Many students who are contemplating getting their MBA wonder if they need to take the GMAT to get into business graduate school. While this is a legitimate question, there is not just a simple answer to reference. Whether or not you are required to take the GMAT entrance exam to get accepted into a Master of Business Administration program will depend on the type of school, the school’s admissions policies, and also on how competitive the admissions process is. If you would like to know how to determine when the GMAT is a requirement, read on and learn what you need to know.
What is the GMAT Exam and Why Do Some Business Schools Require It?
The GMAT is a graduate business admissions entrance exam that stands for the Graduate Management Admissions Test. This is a standard test that is accepted by more than 6000 business and management schools across the globe. It is a platform that allows prospective students who are applying to MBA programs to showcase their skills and show that they are competent.
By measuring your skill set and then matching this skill set to the skills that matter most to the school, the admissions council can determine if you are a good fit for their programs. The GMAT is comprised of four different test sections which include: Analytical Writing Assessments, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, and Verbal question types and arguments. You must achieve a minimum score set by the school in each section to be admitted when there is a GMAT requirement.
What Entrance Exams Are More Important than GPAs
If you graduated at the top of your class when you earning your bachelor’s degree, it is easy to assume that your perfect GPA shows business schools that you are committed to completing school and dedicated to working hard. While this is true in most cases, a perfect GPA does not necessarily let an admissions council know that you possess the technical skills or the critical thinking skills that you need to complete MBA curriculum.
Also, grade point average scores do not reflect the level of difficulty of the coursework that you completed while you attended the undergraduate program. Because you can enter an MBA program with a degree majoring in virtually any discipline, the school must use an entrance exam to assess whether or not the degree program prepared you properly for graduate study.
How to Prepare for the GMAT Exam
If you do decide to attend one of the thousands of business schools that do require you to take the GMAT, it is important to prepare for this important admissions test in advance. It can be intimidating, but if you learn the format, familiarize yourself with question types, and use study materials, you should grow to be more comfortable. Make sure to use the GMAT Prep software available through the official GMAT website so that you can use all of the free prep tools and get a high score.
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There are some online and traditional business schools that do not require the GMAT. If you are considering these institutions, be sure that you choose schools that are accredited and well-known. Most people need to take the GMAT to get into business graduate school, but there are ways to attend an MBA program without sitting for the GMAT.
