{"id":7748,"date":"2025-05-19T15:45:01","date_gmt":"2025-05-19T22:45:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/?p=7748"},"modified":"2024-06-28T16:40:45","modified_gmt":"2024-06-28T23:40:45","slug":"what-is-the-gmat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/what-is-the-gmat\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the GMAT? All You Need to Know (2025)"},"content":{"rendered":"<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8786\" src=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/files\/2017\/07\/Copy-of-GMAT-Score-Calculator-header.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" \/>\r\n\r\n<a id=\"what-is-the-gmat\"><\/a>\r\n<p><strong>GMAT stands for the Graduate Management Admission Test, a standardized exam used by business schools around the world to evaluate applicants for MBA and other graduate business programs.<\/strong>  In fact, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mba.com\/exams\/gmat-exam\">more than 7,000 programs at 2,400+ schools accept the GMAT<\/a>, making it one of the most widely recognized tests in graduate admissions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Primarily, the GMAT is used by:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>MBA programs (both in the U.S. and internationally)<\/li>\r\n<li>Master\u2019s in Management (MiM) and other specialized business degrees<\/li>\r\n<li>Some dual-degree programs (like JD\/MBA or MD\/MBA)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"color: #c5168c;\" id=\"how-business-schools-use\">How Do Business Schools Use the GMAT?<\/h3>\r\n\r\n<p>Since the GMAT is standardized, schools use it to compare applicants from very different backgrounds on a level playing field.  It also gives them a measure of your academic readiness: the same skills tested by the GMAT\u2014such as your ability to reason through data and analyze arguments\u2014are the same skills you\u2019ll use within the program.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>It\u2019s not the only thing schools consider\u2014your application will also include your GPA, work experience, essays, and more\u2014but it\u2019s one of the few common benchmarks across applicants.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Additionally, some business schools <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mba.com\/how-to-apply\/scholarships-and-financing\/gmat-scholarships\">factor test scores into merit scholarships<\/a> that they provide.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote style=\"border-left: 4px solid #4d2079; background: #F9FAFB; padding: 1em 1.2em; margin: 1em 0; border-radius: 6px; box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);\">\r\n<p>So, whether you\u2019re planning on getting an MBA, a specialized master\u2019s, or just exploring your options, we&#8217;ll guide you through exactly what the GMAT is.  Read on to learn how the GMAT works, how to prepare, and how to decide if it\u2019s the right test for you.<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n\r\n<nav>\r\n<p style=\"color: #4D2079; font-size:larger\"><strong>Table of Contents<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"#what-is-the-gmat\">What is the GMAT Exam?<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <ul>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#how-business-schools-use\">How Do Business Schools Use the GMAT?<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <\/ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"#on-the-gmat\">What is on the GMAT?<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <ul>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#data-insights\">The Data Insights Section<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#quant\">The Quantitative Reasoning Section<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#verbal\">The Verbal Reasoning Section<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#adaptive\">How Adaptive Testing Works<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#writing\">A Note on the Separate Business Writing Assessment<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <\/ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"#score-need\">What Score Do I Need?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#how-hard\">How Hard is the GMAT?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#how-study\">How Do I Best Prep for the Test?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#have-to-take-gmat\">Do I Have to Take the GMAT?<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <ul>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#test-optionality\">GMAT and Test Optionality<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#gre-alternative\">The GRE as an Alternative to the GMAT<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <\/ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"#how-take\">Where, When, and How Do I Take the GMAT?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#gmat-cost\">GMAT Cost and Fees<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#gmat-faq\">Frequently Asked Questions about the GMAT<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#resources\">More Resources and Next Steps<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/nav>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"color: #4d2079;\" id=\"on-the-gmat\">What is on the GMAT?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>The GMAT consists of many different question types, all of which test how well you reason and analyze.  