Eligibility for the GMAT
Students with an undergraduate degree in any field or stream are eligible to apply for the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test). Aspirants for the GMAT must have completed their undergraduate degree at a government-approved college, university, or institution. The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), which administers the GMAT exam, has not specified a maximum score.
Educational Eligibility for the GMAT
According to GMAC, there is no such education eligibility for studying Master of Business Administration, Master of Management, or Master of Finance related programmes. Students who take the exam are mostly graduates or working professionals.
GMAT Age Restrictions
According to GMAC, the minimum age to take the exam is 18 years old. Any student under the age of 18 who wishes to take the exam must obtain parental permission. Furthermore, there is no upper age limit for aspirants; thus, graduated students and working professionals can both sit for and benefit from the GMAT exam.
Number of GMAT Attempts
Students can take the exam five times a year, with a 16-day break in between. Students can take the GMAT exam up to eight times in their lifetime.
Criteria for GMAT Retake
The GMAT retake criteria state that students may not take the GMAT Online exam more than twice in a row. For example, suppose Jhansi appears for the GMAT Online exam on July 1 and wishes to retake the exam. She can take the same GMAT Online exam on July 17. If she feels she needs to retake the test, she should do so in person at a testing centre rather than online. Because it is a rule, students should only take the Online exam twice in a row. So far, Jhansi has attempted three times in a year, and this will be taken into account for the lifetime limit as well.
Finally, she went to the test centre for the in-person exam. She now wishes to take the online exam, which she can do without the 16-day calendar gap. Switching from Online to In-person or In-person to Online does not require the 16-day calendar gap, but giving the Online tests continuously twice does.
Language Criteria for the GMAT
The GMAT exam is administered in only one language: English. There are no other regional languages used for the exam because English is the standard form of administration.
Working Knowledge
According to the GMAT official website, www.mba.com, MBA candidates should have a minimum of two years of work experience. However, the average MBA candidate will have two to five years of work experience.
However, the website also states that “work experience” is not the only predictor of application success.
It clearly states that an exceptional GPA, an exceptional GMAT score, and self-learned data analysis skills can compensate for a lack of professional work experience.
It also emphasises the importance of extracurricular activities such as hobbies, extracurricular activities, and community service involvement in students’ MBA applications.
Criteria for GMAT Reservation
Candidates with disabilities are given priority. People who meet the reservation criteria must submit a few documents in addition to their GMAT application. Prior to that, they must satisfy or fulfil a number of conditions. They do,
They have a disability that limits their ability to take the online GMAT exam under normal conditions.
When compared to other people, the presence of an impairment that limits a major life activity.
The following are considered disabilities by GMAC.
Disabilities in Psychology
Learning and Cognitive Disabilities
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Sensory Impairments (Hearing or Vision).
Disabilities, both physical and systemic.
GMAT Exam Prerequisites
Before beginning their GMAT examination, students should be aware of the following requirements.
| S.No | Equipment | Technical System Requirements |
| 1. | Operating System |
|
| 2. | Firewall |
|
| 3. | Display |
|
| 4. | Internet Browser |
|
| 5. | Internet Connection |
|
| 6. | Webcam |
|
| 7. | Browser Settings |
|
| 8. | Work Computer |
|
| 9. | Power |
|
Note 1 – Mac OS users should check their System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy” settings for Microphone, Camera, Automation, and Input Monitoring to ensure that they allow the OnVUE software.
Note 2 – Before beginning the examination, make sure that the audio and microphone are not muted to avoid complications during the proctor check-in.
FAQ
1. Who is eligible for the GMAT?
Any candidate with a Bachelor’s degree is eligible to take the GMAT. There are no maximum qualification criteria for applying for the exam, so both graduates and working professionals can apply.
2. What are the GMAT exam prerequisites?
Any candidate with a Bachelor’s degree is eligible to take the GMAT. There are no maximum qualification criteria for applying for the exam, so both graduates and working professionals can apply.
3. What is the GMAT exam’s maximum age limit?
Students must be at least 18 years old to take the GMAT exam. Students between the ages of 13 and 17 must, however, obtain their parents’ permission before applying for the exam.
