Taking the GMAT

If you are considering graduate school you may need to take the GMAT exam, depending on the program or programs you are considering. If you are taking the GMAT you are probably looking for some information on how to effectively prepare for the exam.

Do you need to take the GMAT?
The Graduate Management Admission Test is used as a part of the entrance requirements for many business programs. Not all schools require an entrance exam but if you are thinking of pursuing a graduate degree in business, then the GMAT is probably the exam you will need to take. If you are considering a non-business graduate program, such as history or English, you may need to take the GRE. If you are considering law school, you will need to take the LSAT.

Register for the Exam
The GMAT is offered at locations throughout the world. Go to mba.com to register online. It costs $250 to take GMAT and you will have to take the exam at an approved test center. You cannot take the GMAT online. You are allowed to retake the exam if you would like to try to get a better score but you can only take the exam once per month and no more than 5 times per year.

Sections
The GMAT is a timed exam and it’s very important to pay attention to the timer. You cannot bring a calculator, notes, a phone or anything else with you into the test.

Quantitative – This section includes Problem Solving and Data Sufficiency questions. You will need to be able to answer questions on basic math, algebra and geometry. You will have 75 minutes for this section of the exam.

Analytic Writing – This is the essay section of the exam. You will need to write two essays. The first is an Analysis of an Issue and the second is an Analysis of an Argument. You will have 60 minutes for this section of the exam.

Verbal – This section of the exam will require you to demonstrate that you understand written material, can evaluate arguments and can identify and correct grammatical errors. You will have 75 minutes for this section of the exam.

How to prepare
You can take practice exams on the GMAT website (mba.com), pay to attend a prep class in person or online or purchase a prep book. There are several prep book options and most also come with a disk with practice exams.