About The Gmat.docx

About the GMAT Overview The GMAT has four Sections: 1. Analytical Writing Assessment—measures the test taker’s ability to think critically and to communicate her ideas 2. Integrated Reasoning—measures the test taker’s ability to analyze data and evaluate information presented in multiple formats 3. Quantitative Reasoning—measures the test taker’s ability to analyze data and draw conclusions using reasoning skills 4. Verbal Reasoning—measures the test taker’s ability to read and understand written material, to evaluate arguments and to correct written material to conform to standard written English In total the test takes just under 3.5 hours to complete, including two optional breaks. Structure of the GMAT The GMAT Exam has four separately timed sections. The test taker will have the opportunity to take two optional eight-minute breaks during the exam. Test Section

Time Limit / Number of Questions

Question Types

Score Range

Analytical Writing Assessment

30 minutes 1 question

Analysis of an Argument

0-6 (in 0.5-point increments)

Integrated Reasoning

30 minutes 12 questions

Graphics Interpretation, Table Analysis, Multisource Reasoning, Twopart Analysis

1-8 (in 1-point increments)

Quantitative Reasoning

62 minutes 31 questions

Verbal Reasoning

65 minutes 36 questions

6-51 Data Sufficiency, Problem (in 1-point Solving increments) Reading Comprehension, 6-51 Critical Reasoning, (in 1-point Sentence Correction increments)

Section Order When a test-taker arrives at her test center, she has the flexibility to choose from three options for her test's section order: 1. Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, Verbal 2. Verbal, Quantitative, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment 3. Quantitative, Verbal, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment This choice gives her more control and flexibility to take the GMAT based on her strengths and testing preferences. The GMAT is Computer Adaptive. What does that mean? The Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning sections of the GMAT are computer-adaptive, meaning the difficulty of the test tailors itself in real-time to the test taker’s ability level. This feature allows the exam to assess the test taker’s potential with a higher degree of precision and deliver scores that business schools trust. Here’s how it works: The first question the test-taker receives in either the Verbal or Quantitative sections will be of medium difficulty. As she answers each question, the computer scores her answer and uses it as well as her responses to any preceding question to select the next question. If she answers the first question correctly, the computer will usually give her a harder question. If she answers the first question incorrectly, her next question will be easier. This process continues until she completes the section, using responses to all previously answered questions, at which point the computer will have an accurate assessment of her ability in that subject. She will not be able to skip, return to, or change her answers to questions. This is because the computer uses her response to each question to select the next one. How is the GMAT scored?

Section

Scoring

Analytical Writing Assessment

0.0-6.0

How the Section is Scored Each essay is scored at least twice, once by a human reader and once by a computer. The scores are averaged to provide one section score, reported in intervals of 0.5.

Integrated Reasoning

Quantitative and Verbal

Total (Quantitative and Verbal)

The Integrated Reasoning score is based on the number of questions the test taker answered correctly. Some questions may have 1-8 multiple parts; the test taker must answer all parts to a question correctly to receive credit for that question. Scores are reported in intervals of 1. The Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning sections are question-level adaptive, and test taker’s score is based on three factors: 1. Number of questions she answers 2. Whether her answers are correct 3. Difficulty and other parameters of the 6-51 questions she answered The test taker will earn a higher score if she answers a higher number of questions, answers more of them correctly, and qualifies for questions of a higher difficulty level. Scores are reported in intervals of 1. Total Score (out of 800) is based on the test taker’s performance in the Quantitative and 200-800 Verbal Reasoning sections. Scores are reported in intervals of 10.

Note that there is a penalty for not completing each section of the exam. If you do not finish in the allotted time, your scores will be calculated based upon the number of questions answered. Your score will decrease significantly with each unanswered question. There are dummy questions in the test which are not evaluated. A test taker will not be able to identify the dummy questions. Interpreting the Scores Total Score (Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning) Total GMAT scores range from 200 to 800; two-thirds of test takers score between 400 and 600. Verbal and Quantitative scores range from 0 to 60; scores below 6 and above 51 are rare. Verbal and Quantitative scores are on a fixed scale and can be compared across all GMAT test administrations, but because they measure different constructs, they cannot be compared to each other. Analytical Writing Assessment Score The Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) score is based on one analysis of an argument essay. Essays are scored independently twice and then averaged. Scores for the AWA range from 0 to 6 in half-point intervals.

Each essay receives two independent ratings, one of which may be performed by an automated essay-scoring engine, which evaluates more than 50 structural and linguistic features. If the two ratings differ by more than one point, an expert reader provides a third evaluation to determine the final score. Expert readers are trained college and university faculty members who consider the following: 

The overall quality of the test taker’s ideas about the argument presented.



The test taker’s overall ability to organize, develop, and express those ideas.



The relevant supporting reasons and examples the test taker used.



The test taker’s ability to control the elements of standard written English.

Readers are trained to be sensitive and fair in evaluating the responses of examinees whose first language is not English.

Integrated Reasoning Score Integrated Reasoning (IR) scores range from 1 to 8 in single-digit intervals. Most Integrated Reasoning questions require more than one response. Because the questions are designed to measure how well you integrate data to solve complex problems, you must answer all responses to a question correctly to receive credit, no partial credit is given.

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