The Graduate Management Admission Test, commonly referred to as GMAT, is a test that has been standardized and used principally for admission to graduate programs in business, including MBA. This test is provided by the Graduate Management Admission Council, commonly referred to as GMAC. It measures certain skills necessary to succeed in business school. Among these are analytical writing, quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning, and integrated reasoning. Introduced for the first time in 1954, the GMAT has become one of the most sought-after entrance tests for business schools, with over 7,000 programs in more than 100 countries accepting the GMAT scores.

The GMAT is designed to measure a candidate’s ability to think critically, reason analytically, and solve complex business-related problems. The test is divided into four sections: Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA), Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning. Computer-adaptive means that, based on performance, difficulty in questions adjusts during the test. Thus, no test taker is ever too highly challenged or too little challenged. Traditionally, American business schools require the GMAT for higher academic programs, a practice that extends into Canada and Europe, with great receptivity shown by other nations.

GMAT scores are valid for five years, and students can apply to graduate business programs within that window. Most business schools do not require the GMAT for admissions; however, students who wish to pursue highly competitive programs or seek scholarship opportunities may find the test very beneficial. When taken, the GMAT is accepted by several graduate programs other than business.