GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is a standardized test , primarily intended to aid the graduate schools of business for assessing the candidates for study. The test is a required part of the admission process for most of the MBA programmes in the US , Canada and rest of the world.

In addition, there are several institutions within India, like the Indian School of Business (ISB) - Hyderabad, Great Lakes Institute of Management-Chennai, S P Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR) - Mumbai & Dubai, Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS)-Mumbai and Mudra Institute of Communication ,Ahmedabad (MICA), that consider the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) scores for entry in their programs.

GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is developed and administered by the US-based "Educational Testing Service" (ETS) under the direction of the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), a non-profit organization. ETS (Educational Testing services) sets the questions, conducts the test and sends the score report of the examinees. ETS has appointed Testing Agencies in various countries, which act as franchisees for the ETS. In India, this agency is the Prometric Testing (P) Ltd. which administers the test at 9 centres in the country.

Anyone and everyone is eligible for taking the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test). There is no minimum educational qualification requirement for taking the test. The test scores are valid for five years, i.e., most universities accept scores up to five years old. But it is always better if scores are recent (not older than 2 years).

However, if a candidate’s age is below 18 years, then he/she has to send a written form to “GMAT Customer Services” of his/her region signed by parents or local guardian This form authorizes such candidates to take the GMAT(Graduate Management Admission Test) exam and states that the applicant and parent or legal guardian agree to adhere to all the terms and conditions specified by the GMAC (Graduate Management Admission Committee).

The GMAT(Graduate Management Admission Test) exam is a computer-adaptive test (CAT), which means that questions are selected as a candidates takes the exam. At the start of each multiple-choice section of the GMAT ,CAT exam, candidates are presented a question of middle difficulty. As a candidate attempts each question, the computer scores the answer and uses it to determine which question to present next. As long as a candidate answers correctly to each question, questions of improved difficulty are offered. Whenever a candidate enters the incorrect responses, the computer generally presents questions of lesser difficulty. Next question reflects both the previous performance and the requirements of the test design, which means that different test takers will be presented different questions. Question selection is based on the responses to the previous questions and the GMAT CAT adjusts to an individual ability level. As a result, a candidate gets few questions that are either too easy or too difficult to answer.

The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) examination consists of three main parts the Analytical Writing Assessment, Quantitative section, and Verbal section.

Analytical Writing Assessment
The analytical writing section requires one to write - two short essays in thirty minutes each. The first is the Analysis of an Issue, in which a candidate needs to analyze the issue presented and explain his/her views on it. The second essay is Analysis of an Argument, in which a given argument has to be critically analyzed and evaluated.

For both the essays, the emphasis is on the "Analytical" part and not on the "Writing" part. This implies that a concise essay with well-reasoned points written in simple English will be looked upon more favorably than an essay which falls short on the analytical aspects even though it reflects excellent writing skills.

A five-minute break follows the two essays. The computer gives you the option to take this break or to move directly to the subsequent section. Even if a candidate finishes the essays before the stipulated sixty minutes, the break will still be of five minutes. It is advisable to utilize this break by gearing oneself up for the tougher sections that follow subsequently.

Quantitative Section
The 37 questions in this section comprise two kinds of questions: Problem Solving (PS) and Data Sufficiency (DS). The two kinds do not have a definite break-up; usually there are around 20 PS and 17 DS questions. This section tests the level of Mathematics which is comparable with the level of Class 10 exams, with questions on Number Systems, Percentages, Fractions & Decimals, Algebra (including Quadratic Equations), Geometry (including Basic Coordinate Geometry), Ratio & Proportion, Area & Volume of 2-D and 3-D diagrams, Probability etc. This list is not exhaustive; questions from beyond these topics may also be asked.

While the Problem Solving question requires one to solve a mathematical problem directly and choose the right answer, the Data Sufficiency is of a trickier variety. Each problem comprises a question followed by two statements, which may or may not lead to the answer to the given question. This is what a candidate needs to ascertain - whether the given statements can be used to answer the question or not and if so, whether the statements can be used independently or in conjunction. Each of the five answers options presents five possibilities that arise in this case and candidate has to apply the basic principles of mathematics with strong logic to solve them.

Verbal Section
The verbal section in GMAT requires the basic skills of correct English coupled with reasoning and analysis. The 41 questions, to be attempted in 75 minutes, consist of three types: Sentence Correction (SC), Critical Reasoning (CR) and Reading Comprehension (RC). The three types are intermingled, with no fixed number for each type. The break-up of the questions among SC, CR and RC could be 14-14-13 or 15-13-13 or any such combination.

The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) follows the following tentative format.

The test lasts for 4 hours.

GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is now a computer adaptive test and can be taken all round the year. To schedule a GMAT date, contact the Regional Registration Centre. September to December is the high season for GMAT, so in case if a candidate is intending to take the test during this period, he/she needs to register quite early (say 90 days in advance) to get a date of choice.

Registering at least 15 days in advance is mandatory.

The test lasts roughly four hours, and most centres offer two slots: 9 A.M. and 2 P.M.

The test taker must first select a GMAT test center location. Most of the test centers are in permanent locations and offer the Computer-Adaptive GMAT exam throughout the year. Each test center operates on its own schedule and can accommodate varying numbers of test takers. Test takers choose the most convenient location for them. Candidate’s can register for GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) ONLINE, or by Phone, or by Mail.

Registering by Phone: You may call up Prometric Testing (P) Ltd. Delhi office until 12:00 noon on the working days to register. Make sure to call at least THREE BUSINESS DAYS before the test date

Registering by Fax: If registering by fax, you must send your fax at lest SEVEN DAYS prior to your first choice of the test day.

Registering by Mail/Courier : Fill in the form, get the draft made (if you are not paying by credit card) and submit these to the Prometric Testing (P) Ltd.

at New Delhi either by hand or by registered post/courier. You must send the documents at least THREE WEEKS before your choice of a test day.

On receipt of your documents, an appointment will be scheduled for you to test at the Prometric Testing (P) Ltd. Confirmation of the date, time and location of the appointment will be sent to you.