The Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) is probably the best known of the standardized tests necessary for admission into a graduate level management program, generally for business. The test determines the proficiency levels of its takers in analysis (problem solving), writing, quantitative (mathematics), verbal ability, and reading. In 2012, a new section called Integrated Reasoning was added to the GMAT. The purpose of this portion of the test is to assess the taker’s ability to interpret data delivered from multiple sources. The test, which is administered only in English, can be taken up to five times a year. Sixteen day intervals between test attempts are required.
No sections of this directly examine a taker’s business and/or management skills. Rather, say its developers, its purpose is to examine skills that GMAT test takers would need to do well in a business or managerial climate, namely, the ability to read and understand data quickly, and act on it. The GMAT is divided into four sections, has questions presented in multiple choice format, includes essay writing, is computer adaptive to a test taker’s ability, and generally takes between three and a half to four hours to complete. A GMAT “perfect score” is 800 points. The GMAT average is 547 points. “Passing” scores are determined by business schools, and range between 400-650 points. The better the school, the higher the required GMAT score as price of admission. Advance preparation is a must for this exam, and below are some examples of what test takers can expect to encounter.
Quantitative Sample Questions
1. An autocross racer has finished 12 1/2 laps of a 50 lap race. What fractional part of the course must the driver still complete?
- 1/4
- 1/5
- 3/4
- 4/5
- 75/2
2. Assuming that M is part of a group of positive multiples of 2 less than 150 and N is part of a group of positive multiples of 9 less than 150, how many positive multiples are there in M n N?
- 0
- 8
- 9
- 18
- 74
Verbal Reasoning Sample Question
Lauren is a very poor instructor. Half of her Algebra III class failed the spring final. Since so many bad grades are a reflection of poor teaching, she should probably consider going into another line of work.
What statement, if correct, doesn’t seem to support this statement?
- Lauren has taught this class before.
- This is a required class for all freshmen.
- The students who flunked this course often skipped lectures.
- Most students who passed this class did so with additional tutoring.
- Lauren had trouble coming up with lesson plans at the beginning of the semester.
Reading Comprehension Sample Question
I started by looking in libraries and archives, the guardians of “everyday” history. The sources I used included census reports, church records, directories, and other sources of statistical information. But while such resources are vital, they still cannot provide the essential sense of actual events happening, as can oral history, which truly provides insight into the human experience. While written descriptions can provide accurate records for specific social classes such as diaries, letters, or even formal reports, for my “forgotten” subjects, their spoken narrative was the most accurate accounting.
The researcher is indicating here that:
- Oral history provides details of everyday life in specific communities.
- One should always use written public materials as a starting point for any research project.
- It’s safe to use family memories of past events as proof of historical events.
- Written documents provide accurate but incomplete historical data.
