GMAT Test Pattern

The GMAT test is meant for those student aspirants who wish to become a part of leading business schools. GMAT scores are valid throughout the world. Almost all business schools worldwide have included GMAT scores as one of the several admission criteria. The exam is designed to test the eligibility of a candidate to pursue business management courses. So, if you wish to pursue a career in business management and are also keen on exploring greater opportunities, GMAT is the starting point. There is no restriction for age and qualification. So, anybody who wants to give the test a shot definitely has a chance to appear for the test. Remember, it is completely a computer based test. There is no paper and pen; there is no question or answer sheets but only a mouse, key board and a monitor. GMAT was developed by Pearson VUE, under the initiative and direction of a non- profit organization called Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). The test measures the verbal, quantitative aptitude and analytical writing skills of the aspirant. It does not demand any specific theoretical studies. Read on to know more about the GMAT test.

GMAT Test Format
As mentioned earlier, the GMAT test has three sections - verbal section, mathematics section and analytical writing skills.

Verbal Section
The verbal section is sharpened with 41 multiple choice questions. The time allotted to answer this section is 75 minutes i.e. less than two minutes to answer each question. The questions in this section fall under three categories - sentence correction, critical reasoning and reading comprehension. The total score for this section will amount to 0-60 points.

Sentence correction: Questions under this category are designed to check the candidate's proficiency in American English and also its different applications. Each question consists of a fully or partly underlined sentence and five different choices to pick an answer from. Usually, the first choice is exactly the same sentence/phrasegiven in the question. other four choices are framed with different phrases. The examinee can choose the first answer if the given sentence requires no correction. If the given sentence is wrong, the examinee can choose the best one from the given set of choices.

Critical reasoning: Questions are designed to test the critical as well as logical thinking ability of the candidates. The questions will be in the form of an argument and the candidate has to analyze it. These questions usually require the candidate to derive conclusions, find out strengths and weakness or to identify assumptions.

Comprehension test a candidate's critical reading abilities. The candidate will be provided with a passage to read and this will be followed by a series of questions based on the passage. Candidates have to read the passage carefully, understand it, and interpret it in the right way to answer given questions.

Quantitative Section
The quantitative section is constructed with 37 multiple choice questions that have to be answered within 75 minutes. The questions in this section fall under two categories - problem solving questions and data sufficiency questions. The score scale is 0-60.

Problem solving questions aremeant to test the quantitative reasoning aptitude of the candidate. The questions can be based on the basics of arithmetic, algebra and geometry. The correct answer will be given in the choices. Candidates have to solve the problems, obtain the answer and identify the correct answer. The questions can either be pure mathematical questions or represented as real life scenarios that demand mathematical solutions.

Data sufficiency questions are tailored to check the quantitative reasoning aptitude of the candidate, but with an unusual set of directions. The questions in this category consist of two related sentences that provide some information that will help derive the answer. Candidates must read both sentences carefully to learn which sentence provides clues that lead to the answer and pick up the right answer from the given choices. The choices here are not exact answers, but inferences about the sentences.

Analytical Writing Assessment Section
This section is tailored to test the writing skills of the candidate. The test consists of two essays - one to analyze an argument and the other to analyze an issue. Each essay should be completed within 30 minutes. The score scale for this section starts off at 0 and ends at 6.