The exam is split into three different sections:  Quantitative Reasoning (aka &#8220;Math&#8221;), Verbal Reasoning (&#8220;Verbal&#8221;), and Data Insights (&#8220;DI&#8221;).<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Here&#8217;s a quick look at what each of those sections entails:<\/p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-22\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-22 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Section of the GMAT<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">How many questions?<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">Types of questions<\/th><th class=\"column-4\">Time limit<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Data Insights<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">20<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Multi-Source Reasoning<br \/>\nGraphics and Table Interpretation<br \/>\nTwo-Part Analysis<br \/>\nData Sufficiency <\/td><td class=\"column-4\">45 minutes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Quantitative<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">21<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Problem Solving<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">45 minutes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Verbal<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">23<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Reading Comprehension<br \/>\nCritical Reasoning<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">45 minutes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Break<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\"><\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><\/td><td class=\"column-4\">10 minutes (Optional)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>TOTAL EXAM STATS<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">64<br \/>\n<\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><\/td><td class=\"column-4\">2 hours &amp; 15 minutes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-22 from cache -->\r\n\r\n<p>For a deeper analysis of the full form of the GMAT\u2014including its unique features\u2014check out <a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/current-gmat-format-section-breakdown\/\">our breakdown of the test here<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"color: #c5168c;\" id=\"data-insights\">The Data Insights Section<\/h3>\r\n<p>On this section, you\u2019ll have 45 minutes to answer 20 questions. Keep in mind that these are often complex, multi-part questions. A big part of mastering DI depends on your ability to master the timing.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>This is also the most unique section of the GMAT, consisting of 5 different question types:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n  <li>Data Sufficiency &#8211; Do you have <em>enough<\/em> information to solve the problem?<\/li>\r\n  <li>Graphics Interpretation &#8211; Can you interpret various visualizations of data?<\/li>\r\n  <li>Table Analysis &#8211; How well can you extract information from a table?<\/li>\r\n  <li>Two-Part Analysis &#8211; Can be either a &#8220;math&#8221; (ex: what is the relationship between two variables?) question or a &#8220;verbal&#8221; question (ex: what is the relationship between two blanks in a passage?)<\/li>\r\n  <li>Multi-Source Reasoning &#8211; How well can you integrate information from a passage as well as other sources of data?<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<p>See our <a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/gmat-data-insights\/\">Guide to Data Insights<\/a> for more details.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"color: #c5168c;\" id=\"quant\">The Quantitative Reasoning Section<\/h3>\r\n<p>For Math, you&#8217;ll answer 21 questions in 45 minutes.  There&#8217;s nothing too special here as far as the format\u2014every question is multiple choice\u2014but some of these questions can be quite tricky.  The difficulty doesn&#8217;t stem from the topics tested (no calculus, no trigonometry, and even no geometry) but rather from piling up concepts on top of each other to create multi-level problems.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>So, you&#8217;ll want to review the following areas before test day:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Arithmetic<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Number properties<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Pre-algebra<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Algebra<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Word problems<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<p>For a closer look at the Quant section, check out <a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/how-to-study-for-gmat-math\/\">our guide on how to study for GMAT math<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"color: #c5168c;\" id=\"verbal\">The Verbal Reasoning Section<\/h3>\r\n<p>The Verbal Section pits you against 23 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes.  You&#8217;ll encounter two types of questions\u2014Reading Comprehension (RC) and Critical Reasoning (CR)\u2014and roughly the same number of each.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/how-to-study-for-gmat-reading-comprehension\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Reading Comprehension<\/a> questions present you with a short (200-300 words) or long (300-400 words) passage, along with a set of multiple-choice questions.