What Is the GMAT? A Complete Guide

If you’re researching MBA admissions, you’ve probably heard plenty about the GMAT already, maybe including some intimidating rumors about how hard it is. Here’s what the exam actually is, and how it works.

The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is a 2-hour, 15-minute adaptive exam used for admission to MBA and other graduate business programs. It consists of three sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Data Insights. Each of these sections contributes equally to your overall score. Total scores range from 205 to 805.

The current GMAT launched in late 2023, replacing the version many people still think of as the “classic” GMAT. That older format [has since been retired](LINK: Can You Still Take the Old “Classic” GMAT?), and the current exam dropped several things it used to include, like [the essay and Sentence Correction questions](LINK: What’s Different About the Current GMAT?).

Test-takers can [choose the order in which they complete the three sections](LINK: Can I Choose My Section Order on the GMAT?) and are entitled to one optional 10-minute break, taken either between the first and second sections or between the second and third.

2. What Is an Adaptive Exam?

The GMAT is an adaptive exam, which means the computer adjusts the difficulty of the questions you receive based on your performance within each section.

Broadly speaking, answering questions correctly leads to more difficult questions, while incorrect answers tend to result in easier ones. Because the exam adapts as you go, you cannot skip questions. Each answer helps determine the difficulty of the next question you see.

That said, the current GMAT does allow you to review and change up to three answers per section, provided you have enough time remaining.

If the mechanics interest you, [GMAC’s test designers explain how the scoring algorithm works](LINK: How the GMAT Scoring Algorithm Works), and we cover [the basics of adaptive testing](LINK: Is the GMAT an Adaptive Test?) in plainer terms.

3. The Verbal Reasoning Section

The GMAT Verbal Reasoning section consists of 23 questions, and you have 45 minutes to complete it. The section includes two question types: Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning.

Reading Comprehension questions are based on passages ranging from one to four paragraphs in length. These questions assess your ability to understand, analyze, and draw conclusions from written material.

Critical Reasoning questions present a short argument, typically fewer than 100 words long. You’ll then be asked to evaluate that argument by identifying assumptions, analyzing evidence, drawing conclusions, or assessing the impact of new information.

Although the Verbal Reasoning section requires a strong command of English, it is not designed to test English proficiency. Instead, it measures reasoning skills through the medium of written English. As a result, non-native English speakers often perform exceptionally well on GMAT Verbal, even if their spoken or written English is not perfect.

[LINK: Verbal Reasoning Pillar]

4. The Quantitative Reasoning Section

Many people think of the GMAT Quantitative Reasoning section as simply the “math” section. But while mathematical knowledge matters, the GMAT is really testing something else.

The focus is on quantitative reasoning, not rote math skills. Just as the Verbal Reasoning section uses written English to evaluate your logic and analytical thinking, the Quantitative Reasoning section uses mathematics as a language for testing those same underlying reasoning skills.

The Quantitative Reasoning section consists of 21 Problem Solving questions, and you have 45 minutes to complete it. These questions are multiple-choice and similar in format to what most students have seen on other standardized exams. You’ll be given information, asked to solve for an unknown value or outcome, and then choose the best answer from five options.

One practical note: there’s [no calculator on Quant](LINK: Can You Use a Calculator on the GMAT?). The GMAT only offers an on-screen calculator on Data Insights, so your mental math and estimation need to be sharp here. If you want to go deeper, we cover [the math topics and the strategies that matter most](LINK: How to Master GMAT Problem Solving).

5. The Data Insights Section

The GMAT Data Insights section consists of 20 questions to be completed in 45 minutes. It consists of five question types:

• Multi-Source Reasoning: Analyze information from multiple sources, such as text passages, tables, and charts, then answer questions based on that information.
• Table Analysis: Sortable data tables similar to those found in Excel or Google Sheets.
• Graphics Interpretation: Visual data displays, including scatter plots, bar charts, pie charts, line graphs, and other graphical formats.
• Two-Part Analysis: Solve a problem and select two answers, one for each part of the question.
• Data Sufficiency: Unique to the GMAT, Data Sufficiency asks whether the information provided is sufficient to answer a question. Rather than solving the problem itself, you’ll determine whether one statement alone, the other statement alone, or the two statements together provide enough information.

