GMAT Questions and Answers by Advantage Testing

The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is a standardized entrance exam used for admission to graduate business schools conferring the degree of an MBA (some law schools now also accept the GMAT in lieu of the LSAT). You can take the GMAT on computers at test centers as well as the GMAT Online remotely proctored at home. The GMAT consists of the following sections:

• Quantitative Reasoning: 21 questions on problem solving using logic and analytical reasoning, based on topics drawn primarily from arithmetic and elementary algebra.
• Verbal Reasoning: 23 questions, including passage-based reading comprehension questions and critical reasoning questions testing the evaluation of arguments.
• Data Insights: 20 questions, including multi-source reasoning, graphics interpretation, two-part analysis, data sufficiency, and table analysis.

The GMAT Total Score scale ranges from 205 to 805, and all Total Score values end in a 5. Section scores range from 60 to 90.

You can select in what order the sections will appear on official GMAT administrations, and you can choose whether to take your optional ten-minute break either after the first or the second section.

The GMAT is mostly used by those planning to apply to MBA programs and other business-related advanced degree programs. The GRE is accepted in lieu of the GMAT by most MBA programs, although the GMAT is still more commonly used for MBA admissions. Many Executive MBA programs accept the Executive Assessment in lieu of the GMAT. 

Some students may be interested in taking the GMAT instead of the LSAT to apply to law schools, as the GMAT is accepted by certain law schools.

Most business schools accept both the GMAT and the GRE, with no stated preference for either test; however, the GMAT is more commonly used by students applying to business school. 

The GMAT and GRE have many similarities: both tests include Quantitative and Verbal sections. Note that some of the question types and content are unique to each test. For example, the GMAT tests grammar, while the GRE tests vocabulary. Likewise, the GMAT Quantitative Section includes data sufficiency questions, while the GRE Quantitative Section includes quantitative comparison questions.

If you are deciding between preparing for the GMAT or GRE, we recommend that you take a timed full-length practice GMAT and a timed full-length practice GRE. Compare your scores and your overall comfort level with each test. Then prepare for and take the test on which you feel that you will eventually perform best.

You can register for the GMAT on the official website. You can take the GMAT an unlimited number of times but only once within any 16-day period and no more than five times within any 12-month period.

You can cancel your GMAT for a partial refund if you cancel in advance of your test administration:

• More than 60 days before test: $110 refunded for in-person, $120 for online
• 15–60 days before test: $80 refunded for in person, $90 for online
• Fewer than 15 days before test: $55 refunded for in-person, $60 for online
• Your test cannot be canceled within 24 hours of your test administration.

You cannot cancel your scores after you take the test.

You can read more about GMAT refunds and fees here.

The GMAT Quantitative Reasoning consists of 21 questions, encompassing topics drawn primarily from arithmetic and algebra. The Data Insights section consists of 20 questions, including multi-source reasoning, graphics interpretation, two-part analysis, data sufficiency, and table analysis.

Many students find the math tested on the GMAT to be challenging, but it is also learnable. With rigorous study of the concepts and practice applying them, all students can improve their GMAT math skills. In our experience, studying for the GMAT through one-on-one tutoring yields the best results because an experienced tutor can provide you with an individualized program tailored to your strengths and weaknesses and help you achieve your top score.

You cannot bring a calculator to your GMAT administration. An on-screen calculator will be provided for use during the Data Insights section only. But don’t worry—GMAT questions are written in ways that do not require lengthy computation. Make sure to practice without using a calculator so that you get used to solving problems without one.

Because it takes time to learn all of the underlying math, reading, logic, grammar, and writing concepts and to practice applying them on timed practice tests, we recommend that students prepare for the GMAT with study sessions, tutoring, and timed practice testing multiple times per week for several months. 

When you plan your preparation schedule, also keep in mind that you may want to retake the GMAT. We recommend that most students begin preparing for the GMAT up to a year in advance of their application deadlines. This approach gives students ample time to prepare for the test and retake it if necessary, while allowing for sufficient time to finish the other components of business school applications.

Studying for the GMAT typically takes more than 30 days. Preparing for the GMAT requires significant time and a serious commitment. With more than 35 years of experience, Advantage Testing has determined that it takes most students several months of rigorous preparation to substantially improve their GMAT scores.

If you are preparing for the GMAT in a condensed time frame, focus on taking full-length practice tests and official problem sets. Use as many of the official practice materials as you can. Be sure to carefully review each test and problem set, paying close attention to every question that you answered incorrectly and every question on which you had to guess.

No, you should not skip any questions on the GMAT. The exam is computer-adaptive—the computer will present questions of varying difficulty depending on your prior responses.