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/introduction-to-gmat-critical-reasoning\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Critical Reasoning<\/a> questions set forth an argument that you then analyze. There are many different flavors of CR questions, including &#8220;Strengthening&#8221;, &#8220;Weakening&#8221;, and &#8220;Assumption&#8221;.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<p>For more on the Verbal section as a whole, take a look at <a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/gmat-verbal\/\">our article on GMAT Verbal<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"color: #c5168c;\" id=\"adaptive\">How Adaptive Testing Works<\/h3>\r\n<p>One thing that makes the GMAT different from most standardized tests? Within a section, it adapts to <em>you<\/em> as you take it.\r\n\r\n<p>The GMAT is a Computer Adaptive Test, which means that the test adjusts in real time based on how you\u2019re doing:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n  <li>Answer a question correctly? The next one may be a bit harder.<\/li>\r\n  <li>Answer incorrectly? The next one might be a bit easier.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<p>This allows the GMAT to zero in on your skill level more efficiently than a traditional test, where every test-taker sees the same set of questions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>This question-by-question adaptivity is something to be aware of in general, but don&#8217;t focus on it during the exam.  It&#8217;s far more important to worry about the question you&#8217;re on versus an algorithm behind the scenes.  Learn more about this in <a href=\"https:\/\/gmat.magooshstage.wpengine.com\/lessons\/6819-computer-adaptive-testing\">our free lesson<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"color: #c5168c;\" id=\"writing\">A Note on the Separate Business Writing Assessment<\/h3>\r\n<p>First of all, the GMAT itself contains no essay section.  Thus, you won&#8217;t have to do any writing during the exam.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>However, it&#8217;s important to know that some select business schools may require you to later (at the interview stage) take the <em>separate<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mba.com\/exams\/business-writing-assessment\">Business Writing Assessment<\/a>.  Currently, only <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hbs.edu\/mba\/frequently-asked-questions\">Harvard Business School requires this<\/a> if you submit a GMAT score, and <a href=\"https:\/\/mitsloan.mit.edu\/mba\/admissions\/frequently-asked-questions\">MIT Sloan may request this<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"color: #4d2079;\" id=\"score-need\">What Score Do I Need?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<iframe title=\"GMAT Scores Explained in 2025 | What Percentiles B-Schools REALLY Want\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/L3Ak-p43k7g?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\r\n\r\n<p>If you&#8217;re hoping for a top business school, unsurprisingly you&#8217;ll want to <em>aim<\/em> for a top score (though you most certainly do not need a perfect 805 on the test!).  The whole idea is to make your application as competitive as possible, so ending up in the <a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/gmat-percentiles\/\">higher percentiles<\/a> is certainly a bonus.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>If you&#8217;re not aiming for the best of the best, you&#8217;ll still want a score that&#8217;s competitive.  As a general rule of thumb:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n  <li>685+ is an excellent score (think M7 programs, like Harvard, Wharton, Stanford)<\/li>\r\n  <li>645+ is a very good score (think top 25 MBA programs)<\/li>\r\n  <li>615+ is a good score (that will be competitive in <a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/average-gmat-scores\/\">many top 50 MBA programs<\/a>)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<p>With that said, <a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/whats-a-good-gmat-score\/\">a good GMAT score<\/a> is ultimately the score that gets you admitted.  Sometimes that&#8217;s a top score, sometimes that&#8217;s an average score, and sometimes that&#8217;s even a below-average score.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Similar to what we saw in the <a href=\"#have-to-take-gmat\">Do I Have to Take the GMAT?<\/a> section, it really depends on the rest of your application as well as the specific programs that you&#8217;re applying to.  Schools generally fall into one of these categories:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5>No Minimum Required<\/h5>\r\n\r\n<p>Many business schools\u2014such as <a href=\"https:\/\/mba.wharton.upenn.edu\/class-profile\/\">Wharton<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hbs.edu\/mba\/admissions\/application-process\">Harvard Business School<\/a>\u2014openly state on their websites that &#8220;There is no minimum GMAT or GRE score requirement to apply.&#8221;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>In other words, don&#8217;t let a low test score stop you from pursuing a specific school.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLP4J_TCNVLDgzncTjg7_Hte_TGYvAyW2p\">Top business schools frequently stressed to us<\/a> that the admissions process is a holistic one and how test scores are but one factor.