GMAT is the abbreviation for the Graduate Management Admission Test. This is a computerized test created and administered by the Educational Testing Service on behalf of the Graduate Management Admission Council. This is generally a requirement for entry in to MBA programs, although some programs look only at your grade point average for admission. For those seeking entry to MBA programs, the GMAT a very important part of their business school application.

The GMATassessment measures basic verbal, mathematical, and analytical writing skills. These are skills that you would have developed over years of education and practical experience. The GMAT begins with an analytical writing section where you have to complete two writing tasks. You are allowed 30 minutes to finish each one. The quantitative section follows next, and consists of multiple choice questions related to data sufficiency and problem solving. You are given 75 minutes to complete this section. The third portion is the verbal section. This portion of the exam consists of multiple choice questions based on reading comprehension, critical reasoning and sentence correction. If you do not finish each multiple-choice section of the test, your score will depend on the number of questions answered within each section.

Total GMAT scores range from 200 to 800. 65% of test takers score between 400 and 600. A great score on the GMAT does not however guarantee admission to the school of your choice. A low score can mean you do not qualify at all for a business school program. GMAT scores are also on the rise, which is making acceptance to top schools more competitive. The average score for acceptance to top ten business schools has risen almost 100 points in the last 15 years. This means you need to have near a 700 score to be considered for entrance to the best schools. As more students take the GMAT and vie for limited openings in top schools, the competition for top scores will continue to grow.