For the full picture, [we break down every section, its timing, and all the question types](LINK: What Is on the GMAT? Sections, Timing, and Question Types) in one place.

6. Reviewing and Changing Answers

After completing each GMAT section, you’ll have the opportunity to [review your answers and change up to three of them](LINK: Can I Change My Answers on the GMAT?). While this feature shouldn’t dramatically alter your overall test-taking strategy, it is worth keeping in mind when you encounter a particularly difficult question.

If you’re stuck, it rarely makes sense to spend several extra minutes forcing your way through a single problem when you may be able to return to it later. In many cases, the better decision is to make your best choice, move on, and preserve time for the rest of the section.

If you’d like a better understanding of how to succeed on an adaptive exam, check out our video on managing your time effectively on the GMAT.

7. Why Take the GMAT?

The GMAT is the most widely used admissions test for MBA programs. Business schools use GMAT scores in three primary ways:

• To assess an applicant’s odds of success in business school.
• To support the program’s rankings.
• To help manage the large applicant pool.

These factors make the GMAT an important component of an MBA application. If you can score at or above the median score for your target program, your GMAT score may become a meaningful advantage in the admissions process, which we unpack in [why the GMAT matters for your application](LINK: Why GMAT? What It Means for Your MBA Application).

8. How Much Does the GMAT Cost?

The GMAT costs $275 at a test center and $300 online in the United States, though pricing varies slightly by country and region.

Your registration fee includes the ability to send your score report to up to five MBA programs. Additional services, including rescheduling your exam, canceling an appointment, reinstating a canceled score, or sending additional score reports, each carry [their own separate fees](LINK: How Much Does the GMAT Cost?).

9. How Many Times Can You Take the GMAT?

There is no lifetime limit on the number of times you can take the GMAT. However, you may take the exam no more than five times within any rolling 12-month period, and you must wait at least 16 calendar days between appointments.

[Not every scheduled exam counts as an attempt](LINK: How Many Times Can You Take the GMAT?), so it’s worth knowing exactly what does and does not count toward GMAC’s limit.

10. How to Register for the GMAT

To register for the GMAT, create an account on mba.com, the official GMAT website. From there, you’ll choose whether to take the exam at a test center or online, select an available appointment, and pay the registration fee. We lay out [the full step-by-step registration process](LINK: How to Register for the GMAT Exam) if you’d like to follow along.

The best way to know you’re ready to register is to achieve your target score on a fresh, official GMAT practice exam, taken under realistic testing conditions.

11. Online vs. In Person

Yes. You can take the GMAT either online from home or in person at a test center. The content, structure, scoring, and difficulty level are identical in both formats, so your choice comes down to which testing environment suits you best.

The online exam offers greater flexibility and convenience, while the test-center experience removes many of the technical and environmental variables that come with testing from home. We put the two formats [side by side](LINK: GMAT Test Online vs. In-Person) to help you decide.

12. What Test Day Is Like

On test day, you’ll check in, verify your identity, and complete the exam’s three sections with one optional 10-minute break.

If you’re testing at a center, plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early to complete the check-in process. If you’re testing online, you’ll check in with a live proctor, verify your ID, and complete a 360-degree scan of your room before the exam begins.

We walk through [everything to expect on test day](LINK: How to Prepare for GMAT Test Day), from check-in procedures to break policies, and there’s a separate [checklist of what to bring](LINK: What to Bring to the GMAT Test Center) so nothing trips you up at the door.

13. Testing Accommodations

GMAT testing accommodations adjust standard testing conditions for candidates with documented disabilities or medical conditions, including [ADHD](LINK: GMAT Accommodations for ADHD), dyslexia, anxiety, and many others. Accommodations are completely confidential: business schools do not see whether you tested with accommodations.

[Extended testing time](LINK: How to Get Extra Time on the GMAT), typically 50% or 100% more, is the most common accommodation.

One important detail: accommodations must be approved before you can schedule your exam, and GMAC’s review process can take up to 16 to 20 business days. If you think you may need accommodations, start the process as early as possible, and our [full guide to eligibility, documentation, and applying](LINK: GMAT Testing Accommodations) covers the rest.