Graduate & Business School Admissions
GMAT Focus Edition
Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT Focus Edition)
Free GMAT practice questions 89 questions with full answer explanations. No sign-up. Start practice →Overview
The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is the admissions test built specifically for business school. There is no separate exam called "the MBA exam" - when people search for one, the GMAT (or its main alternative, the GRE) is what they mean. It is owned and administered by GMAC, and your score is one part of an MBA or business master's application, alongside your degree, essays, references and work experience.
Since 1 February 2024 the only version offered is the GMAT Focus Edition, which replaced the older format. It is shorter and restructured: three 45-minute sections - Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and Data Insights - with no Analytical Writing essay. The total testing time is about 2 hours 15 minutes, and the Total Score runs on a new 205-805 scale.
The GMAT is not a knowledge exam you pass or fail. It is a reasoning test scored on a scale, and what counts as a "good" score depends entirely on the programmes you are targeting. This page explains how the Focus Edition is structured, how it is scored, and how to decide between it and the GRE.
✓ Who it is for
- Applicants to MBA and business master's programmes that accept or prefer the GMAT
- People targeting finance, consulting and competitive programmes where the GMAT is well recognised
- Candidates who reason well with data and quantitative problems under time pressure
- Anyone searching for an "MBA entrance exam" - the GMAT is the test built for that purpose
✕ Who it is not for
- Applicants whose target programmes prefer or only accept the GRE - check each school first
- Executive MBA candidates whose programme prefers the shorter Executive Assessment
- People keeping options open across many non-business graduate programmes, where the GRE is more widely accepted
- Anyone expecting a pass/fail certification - the GMAT is a scaled admissions test, not a qualification
Exam structure
| Quantitative Reasoning (21 questions, 45 min) | Problem Solving questions that test mathematical reasoning across arithmetic and algebra. No on-screen calculator is allowed. Data Sufficiency questions have moved out of this section into Data Insights. |
|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning (23 questions, 45 min) | Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning. Sentence Correction has been removed in the Focus Edition, so grammar is no longer tested as a separate question type. |
| Data Insights (20 questions, 45 min) | Data Sufficiency plus Multi-Source Reasoning, Table Analysis, Graphics Interpretation and Two-Part Analysis. An on-screen calculator is allowed in this section only. |
| Format and tools | Computer-adaptive within each section. You may bookmark questions and edit up to 3 answers per section using the Question Review & Edit tool. One optional 10-minute break, and you can take the sections in your preferred order. |
Realistic study time
- Typical preparation ~100-150 hours over 2-3 months
- Aiming for a top score Often 150-200+ hours, sometimes with a course or retake
Bars show relative effort, not a guarantee. Your time depends on background and study method.
Turn this into a week-by-week schedule with the Study Plan Generator.
What it really costs
Fees change and vary by region. Confirm the current amount on the official site before you register.
Want your full out-of-pocket figure? Try the Cost Calculator.
Salary & career value
Indicative ranges for orientation only - not surveyed data, and not financial or career advice. Sources and date below.
The GMAT itself is an admissions test, not a job credential, so it has no salary attached. Its financial value is indirect: a strong score helps win a place at, and scholarships from, MBA programmes whose graduates command high post-MBA salaries. Outcomes vary enormously by school, region and industry, so treat any single figure with caution.
Pass rate: The GMAT has no pass mark - it is scored, not passed or failed. The Total Score ranges from 205 to 805 (all totals end in 5), with each section scored 60-90. GMAC publishes percentile rankings showing how your score compares with other test-takers, and these are updated periodically. What counts as a strong score depends entirely on the programmes you target, so set your goal from your schools' published score ranges rather than any universal threshold.
Jobs that often ask for it:
- MBA candidate
- Business master's candidate
- Management consultant (post-MBA)
- Investment banking / finance (post-MBA)
- Corporate strategy / general management (post-MBA)
Is it worth it?
Worth it if your target MBA or business master's programmes accept or prefer the GMAT and you reason well with data and quant. It is purpose-built for business school and well respected in finance and consulting. If your programmes prefer the GRE, or you want to keep non-business graduate options open, the GRE may serve you better - the choice is about the programmes you target, not prestige.
Not sure this is the right exam for you? Compare your options with the Exam Finder.
Compare GMAT with other exams
Independent, like-for-like comparisons to help you choose the right one.
Career paths featuring GMAT
What to do next
Decide between the GMAT and the GRE before you start preparing. Take a free official practice section of each, then compare them on format, scoring and which programmes accept them.
On exam day
Taken at a Pearson VUE test centre or online with remote proctoring, year-round by appointment. About 2 hours 15 minutes of testing in three 45-minute sections, with one optional 10-minute break. Bring valid government ID. You can choose the order of the sections and see an unofficial Total Score at the end.
Keeping your certification
No renewal. A GMAT score is valid for 5 years from the test date. You can retake the exam to improve a score (subject to GMAC's limits on attempts within rolling periods).
FAQ
- Is there an "MBA exam"?
- No. There is no single exam called "the MBA". The MBA is a degree you study for after admission. To apply, you sit a business school admissions test - most often the GMAT or the GRE - and the school uses your score as one part of your application. So when people say "MBA exam", they almost always mean the GMAT.
- What is the GMAT Focus Edition?
- It is the current and only version of the GMAT, offered since 1 February 2024. It has three 45-minute sections (Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and Data Insights), no Analytical Writing essay, and a Total Score from 205 to 805. The total testing time is about 2 hours 15 minutes.
- How is the GMAT scored?
- Your Total Score runs from 205 to 805 and always ends in 5. It is built from all three sections (Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and Data Insights), each weighted equally, and each section is also scored on a 60-90 scale. There is no pass mark; GMAC reports your scaled score plus a percentile ranking.
- What is a good GMAT score?
- It depends entirely on your target schools, because there is no universal pass mark. Look up the published score range or median for each programme you are applying to and aim at or above it. On the Focus Edition's 205-805 scale, scores are not directly comparable to the old 200-800 scale, so use GMAC's concordance and current school data rather than older benchmarks.
- GMAT or GRE for an MBA?
- Most MBA programmes accept both and state no preference, so check your specific schools. The GMAT is purpose-built for business school and well recognised in finance and consulting; the GRE is accepted far more widely across graduate programmes generally, so it keeps non-MBA options open. Take a free official practice section of each and choose the test you score better on.
- How long is a GMAT score valid?
- Five years from your test date. That means you can take the GMAT well before you are ready to apply, then use the score across the application cycles within that window.
- How much does the GMAT cost?
- In the United States it is roughly US$275 at a test centre and US$300 online. Prices, taxes and rescheduling fees vary by country and by whether you test in person or online, so confirm the current figure for your location on mba.com before booking.
- Can I change my answers during the GMAT?
- Within limits, yes. The Focus Edition includes a Question Review & Edit tool: while working through a section you can bookmark questions, and at the end of that section you can review them and edit up to three answers. You cannot revisit a section once you have moved on.
- Does the GMAT still have an essay?
- No. The Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) was removed in the Focus Edition. The current exam is three sections - Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and Data Insights - with no essay.
Related exams
- GRE General Test - ETS (Educational Testing Service)
- Executive Assessment - Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)
Free study resources
- mba.com - Official GMAT Starter Kit (free practice exams and questions) ↗
- mba.com - About the GMAT exam ↗