GMAT stands for Graduate Management Admission Test. Just as the SAT is an admission test for high school students to get admissions into college, the GMAT is an admission test for after-college students to enter into business world by taking admission into a business school.

How GMAT Helps

The vast majority of MBA programs require GMAT score as an essential part of the admission process. Different schools use and judge GMAT scores in different ways. As a general rule, a good score on the GMAT can give you a strong competitive edge in applying to the best business schools.

GMAT Question Types

GMAT is a standardized, four-part test delivered in English. It measures basic verbal, mathematical, integrated reasoning and analytical writing skills that you have developed over a long period of time through education and work experience.

GMAT test does not a measure your knowledge of specific fields of study. Graduate business and management programs enroll people from many different undergraduate and work backgrounds, so rather than testing mastery of any particular subject area, the GMAT test assesses acquired skills.

Why GMAT is Important

GMAT scores are used by admissions in more than 4,000 graduate business and management programs worldwide. Schools that require prospective students to submit GMAT scores in the application process are generally interested in admitting the best-qualified applicants for their programs, which means that you may find a more beneficial learning environment at schools that require GMAT scores as part of your application.

Because the GMAT test gauges skills that are important to successful study of business and management at the graduate level, the scores will give a good indication of how well prepared you are to succeed academically in a graduate management program; how well you do on the test may also help you choose the business schools to which you apply.

The percentile that you receive with your scores will tell you how your performance on the test compares to the performance of other test takers, giving you one way to gauge your competition for admission to business school.

Although the GMAT doesn’t rate your experience or motivation, it does provide an estimate of your academic preparation for graduate business studies. Other admissions factors, like college grades, work experience, admissions essays, and personal interview are important, but the GMAT is the one admissions tool that admissions committees can use to directly compare you with other applicants.

The most business schools primarily admit candidates with solid GMAT scores, and good scores will certainly strengthen your application to any program.