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5>Recommended Minimum<\/h5>\r\n\r\n<p>Other MBA programs\u2014such as <a href=\"https:\/\/whitman.syracuse.edu\/graduate-programs\/full-time-mba-program\/mba-application-requirements\">Syracuse Whitman<\/a>\u2014will specify a <em>recommended<\/em> threshold to aim for.  However, not meeting that criteria won&#8217;t cause them to immediately disregard your application.  They&#8217;ll look elsewhere in your application to assess your fit with their program.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5>Provide Average Scores and\/or Middle 80% Ranges<\/h5>\r\n\r\n<p>Most commonly, schools won&#8217;t discuss a minimum in one way or another.  Instead, their class profile pages\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/michiganross.umich.edu\/graduate\/full-time-mba\/admissions\/class-profile\">such as this one from Michigan Ross<\/a>\u2014will list their recent students&#8217; average test scores or even the middle 80% range.  Occasionally you&#8217;ll encounter a school\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hbs.edu\/mba\/admissions\/class-profile\">such as Harvard<\/a>\u2014that even provides the entire range.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Ultimately, these average scores and ranges serve as a <em>reference point<\/em> that provides you with some context.  Getting a top score is, of course, excellent.  But a wide range of students with a variety of scores\u2014including those with &#8220;bad&#8221; scores\u2014get admitted every year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote style=\"border-left: 4px solid #4d2079; background: #F9FAFB; padding: 1em 1.2em; margin: 1em 0; border-radius: 6px; box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);\">\r\n<strong>Michigan Ross<\/strong>: &#8220;(Your test score) is just one data point in your whole application, so even if you&#8217;re not hitting what you think is the class profile average on our website, number one, that&#8217;s an average, so do not let that hinder you because many fall well below and well above that average.&#8221; \u2013 Michelle Pava, Associate Director of Admissions \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=C9QHngLOw2k\">GradTalk Episode #7<\/a>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"color: #4d2079;\" id=\"how-hard\">How Hard is the GMAT?<\/h2>\r\n<p>The GMAT is a challenging exam\u2014but how hard it feels depends on your personal strengths. In general, its content is tougher than the SAT or ACT, but not as demanding as the LSAT or MCAT. And if you&#8217;re strong in quantitative reasoning, you might find it easier than the GRE (though, if verbal is your strength, the opposite may be true).<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Beyond the content of the test, also consider:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n  <li>What did you study in undergrad, and how long ago did you attend?<\/li>\r\n  <li>How well do you work quickly and under pressure?<\/li>\r\n  <li>How much prep have you done for the GMAT so far?<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<p>For a much closer look at the challenges of the GMAT, see <a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/how-hard-is-the-gmat\/\">our article on how hard the GMAT is<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"color: #4d2079;\" id=\"how-study\">How Do I Best Prep for the Test?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>At a high level, you&#8217;ll want to:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ol>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/gmat-practice-test\">Take a practice test<\/a> to understand your baseline score and strengths and weaknesses<\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/gmat-study-schedule\/\">Follow a study schedule<\/a> to get the most out of your study time<\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/gmat-error-log\/\">Keep an error log<\/a> to see what went wrong and what to do differently next time<\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/gmat-timing-strategy\">Focus on timing strategy<\/a> to pace yourself effectively through each section<\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/gmat.magooshstage.wpengine.com\/lessons\/6630-learn-from-your-mistakes\">Learn from your mistakes<\/a> to make the most progress<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n<p>For more information and advice, take a look at <a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/how-to-prepare-for-gmat\/\">our guide on how to prepare for the GMAT<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>And if you&#8217;re deciding between prep options, check out <a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/best-gmat-prep-courses\/\">our comparison of the Best GMAT Prep Courses<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"color: #4d2079;\" id=\"have-to-take-gmat\">Do I Have to Take the GMAT?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"color: #c5168c;\" id=\"test-optionality\">GMAT and Test Optionality<\/h3>\r\n\r\n<p>The short answer?  It depends.  The long answer is that you absolutely must check with the programs that you&#8217;re applying to since it varies from school to school.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>There are several different categories that schools fall into:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5>Test Required<\/h5>\r\n<p>Some schools\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gsb.stanford.edu\/programs\/mba\/admission\/application\/test-scores\">such as Stanford GSB<\/a>\u2014do require you to submit a GMAT or GRE score.