How Hard is the GMAT?

How Hard is the GMAT?

More than 6,000 different business programs at the graduate level around the world use GMAT scores in admissions decisions. To get an idea of how difficult this test is, learn about average scores, as well as the best scores seen by institutions in the U.S.

How People Do on the Exam

Total scores on the GMAT can be between 200 and 800. Close to 70% of those who take the test end up with a score anywhere from 400 to 600. In June 2015, the mean score was recorded to be 550.12.

Now that you know what some of the more common scores on the exam can be like, let's examine the highest scores. According to U.S. News & World Report, the highest average GMAT score in 2014 was 732, and that was at Stanford University. Some of the other scores that fell in the high end that same year were 724, 717 and 715.

What to Expect on the Exam

Knowing the kind of content you'll run into on the GMAT is one way to make the test seem less difficult. The GMAT, which has a 3.5-hour time limit, is broken down into four individually timed sections:

• Integrated Reasoning (12 questions, 30 minutes)
• Analytical Writing Assessment (1 essay, 30 minutes)
• Quantitative (37 questions, 75 minutes)
• Verbal (41 questions, 75 minutes)

Prepare for the GMAT

Study.com offers prep resources that'll help boost your confidence going into your GMAT test day. There are chapters filled with engaging video lessons, transcripts, and plenty of practice questions. Check out the GMAT Test Prep and Review course to get started on your exam prep today.