The GMAT Exam Pattern is set by the GMAC. The Graduate Management Admission Test, or GMAT, is a Computer Adaptive Test administered by GMAC for candidates seeking admission to top-tier B-Schools around the world, such as Los Angeles (UCLA), Harvard University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Manchester, UK, and others.
This year, the exam is also available in an online format, which candidates can take twice in a 12-month rolling period due to the Coronavirus pandemic. GMAT is a test that allows candidates to apply to the best business schools in the world to study MBA, PGP, and PGDM programmes in a variety of disciplines. This GRE examination allows candidates to choose a date and time to take the test that is convenient for them.
The GMAT exam pattern is the format in which candidates will be given a question paper to answer. It specifies the type of questions, the number of questions, the number of marks per question, the total marks, and the paper’s marking scheme. According to the GMAT Exam Syllabus, the exam will include both objective and subjective questions. The exam has a total of 79 questions, which are divided into four sections: Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning.
Once candidates understand the exam pattern, they must learn about the GMAT’s comprehensive syllabus. Students should keep in mind that when attempting a section, they must first complete all of the questions in that section before moving on to the next. Each section must be completed within the time limit.
COVID-19 Exam Update
The Analytical Writing Assessment section has been added to the latest revised GMAT 2021 online format, which will begin on April 8, 2021. Applicants will also have the option of taking the GMAT online exam in any order they feel comfortable.
GMAT 2021 Exam Pattern Highlights
The highlights of the GMAT 2021 exam pattern will ensure that candidates understand the detailed GMAT 2021 exam pattern that follows:
| GMAT Exam Duration | 3 hours and 7 minutes, plus two optional 8-minute breaks (GMAT Online) |
|---|---|
| Total Number of Sections | 04 (for both GMAT Online and GMAT Exam) |
| Total Number of Questions | 80 |
| Mode of GMAT Exam | Online and at Test Centre |
| Medium of Instruction | English |
| Negative Marking | No |
GMAT 2021 Subject-Wise Question Distribution
The table below shows the subject-by-subject distribution of questions in GMAT Online and GMAT Exam 2021, according to the most recent exam pattern:
| Subject Name | Number of Questions | Maximum Time Limit |
| Integrated Reasoning | 12 | 30 Minutes |
| Analytical Writing Assessment | 1 | 30 Minutes |
| Verbal Reasoning | 36 | 65 Minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 31 | 62 Minutes |
Marking System for GMAT
There are a total of 79 objective-type questions.
Each section has its own time limit.
Each section’s minimum and maximum score ranges, as well as a mean average, are listed below:
| Section | Score Range | Mean Scores* |
| Analytical Writing Assessment (Omitted for Online GMAT) | 0-6 | 4.48 |
| Integrated Reasoning | 1-8 | 4.29 |
| Verbal | 6-51 | 27.04 |
| Quantitative | 6-51 | 39.93 |
| Total | 200-800 | 561.27 |
Using Whiteboard During GMAT 2021
Candidates will have the choice of using a physical whiteboard, an online whiteboard, or both on exam day this year, depending on their preferences. The choice to use a physical whiteboard for the GMAT Online exam will be available during appointments, and registrants will check and confirm that their whiteboard preference meets the appropriate requirements, as well as that they have a working eraser, dry erase marker and eraser. Candidates who took the exam without access to the physical whiteboard would be able to retake it if they wish.
The whiteboard will also enable you to do the following during the GMAT Online Exam:
- Copy and paste text from the exam questions into the board’s text box.
- Draw lines and shapes.
- To use different areas for your work on the same whiteboard screen, pan around the whiteboard and zoom in and out.
- To begin a new one, erase or clear the previous one.
- Scale the whiteboard around your screen by resizing it or resizing it.
Candidates with touchscreen laptops are not permitted to use the whiteboard with their finger, a stylus, or any other writing instrument. A connection pad, writing tablet, or dual monitors are not compatible with the online whiteboard.
Take the GMAT online test at your own home.
The GMAT Online Test can now be taken easily and comfortably from the comfort of your own home. After the COVID-19 pandemic, when the number of test centres was limited, the decision to allow students to take the test at home was encouraged.
The online version of the GMAT test is intended to assist students in taking the test and applying for admission to B- Schools around the world.
The GMAT Online Test at Home is similar to the GMAT test that is taken in a testing centre. Both the GMAT Online Test and the GMAT at Home and GMAT at Test Centers follow the same pattern and syllabus.
The Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) Section has recently been added to the GMAT Syllabus, and it will be included in the test beginning in April 2021. Furthermore, there is no difference in GMAT test scores.
Who is qualified to take the GMAT online test at home?
Except for China, Iran, Cuba, North Korea, and Sudan, the GMAT Online Test at Home option is available in most countries. Only English is used as the test’s medium of instruction. GRE test-takers will take the exam on either a Windows or a Mac Personal Computer or Laptop at home.
How do I sign up for the GMAT Online Exam?
Candidates can sign up for the GMAT online test at any time by following the steps below:
Step 1: Create or login to the Account
New users must create a new account on mba.com while existing users must log in to complete the registration process.
Step 2: Register
Go to “Register for the GMAT Online Exam”, select the GMAT online exam, choose the test date and time and confirm the registration.
Step 3: Make a payment for your registration.
The GMAT Online Test costs $250 USD. A debit card or a credit card may be used to make a payment.
Application Requirements for the GMAT Online Exam
Candidates from India must show their Aadhaar Card as proof of identity while registering for the GMAT Online Test, which will begin in April 2021.
The photo on the ID must be identifiable and the ID must be original. The name on the ID must match the name on the GRE online application form. It is important to have both the first and last name. The Identity Card must also include a recent photo.