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5>Test Optional<\/h5>\r\n<p>Other schools\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/www.anderson.ucla.edu\/degrees\/full-time-mba\/admissions\">such as UCLA Anderson<\/a>\u2014leave the choice up to you.  If you submit a test score, they&#8217;ll look at it; otherwise, they won&#8217;t ask for one.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Keep in mind, though, that even if a school is test optional, submitting a test score could be a very important part of your application:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote style=\"border-left: 4px solid #4d2079; background: #F9FAFB; padding: 1em 1.2em; margin: 1em 0; border-radius: 6px; box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);\">\r\n<strong>UCLA Anderson<\/strong>: &#8220;What if I apply without a standardized test score?  Will that impact my candidacy negatively? No, that&#8217;s not the case.  You definitely will need to think about how can you prove your quantitative skill sets to us&#8230; We want to make sure people succeed\u2014one of those areas is in the classroom.  We&#8217;re very Quant heavy, so&#8230; whether it be through your transcript or additional courses or in your place of work, <strong>you showcasing those skill sets outside of submitting a standardized test score are going to be very important<\/strong>.&#8221; \u2013 Alex Lawrence, Assistant Dean and Director of MBA Admissions \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=2S_aAFcLYWo\">GradTalk Episode #5<\/a>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n\r\n<h5>Test Free<\/h5>\r\n<p>Some schools don&#8217;t require any test scores whatsoever.  This tends to be the case more with online MBA programs as opposed to full-time MBA programs.  Case in point, consider Arizona State University:  the <a href=\"https:\/\/wpcarey.asu.edu\/mba-programs\/online\/application-process#app-process\">W. P. Carey Online MBA program does not require<\/a> any test score but <a href=\"https:\/\/wpcarey.asu.edu\/mba-programs\/full-time\/application-process#app-process\">the full-time program does<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5>Test Waivers Available<\/h5>\r\n<p>You may be exempt from taking the GMAT or the GRE at certain schools\u2014provided you meet certain criteria.  As one example, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagobooth.edu\/mba\/full-time\/faq\">Chicago Booth<\/a> will <em>only<\/em> waive their test score requirement if you previously graduated from the University of Chicago.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5>Special Requirements<\/h5>\r\n<p>Lastly, some schools can have very specific requirements when it comes to standardized tests.  If you&#8217;re applying to business schools in India, they often only accept a test <em>taken at a test center<\/em> (and not one taken online).  Such is the case with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.isb.edu\/programmes\/post-graduate-programmes\/pgp-in-management\">ISB (Indian School of Business)<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>In short, do be sure to research each program you&#8217;re applying to!<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"color: #c5168c;\" id=\"gre-alternative\">The GRE as an Alternative to the GMAT<\/h3>\r\n\r\n<p>Nowadays, it\u2019s almost unheard of for a business program to have a preference for the GMAT over the GRE.  So, more than likely, you can take the GRE in place of the GMAT if you so choose.  (But the same advice from above still applies:  always check with your specific programs!)<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Should you take the GRE?  It can be a great option, especially if:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>You\u2019re applying to multiple types of grad programs, not just business school<\/li>\r\n<li>You have strong vocabulary and\/or writing skills<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<p>There&#8217;s more to it than that, so take a look at <a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gre\/gmat-vs-gre\">our full analysis of taking the GMAT vs the GRE<\/a>.  But in the end, it really comes down to which test you can score the highest on.  And with that in mind, one of the best ways to answer that question is to take a practice test in each:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gre\/gre-practice-test\/\">Magoosh&#8217;s Free GRE Practice Test<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/gmat-practice-test\/\">Magoosh&#8217;s Free GMAT Practice Test<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"color: #4d2079;\" id=\"how-take\">Where, When, and How Do I Take the GMAT?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>To take the exam, you&#8217;ll first need to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mba.com\/exams\/gmat-exam\/register\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">register on the official GMAC website<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>You&#8217;ll also need to decide if you want to take the exam at a test center or online.  Though the online GMAT is conveniently offered in many countries, that&#8217;s not the case in every country\u2014most notably, mainland China.  