GMAT

GMAT or otherwise known as the Graduate Management Admission Test and Common Admission Test or commonly referred to as CAT are the two most widely accepted management entrance tests, scores of which are accepted by all the top B-schools, including the IIMs. The basic difference, between the two, is that while CAT is a national-level entrance exam for students looking for admission to Top Business Schools in India, GMAT is held on a global level and helps students for admission to top B-Schools worldwide. Conducted by Graduate Management Admission Council, GMAT scores are acceptable mainly in the case of NRI/Foreign students who want to study in India. The IIMs accept the GMAT score of domestic candidates for executive management programmes. Candidates can learn in-depth about the difference between GMAT and CAT exams.

Rescheduling of the GMAT exam can be done through two major modes: online and via phone. In order to reschedule the GMAT exam that is to be taken at the test centre, students must note the following details:1 to 14 days prior to appointment: US $16515 to 60 days prior to appointment: US $110More than 60 days prior to appointment: US $55In the case of the online GMAT exam taken at home, the following rescheduling conditions are applied:1 to 14 days prior to appointment: US $18015 to 60 days prior to appointment: US $120More than 60 days prior to appointment: US $60Please note that the exam cannot be rescheduled on the test date. The only difference in rescheduling the exam through the phone is that you would need to pay a $10 surcharge along with the rescheduling fee. Retaking the GMAT exam can be done after 16 days after your previous attempt. However, the maximum limit for attempting the exam is 5 times a year. This rolling 12-month period is counted from your first attempt irrespective of the time of year.

The GMAT score includes a percentile that compares your performance with other test-takers. If you score in the 80th percentile, then you performed better than 80 percent of the aspirants and 20 percent candidates have performed better than you have on the GMAT exam. Scoring high percentile means you performed better than most of the candidates who appeared for the exam. Similarly, scoring low percentile signifies that you scored lower than most of the candidates. As per the January 2019 to December 2021 data, the mean GMAT score stands at 574.51 with nearly 34% percentile ranking. Moreover, it is noted that two-thirds of the candidates, who appear for the GMAT exam, score between 400 and 800. A GMAT exam score of 800 corresponds to 99% percentile ranking, a GMAT score of 750 corresponds to 98% percentile ranking, and a GMAT exam score of 700 corresponds to 87% percentile ranking.

GMAT is a computer-adaptive test, it adapts to the performance of the candidate while he is giving the test. The difficulty level of the questions changes based on whether the candidate is answering the questions right or wrong. If the candidate is answering the questions right, the level of the questions will rise, similarly, if the candidate is answering the questions wrong, the candidate will start getting easy questions. Also, as the next question is generated based on the performance in the current question, the candidate cannot visit the previous question. The candidate needs to answer a question about whether he is able to solve it or not in order to move ahead in the exam. If you get an easy question while taking the GMAT exam, you need not panic whether the previous question was correct or incorrect. Instead of wasting your time, you must focus only on solving the current question.

The GMAT full-form is the Graduate Management Admission Test, which is a standardized test that measures the quantitative and verbal skills of the candidates. The GMAT exam consists of 80 questions that are supposed to be answered in 3 hours and 7 minutes. The score range is from 200 to 800. GMAT is quite popular amongst candidates who wish to pursue MBA or MIM degrees. This is reflected in the fact that 80% of students prefer GMAT scores for their B-school applications. Moreover, the acceptability of the exam is high as more than 7,700 programmes at 2,400 academic institutions spanning across 110 countries accept GMAT. Moreover, GMAC has brought in the new GMAT Focus Edition 2023. The current version of the GMAT exam 2023 will be available until at least early 2024. Here are a few points that will provide an overview of the GMAT Focus Edition:The GMAT Focus Edition will be for 2 hours and 15 minutes as opposed to the current GMAT version which lasts for 3 hours and 7 minutes.A new section called Data Insights (DI) has been introduced. Performance in the Data Insights (DI), Quantitative Reasoning (QR), and Verbal Reasoning (VR) will be a part of the final GMAT Score.QR will have 21 questions (45 minutes), VR will have 23 questions (45 minutes), and DI will have 20 questions (45 minutes). There will be an optional break of 10 minutes.GMAT Focus Edition syllabus too has changed with the removal of Sentence Correction and the introduction of the Data Insights section.

In 2023, GMAC has announced the launch of the GMAT Focus Edition. The current version of the GMAT exam will be available until at least early 2024. Hence, candidates will have the option to register for both the GMAT exam formats. GMAT Focus Edition is significantly different from the current version of the GMAT 2023 exam. GMAT Focus Edition is shorter, has lesser sections (with the removal of AWA and SC), and has a newly introduced section called Data Insights (DI). The newly introduced section (DI) is loosely based on the Integrated Reasoning (IR) section of the current version of the GMAT exam 2023. For complete and the latest information on the GMAT Focus Edition, students are advised to check our GMAT Focus Edition article from time to time.