There is a severe penalty for not finishing the test, so be sure to answer every question in a timely fashion. You should always keep track of time remaining so that if you have unanswered questions remaining when your time is almost up, you can complete the section with random guessing in the last minute or so.

If you have enough time left, you can go back and review your answers and change up to three each section.

While it is not bad to take the GMAT several times, you should note that a small minority of schools will ask you how many times you took it, and an even smaller minority will ask you how you did on each test. Nonetheless, we advise our students to expect to retake the GMAT at least once. You can take the GMAT an unlimited number of times but only once within any 16-day period and no more than five times within any 12-month period.

You should wait to take the GMAT for the first time until you feel confident and have taken multiple full-length practice tests. You should retake the GMAT if you feel that you can score significantly higher with additional preparation. Most students need to prepare for the GMAT with study sessions, tutoring, and timed practice testing multiple times each week for several months before taking their first official test.

The GMAT is a computer-adaptive test. While there are no wrong-answer penalties per se, the computer will present different questions depending on your prior responses. An accurate response to a question will generally, but not necessarily, result in a more difficult question. For example, in the Quantitative Reasoning section, because several topics are being tested, a correct answer on an arithmetic question might lead to a more difficult arithmetic question or a relatively easier geometry question.

Questions cannot be skipped or returned to after they are answered. There is a severe penalty for not finishing the test, so be sure to answer every question in a timely fashion and to always keep track of time remaining so that you can complete the section in the last minute if you have not already done so.

GMAT scores cannot be canceled, but you get to choose which score(s) to send to schools.

You will be able to preview your unofficial multiple-choice scores (Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Data Insights, and Total scores) at the test site immediately after finishing your GMAT. GMAT unofficial scores are presented to you immediately after completing the exam.

You will be notified by email when your official score report is ready. Official score reports will typically be available to the test taker and designated score recipients three to five days after the test date.

A 675 is a good GMAT score for most business school applicants, being around the 95th percentile. However, a 675 is around the average score for many leading business schools (e.g., the mean GMAT score of Yale's School of Management’s Class of 2026 was 675).

When setting goals, you should take into account the mean and 75th percentile scores at the schools to which you are planning to apply, your practice test scores, and the other strengths of your business school application. For example, if your score is above the 75th percentile of students admitted to your top-choice business school, you can feel confident that you have a “good” score. To determine what GMAT score you will need to present a strong application, you can look up the relevant score statistics on the websites of the schools to which you are applying or on national ranking sites.

While you can study for the GMAT on your own or in a class, our experience indicates that one-on-one tutoring provides the most effective preparation for achieving a high score on the GMAT. An excellent tutor will be able to determine and address your individual strengths and weaknesses and tailor a preparation plan that will enable you to achieve your best score.

However you choose to prepare for the GMAT, be sure to study the underlying concepts on all of the sections of the test and then practice taking as many timed, full-length practice tests as possible. Taking practice tests is a key element to any preparation plan because you will gain experience and confidence completing questions under timed conditions, become familiar with the logistics of the official test, and develop the stamina needed to complete a full test to the best of your abilities.

Harvard Business School requires that you submit either a GMAT or GRE score when you apply. For the HBS Class of 2026, 63% of the class submitted GMAT scores, while 41% of the class submitted GRE scores.

There is no single GMAT score that will guarantee or preclude admission to Harvard Business School. While the GMAT factors heavily in admissions decisions, HBS evaluates your entire application and will consider your standardized test scores, undergraduate curriculum's rigor, undergraduate GPA, application essays, letters of recommendation, interview, and work experience. Students admitted to HBS score very high on the GMAT. The median GMAT score of students enrolled in the HBS class of 2026 was in the 99th percentile overall. 

Note that you can take the GRE as an alternative to the GMAT for admission to HBS. 41% of the class of 2026 used the GRE to apply to HBS.

While you should always strive to perform to the best of your ability on the GMAT, keep in mind that perfect scores are rare. Very few people score a perfect 805 on the GMAT. On the GMAT Focus Edition, scores of 715 and above are at the 99th percentile. Scores above that represent a tiny fraction of the top percentile of GMAT scores.

A 605 may be a good GMAT score for some business school applicants, being around the 70th percentile. A 605 is below the average score for many leading business schools (e.g., successful applicants to MIT Sloan typically have a score around 685).

Keep in mind that GMAT scores should not be considered “good” or “bad” in themselves, but only relative to your goals. When setting goals, you should take into account the mean and 75th percentile scores at the schools to which you hope to apply, your practice test scores, and the other strengths of your business school application. For example, if your score is above the 75th percentile of students admitted to your top-choice business school, you can feel confident that you have a “good” score.