What is the GMAT exam and how to prepare

What is the GMAT?

The Graduate Management Admissions Test, or GMAT is an examination that evaluates applicants’ suitability and preparedness for business school programmes, assessing the key skills of problem-solving, communication, strategic thinking, and ability to analyse quantitative and verbal information, amongst others.

At Warwick Business School (WBS), we use the GMAT exam score as one of several ways to judge suitability for our Full-time MBA programme.

What are the GMAT sections?

The GMAT exam is split into three, 45-minute sections: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights. These sections can be taken in whichever order you prefer, and you can review as many questions as you like, with the chance to change up to three answers per section.

The GMAT sections reflect the business landscape, assessing relevant skill sets that are in demand in today’s environment. Quantitative Reasoning assesses your problem-solving skills, along with data sufficiency, whilst Verbal Reasoning tests your critical reasoning and reading comprehension skills. Data Insights assesses your data literacy skills, measuring your ability to analyse and interpret data, and apply it to real-world business scenarios. The above are all crucial skills that will be needed both during your MBA, and beyond.

GMAT share further information on their exam structure, content, and features.

What is the GMAT score range?

The current GMAT Exam (Focus Edition) score range is 205 – 805, and the GMAT Exam (10^th Edition) score range is 200-800. Both exams are still accepted, as scores are valid for up to five years. Most schools will publish the average scores of their students, and new applicant scores are considered against these averages.

WBS doesn’t have a minimum GMAT score requirement, but we consider scores in line with the class average to be considered competitive. You can see our current average on the Full-time MBA entry requirements web page.

How hard is the GMAT?

The GMAT exam essentially tests your ability to perform in a business school environment, and is designed to challenge you in the key areas needed to succeed. With the right preparation and knowledge, a strong GMAT score is achievable. GMAT offer a free suite of Official Prep resources to support in your revision for the exam.

It’s also worth noting that your GMAT score is only one part of your application, so be sure to spend time showcasing your value via your CV, application form, and any essays or video interviews that may be requested.

As Philippa Perry-French, Recruitment Manager at WBS explains

 A strong GMAT is one element of the application as it indicates academic potential and how you will contribute to a Masters-level degree. Our process is holistic, so while it is an important indicator, good performance in the essay questions and interview also form crucial parts of the decision. It’s also important to bring your authentic voice and the unique factors about yourself to the admissions process as we look to build a diverse and creative environment in the group.

GMAT preparation tips and guidance from WBS students

GMAT preparation will be the key to your success – here, our Full-time MBA participants 2023-2024 share how they went about it.

Vicente Gonzalez shares how locking in an exam date helped him

It helped me work backwards to figure out how many days I had to prepare, and I came up with study plan that involved between 20 and 60 minutes of practice every day, across all subjects.

He explains how mock exams supported him in creating a successful GMAT strategy

I found it easier to start with quantitative reasoning and then verbal reasoning. These two warmed me up for the integrated reasoning part, which was my forte, and where I could gain the most points towards my score.

Aamir Rangoonwala also used practice exams to prepare, and shares his advice

Don’t rush through them. Instead, use them strategically—only after you feel well-prepared—and simulate real exam conditions. This means no pausing and no distractions, just like on the actual exam day. After each practice exam, take the time to review your performance in detail, identifying and focusing on areas that need improvement.

Darren Kurnia shares the benefit of learning the right way to answer questions

After learning through the right method, I started to see a gradual increase in my GMAT mock exam scores and was finally confident for the real exam. Learning the GMAT needs time and energy commitment, therefore you need to be efficient and effective in your approach.

Finally, Suman Tomar gives her one piece of advice for anyone taking the GMAT exam

Focus on your own journey. Don’t get swayed by other people’s experiences – some excel in math, some in verbal. Some have the luxury of studying full-time, while others must juggle work, family, and study. You might hear stories of people who studied for just two weeks and scored over 700. That’s great for them, but it’s not a realistic expectation for everyone.

Alternative to the GMAT test

It is possible to pursue a Full-time MBA in the UK, and at WBS, without the GMAT exam. We ask for a GMAT, GRE, or Warwick Test score, and all are weighted equally in our decision-making. 

The Warwick Test is offered at our Selection Committee’s discretion, following application. The decision to award the Warwick Test as an alternative to GMAT or GRE is made following shortlisting and the live interview element of the admissions process, with candidates being notified if this is being offered as an alternative following interview.

The Warwick Test looks at similar areas to the GMAT and GRE, with a focus on inductive, numerical, and deductive reasoning.

Interested in applying for our Full-time MBA?

Find out more about our Full-time MBA, ranked 6^th in the UK in the Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2024, on our webpages.

If you’d like to speak to a member of our Recruitment Team about whether the MBA is right for you, book a 1-2-1.