GMAT Exam Format
The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is an entrance exam for students interested in pursuing Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Management (MIM), and other business or finance-related Masters programmes. The exam is entirely computer-based, and it assesses students’ analytical thinking and data handling abilities. The exam can be taken in a structured testing centre or from the comfort of one’s own home. Taking the GMAT exam validates students’ ability to handle management programmes taught at business schools. As a result, taking the exam and scoring a high score will set students apart from the crowd as potential applicants for management programmes.
Highlights of the GMAT Exam Pattern
| Highlights | Description |
| Official GMAT Website | www.mba.com |
| Exam organiser | Graduate Management Admission Council |
| Sections | 4 |
| Total number of questions | 80 |
| Score range | 200-800 |
| Average score | 556 |
| Language of Instruction | English |
| Mode of Examination | Computer-based |
| Negative Marking | None |
| Exam Duration | 3 hours 7 minutes |
Other Significant Points
Because there is no standard syllabus for the GMAT exam, questions are designed to assess students’ analytical and reasoning abilities.
Students can complete their exams in one of three different ways.
Multiple-choice questions are used in both quantitative and verbal reasoning.
The Analytical Writing Assessment is made up of an essay question.
Non-MCQs make up Integrated Reasoning. TITA (Type in the Answer) questions, for example.
The GMAT does not have negative marking.
During the exam, there are two optional eight-minute breaks.
GMAT Exam Schedule 2022
The GMAT exam is divided into four sections, each of which is timed. During the exam, students have the option of taking two eight-minute breaks.
Analytical Writing Assessment – First Section
The section is designed to assess students’ critical thinking skills as well as their ability to present their ideas neatly and precisely.
Second Section – Integrated Reasoning – This section examines the ability to process data and given information in a systematic manner.
The third section focuses on quantitative reasoning.
The quantitative section assesses students’ ability to evaluate data and draw meaningful conclusions.
Verbal Reasoning – This section assesses students’ English comprehension and ability to correct incorrect sentences to standard English.
Students are not required to take the exam in the order specified. They have the option of completing their exam in any of the three assigned orders.
Analytical Writing, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning are all assessed.
Analytical Writing Assessment, Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Integrated Reasoning
Analytical Writing Assessment, Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Integrated Reasoning
| Section | Time Limit/ Number of Questions | Question Types | Score Range |
| Analytical Writing Assessment | 30 minutes/1 question | Analysis of an argument | 0-6 (in 0.5 increments) |
| Integrated Reasoning | 30 minutes/
12 questions |
Graphic Interpretation, Table Analysis, Multi-Source Reasoning, Two-Part Analysis | 1-8 (in 1 point increments) |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 62 minutes/
31 questions |
Data Sufficiency, Problem Solving | 6-51 (in 1 point increments) |
| Verbal Reasoning | 65 minutes/
36 questions |
Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, Sentence Correction | 6-51 (in 1 point increments) |
Sectional Explanation of the GMAT Exam Pattern
Analytical Writing Evaluation
As the name implies, the section requires students to analyse the given topic and write about their understanding of it. The topic is mostly of general interest and business-related. This section primarily assesses students’ ability to organise their thoughts and express themselves clearly.
Reasoning Integrated
Students must study and decode information presented in multiple formats in the Integrated Reasoning section. The majority of questions are classified as follows:
Multi-Source Reasoning – Students will be asked to evaluate information presented in various formats such as passages, tables, graphs, diagrams, and other types of visual presentations in this category.
Table Analysis – Using a drop-down menu, students should solve statistics, ratios, proportions, or probabilities from a spreadsheet-like table.
Fill in the blanks – This is the section for graphic interpretation. Interpret the bar, line, scatterplot, and bubble graphs provided.
Two-Part Analysis – In this section, students will be asked to calculate proportions, identify trade-offs, and select the best answer from a tabular format.
Reasoning in Numbers
In quantitative reasoning, there are two sections. The first is problem solving, and the second is data sufficiency. Topics include,
Arithmetic consists of the following topics: numbers and their powers and roots, fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio and proportion, sets, counting methods, and discrete probability.
Equation, inequalities, absolute value, functions, and exponents are all part of algebra.
Lines and angles, polygons, circles, solids, and coordinate geometry are all examples of geometry.
Rate, Time and Work, Mixtures, Simple and Compound Interest, Discounts, Profit and Loss, Geometry Problems, Measurement Problems, and Data Interpretation are all examples of word problems.
