Overview of the GMAT Exam
The following is an overview or overzicht of the structure of the full GMAT exam. Every test-taker has to at least "click-through" every section of the test. But not every section matters to every applicant. MBA programs require scores from all four sections of the test. But Dutch premaster programs in business do not. And many European MSc tracks impose their own individual cut-offs. These important differences should affect your study plan. Check with your target schools, so that you can better focus your study and maximise your return on investment, or ROI.
STRUCTURE OF THE TEST
As the table shows, the GMAT has 4 independent sections, each with its own question formats, time budget, and scoring style. It is good to know that you have a choice about the order in which you do these sections.. Also, you can cancel your score on the day of the test, after you know your result. There is no record at all that you were ever there, except for the charge to your bank account. Coincidentally, that is just about equal to the price of one of our 32-hour 600-level courses... just saying.
Courtesy of the Graduate Management Admissions Council
SCORING THE EXAM
Each section of the GMAT exam is scored separately, and each school can decide how to use the individual sections scores. Most EU & UK-based MBA programs require the headline GMAT score, which is derived from only two sections of the test, Quantitative and Verbal. Therefore, if you are applying for a Premaster in Business, you can click right through the sections on Integrated Reasoning and the Analysis of a Written Argument.