Additionally, many Indian business schools and Indian Institutes of Management will not accept the online version of the exam (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.iima.ac.in\/academics\/mba\/admissions\/overseas-indian\">IIMA is one such example<\/a>).<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>There are many other factors to consider when deciding between <a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/gmat-online\/\">taking the GMAT online<\/a> or in a test center.  Ultimately, you want to pick the format that you&#8217;re most comfortable with, but here are some of the main things to consider:<\/p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-162\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-162 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Factor<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">Online GMAT<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">Test-Center GMAT<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Live Proctor?<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Webcam (English support only)<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">In person<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Internet Connection?<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Strong and stable connection required<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">N\/A<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Scratch work tools?<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">On-screen whiteboard or physical whiteboard with dry erase markers<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">5 laminated pages and 2 dry erase markers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Availability?<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Pretty much any time<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Select times based on your location<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Noise\/Distractions?<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Depends on your environment<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Controlled testing environment<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-162 from cache -->\r\n\r\n<p>As far as when to take the GMAT, you need to make sure you have it wrapped up well before your application deadlines.  As a general recommendation, take the test 4 to 5 months before you apply.  For more details on your overall test prep and admissions timeline\u2014as well as more specifics about the registration process\u2014see <a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/gmat-test-dates\/\">our article on GMAT dates<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Lastly, popular days and times for testing slots\u2014especially at test centers\u2014can still fill up, so be sure to schedule your appointment well in advance.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"color: #4d2079;\" id=\"gmat-cost\">GMAT Cost and Fees<\/h2>\r\n<p>How much you&#8217;ll spend on the GMAT depends on your location and what services you elect to use.  For a full break down, <a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/how-much-does-the-gmat-cost\/\">see our article on GMAT fees<\/a>.  And be sure to go to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mba.com\/exams\/gmat-exam\/register\/exam-payment\">MBA website<\/a> for specifics on non-US locations.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>In the United States, if everything goes well, the total and cheapest cost to you will be $275 at a test center.  This assumes that you send your test score report to only 5 schools or less.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>But let&#8217;s say that your situation is a little more complex:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n  <li>You take the online format ($300)<\/li>\r\n  <li>You have to reschedule your exam a month before your appointment ($120 fee)<\/li>\r\n  <li>You send out two additional score reports ($35 each for a total of $70)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<p>Now, your total cost for taking the exam is $490.  So, keep in mind that additional fees can quickly add up.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"color: #4d2079;\" id=\"gmat-faq\">Frequently Asked Questions about the GMAT<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<!-- =========  COLLAPSIBLE FAQ  ========= -->\r\n<style>\r\n  \/* Container *\/\r\n  .faq-section{\r\n    max-width:600px;\r\n    margin:2rem auto;\r\n  }\r\n\r\n  \/* Each collapsible item *\/\r\n  .faq-item{\r\n    border:1px solid #fff;\r\n    border-radius:8px;\r\n    overflow:hidden;\r\n    background-color: #4D2079;\r\n  }\r\n\r\n  \/* Question header *\/\r\n  .faq-item summary{\r\n    cursor:pointer;\r\n    padding:1rem 1.25rem;\r\n    color: #fff;\r\n    font-weight:600;\r\n    position:relative;\r\n    list-style:none;            \/* hides default arrow *\/\r\n  }\r\n\r\n  \/* Custom arrow *\/\r\n  .faq-item summary::after{\r\n    content:\"\u25b8\";\r\n    position:absolute;\r\n    right:1.25rem;\r\n  }\r\n  .faq-item[open] summary::after{\r\n    transform:rotate(90deg);\r\n  }\r\n\r\n  \/* Answer panel *\/\r\n  .faq-item .answer{\r\n    padding:1rem 1.25rem 1.5rem;\r\n    background: #F9FAFB;\r\n  }\r\n  .faq-item .answer img{\r\n    max-width:100%;\r\n    height:auto;\r\n    margin-top:.75rem;\r\n    border-radius:4px;\r\n  }\r\n<\/style>\r\n\r\n<section class=\"faq-section\">\r\n\r\n  <details class=\"faq-item\">\r\n    <summary>What is the GMAT Focus Edition?