What score do I need to get on the GMAT to get into school?
Certification: Test Prep GMAT - Graduate Management Admission Test
Graduate Management Admission Test is given the highest priority in the admission process. Each and every business school asks for the GMAT score as it hugely influences the admission process. GMAT tests the ability and skills of an individual, which he or she may have developed over the year in his or her life. The main aim of the GMAT is not to develop the skills but to test those that may be required for completion of a graduate program. Therefore performing well and scoring much higher than others is a prerequisite for admission in top tier business schools. GMAT tests four broad categories of skills namely Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning. The total GMAT score ranges from 200 to 800 and for scoring a higher percentile one must prepare well in advance for the test. Preparation tests are also available online for students to practice, these tests should be taken again and again till the individual is not comfortable with the structure of the actual test.
Scoring Structure of GMAT
One must understand the scoring structure of GMAT before thinking about the total number of score required. GMAT is divided into four sections: -
- Analytical Writing Assessment: The section includes 1 topic and it judges the ability to analyze a statement and provide arguments against or supporting it. The total time provided for the section is 30 minutes. The score range for the section is from 0 to 6 and it witnesses’ half point increments.
- Integrated Reasoning: Integrated Reasoning contains 12 questions that are to be completed within 30 minutes. The score ranges from 1 to 8 in single digit increments.
- Quantitative Reasoning: It’s a 45 minutes long section which involves 37 questions. The section deals with one’s ability to solve mathematical questions. The scoring in this section ranges from 0 to 60.
- Verbal Reasoning: Verbal reasoning tests the ability of an individual to solve basic questions written in simple English. The section is 45 minutes long and it contains 41 questions.
Most of the test takers score from 400 to 600. 540 is considered as the average score for GMAT. The required GMAT score for admissions is completely dependent upon the business school chosen by the student. Top tier business schools such as Harvard, Stanford etc. do not accept students whose score is below 700 in the GMAT. Many business schools which do not fall in the top tier category may accept student with GMAT score in the mid six hundreds. Therefore one has to be very clear as to what his or her goals are for the future. The factor that matters is the business school that’s chosen and it dictates the GMAT score required for the admission. Only GMAT score doesn’t count while getting admission into top tier colleges, as there are various other factors involved. The high-ranking business schools review the complete admission application rather than the GMAT score. The other factors involve the interview, prior work experience, GMAT score, recommendations and other extra curricular activities. GMAT score is important for an individual, as it is the one thing that helps one clear the first stage of the admission process. The second stage is equally important and it involves a personal interview, therefore GMAT score could take one only so far.
Having said all the above one should not shy away from applying for business schools even if he or she has lower GMAT score. This is due to the reason that business schools do not have a minimum cut off score for applying, hence each and every student who has given GMAT can apply. There are many cases in which a student has been able to get admission in top tier colleges with average GMAT score. The total GMAT score is the one considered by the business schools rather than separate section scores. These scores and then converted into percentiles in order to make comparisons between applicants. Percentile denotes the amount of test takers who scored below the student whose GMAT score is analyzed. With each and every passing day competition is growing faster and harder. Thousands of students register for GMAT in order to get chosen by the best business schools and institutions. GMAT score is used to seek out the candidates matching the requirements of the business schools and institutions. Hence GMAT scores are used for purpose of decreasing the pool of candidates who have applied and eliminating those who do not fit the criteria.
GMAT is the only most crucial factor separating one from having an admission into the best business schools of the world therefore it should be taken very seriously. The decision of giving the GMAT should be taken atleast 6 to 8 weeks prior to the test so as to get enough time to practice for it. Various sources are available online that can provide the required study material for preparation of GMAT and they should be used to the maximum in order to score high in the test. It not only helps in the admission process of an individual but also plays an important role in the career growth. The test can be retaken again and again and the scores that should be forwarded to the designated recipients can also be controlled but it is advised that the test taker should try and beat the test in the first go. Therefore GMAT is the only way to go if one wishes to pursue a degree in graduate management program and a good score can ensure the wish to be a student in one of the top tier business schools.
