, but it must be remembered that the test each time is again chargeable and the last five achieved scores of each university are transmitted so that they can immediately see whether a positive trend is clearly discernible. Likewise, frequent repetitions of many universities are designed to the applicant negative ( generally maximum of three repetitions recommended). Once a scored point value is currently stored for about 20 years, but most universities do not accept test results that took place more than five years.