Exactly how difficult is the GMAT? What do I need to do to get a good score?
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Exactly how difficult is the GMAT? What do I need to do to get a good score?
Hi Komal,
This is a great question - as a requirement for many MBA programs, questions about the GMAT are well-founded.
The GMAT is composed of four sections, Analytical Writing, Verbal (reading comprehension, critical reasoning and sentence correction), Quantitative (data sufficiency and problem solving) and the most recent addition, Integrated Reasoning (graphics interpretation and analysis). Since the GMAT is designed to be an indicator of a cadidate's potential for academic success in a demanding program, it's expected that a good score requires preparation.
GMAT scores are ranked out of 800 - 544 being the average and top schools taking applicants who score above 700. To score high, it is highly recommended that you either study on your own (there are many online resouces as well as textbooks for loan of purchase) or enroll in a prep course.
If you are not sure about the GMAT, the GRE is also a great alternative that schools may also accept (just be sure to check with each program that both exams are acceptable). Each of these exams approach subjects differently so depending on your strengths, you may do better on one versus the other - Free practice exams are available online so that you can test your abilities and find areas for improvement.
Good luck!
SearchMBA
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