Reasoning Verbally
Verbal Reasoning assesses students’ English skills in reading and comprehending given content, as well as their ability to reason and evaluate arguments. Verbal Reasoning is divided into three sections:
Reading Comprehension – Students will be given a 350-word passage and asked to answer questions about the main idea, supporting ideas, inferences, context style and tone, and so on.
Critical Reasoning – Questions assess students’ ability to construct arguments, evaluate arguments, and formulate and evaluate plans of action.
Sentence Correction – Questions are classified into the following categories: Agreement, Diction, Grammatical Construction, Idiom, Logical Prediction, Parallelism, Rheortorical Construction, and Verb Form.
How Does the GMAT Computer Adaptive Test Work?
The GMAT is a Computer Adaptive Test, which means it is entirely computer-based. The computer evaluates the students’ skill and ability to solve the given questions. Because of the computer’s precision and accuracy in assessing the students’ skill and abilities, the computer-based GMAT score is highly considered when selecting students for management programmes.
Now, how does this Computer Adaptive Test GMAT work?
The GMAT’s final two sections, Quantitative and Verbal reasoning, are computer-adaptive. The computer evaluates students’ answers and responses to the questions, analyses how they solved them, and then generates the next question. The first question, for example, will be of medium difficulty to the students. If a student correctly answers it, the next question will be more difficult than the first. If the same student answers incorrectly, the next question will be simpler. The exact procedure is repeated until the student completes the exam. In this way, the computer comprehends students’ subject knowledge and accurately assesses their ability to answer questions.
Bottom of the Form
Syllabus for the GMAT Exam
The GMAT syllabus is a mix of business and finance topics designed to help students prepare for the GMAT exam. These topics are divided into several categories, including analytical reasoning, integrated reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and verbal reasoning. These four sections contain a variety of questions in the form of graphs, tables, pie charts, diagrams, and so on. Aside from business and finance-related questions, the exam also includes English language proficiency testing questions such as sentence comprehension, spotting errors, and correcting them.
Highlights of the GMAT Exam Syllabus 2022
| S.No | Sections | Duration | No.of Questions | Description |
| 1. | Analytical Writing Assessment | 30 minutes | 1 | Evaluate the ability to think critically and properly communicate ideas. |
| 2. | Integrated Reasoning | 30 minutes | 12 | Evaluate the ability to interpret information presented in multiple formats. |
| 3. | Quantitative Reasoning | 62 minutes | 31 | Evaluate the ability to analyse data and give proper conclusions using reasoning skills. |
| 4. | Verbal reasoning | 65 minutes | 36 | Evaluate the ability to understand sentences in English and correct the wrong ones to standard English. |
GMAT Exam Syllabus (Section Wise)
Analytical Writing Evaluation
There is only one essay question in the Analytical Writing Assessment section. The question is more about business. Students should read the essay and write their thoughts on it in this section. More importantly, in this section, students’ ability to express and coordinate their thoughts is evaluated, as is their ability to support their ideas using the provided essay.
Reasoning Integrated
The GMAT’s second section contains four different types of question formats. This section primarily requires students to interpret information presented in a variety of formats such as graphs, charts, tables, and diagrams.
Reasoning from multiple sources
Analyses of tables
Interpretation of graphics
Analysis in two parts
Reasoning in Numbers
Understanding students’ mathematical skills in various complex topics is what quantitative reasoning is all about. Quantitative reasoning questions are divided into two types. The first is problem solving, and the second is data sufficiency.
Arithmetic
Algebra
Geometry
Problems with Words
Reasoning Verbally
The Verbal Reasoning section is included to assess students’ English language proficiency. Students will be graded primarily on their ability to understand sentences, identify and correct errors, and so on. The topics covered in the Verbal Reasoning section are as follows:
Reading Understanding
Critical Thinking
Correction of Sentences
GMAT Syllabus: Tips for Preparation
To pass the GMAT exam, students must first understand the essence of the exam: why it is given, what topics are covered, how their skills are assessed, which sections have high marks, how to adjust to the exam’s timings, and so on. Preparing for the exam with these factors in mind will help students score significantly higher than the average. To view the preparation tips, please click on the link below to learn the tips and practises for acing the GMAT exam.
