Follow
Receiving higher than average GMAT scores can help you quite a bite in the future. Those who score higher may qualify for scholarships and for financial aid packages that let them work their way through business school. Also known as the Graduate Management Admission Test, this is a standardized test along the lines of the General Records Examination or even the SAT or ACT exam that you took in high school. Most business schools now require that students take the GMAT and submit their scores when sending in a completed application. While you may want to know more about the scores received on that test, you’ll probably want to know how to take it and the information covered on the exam too.
Register for the GMAT
The GMAT is a standardized test that college students can take. Though not all business schools require that prospective students take this exam, many do. When you register to take the test, you must go to the official GMAT website and select the testing center where you want to take it. You’ll then fill out an application that asks for your name and some other basic information. If you want to submit your scores automatically, you can select which schools will receive your score. You must also pay a fee to schedule and take the test.
Sections on the Exam
When you take the GMAT, you have a total of three hours and 30 minutes to successfully complete each section. The test consists of four sections that total 90 questions and an essay. The first of those sections is an analytical writing assessment. You’ll receive a prompt and have 30 minutes to create an argumentative essay based on that prompt. Next is the integrated reasoning section, which features 12 questions and lasts for 30 minutes. The GMAT gives you 75 minutes to answer 37 problem solving and data questions. You’ll have an additional 75 minutes to work on and respond to 41 verbal comprehension questions.
Score Range
A perfect score on the GMAT is an 800, but only a small number of test takers score above 700. The average score is right around 550, and scoring in this range may help you get into the business school of your choice. According to the official GMAT website, the lowest score is 200 but most students who take the test score in the 400 to 600 range. You have the option of requesting your scores online or via the mail. Most students receive their GMAT scores within 20 days of taking the exam.
When to Take the GMAT
Even if you score lower than you would like, you have the option to retake the test later. That is why most students first take the test in the fall or spring semester of their junior years. This gives them time to better prep for the examination and still have time to submit their scores to business schools. Consider signing up for a test prep course or using some of the resources available on the official site before your scheduled test date.
The GMAT is a standardized test that business schools use when looking at prospective students. Though GMAT scores can range from 200 to a perfect score of 800, most students tend to score in the 400 to 600 range.