<\/summary>\r\n    <div class=\"answer\">\r\n      <p>Back in 2023, the GMAT transitioned from its old version (a two-section test consisting of just Quant and Verbal, along with a separate Integrated Reasoning portion) to the <a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/current-gmat-format-section-breakdown\/\">current format<\/a> we have today.  During this transition, &#8220;GMAT Focus&#8221; was the terminology used to distinguish between the two versions of the test.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Nowadays, the &#8220;Focus Edition&#8221; label has been dropped, so the exam is referred to as simply the &#8220;GMAT&#8221;.  If you&#8217;re curious about the differences between the old and new exams\u2014especially if you took the original GMAT in the past\u2014see <a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/gmat-focus-edition-key-changes\/\">our article on the GMAT Focus changes<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/details>\r\n\r\n  <details class=\"faq-item\">\r\n    <summary>Are there accommodations for disabilities or health-related needs?<\/summary>\r\n    <div class=\"answer\">\r\n      <p>Yes, see <a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/gmat-accommodations-for-disability\/\">our article GMAT Accommodations: GMAT Extended Time and More<\/a> for the details.  Most importantly, remember to apply early and well ahead of your test date since it can be a lengthy process.<\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/details>\r\n\r\n  <details class=\"faq-item\">\r\n    <summary>Can I reschedule or cancel my exam?<\/summary>\r\n    <div class=\"answer\">\r\n      <p>You can do either, but <a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/how-much-does-the-gmat-cost\/\">the fees are pretty hefty<\/a>, so keep that in mind.  <\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/details>\r\n\r\n  <details class=\"faq-item\">\r\n    <summary>Can I retake the GMAT?<\/summary>\r\n    <div class=\"answer\">\r\n      <p>For the most part, yes, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mba.com\/exams\/gmat-exam\/faqs\">there are some limitations<\/a>.  You can only take the exam 5 total times during a rolling 1-year period, and you must wait 16 days between attempts.<\/p>\r\n<p>As to whether or not you <em>should<\/em> retake the GMAT, check out <a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/should-i-retake-the-gmat\/\">our article on that topic<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/details>\r\n\r\n  <details class=\"faq-item\">\r\n    <summary>Can my GMAT scores expire?<\/summary>\r\n    <div class=\"answer\">\r\n      <p>Yes, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mba.com\/exams\/gmat-exam\/faqs\">GMAT scores last 5 years<\/a> from the date you took the exam.<\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/details>\r\n\r\n  <details class=\"faq-item\">\r\n    <summary>Can I use scratch paper during the test?<\/summary>\r\n    <div class=\"answer\">\r\n      <p>Sort of.  If you&#8217;re <a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/gmat-online\/\">taking the GMAT online<\/a>, you can use the built-in whiteboard or a physical whiteboard with a dry erase marker.  If you&#8217;re taking the GMAT at a test center, you&#8217;ll be given laminated sheets that you can write on with a dry erase marker.<\/p>\r\n<p>Writing with these tools can be a bit awkward, so be sure to practice ahead of time.  If you&#8217;re using pen and paper at home as you study know that you won&#8217;t be able to do the same on test day.<\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/details>\r\n\r\n  <details class=\"faq-item\">\r\n    <summary>Can I use my own calculator?<\/summary>\r\n    <div class=\"answer\">\r\n      <p>No.  No physical calculators are allowed.  <a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/can-you-use-a-calculator-on-the-gmat-math-section\/\">You can only use the built-in calculator<\/a>, and only during the Data Insights section.<\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/details>\r\n\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n\r\n<!-- =========  FAQ SCHEMA (JSON-LD)  ========= -->\r\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\r\n{\r\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\r\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\r\n  \"mainEntity\": [\r\n    {\r\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n      \"name\": \"What is the GMAT Focus Edition?\",\r\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n        \"text\": \"Back in 2023, the GMAT transitioned from its old version (a two-section test consisting of Quant and Verbal, plus a separate Integrated Reasoning portion) to the current format we have today. During this transition, \u201cGMAT Focus\u201d was the term used to distinguish between the two versions. Nowadays, the \u201cFocus Edition\u201d label has been dropped, so the exam is simply called the GMAT.\"\r\n      }\r\n    },\r\n    {\r\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n      \"name\": \"Are there accommodations for disabilities or health-related needs?\",\r\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n        \"text\": \"Yes. Applicants can request accommodations such as extended time or breaks, but you must apply well in advance of your test date because approval can take a while.\"\r\n      }\r\n    },\r\n    {\r\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n      \"name\": \"Can I reschedule or cancel my exam?\",\r\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n        \"text\": \"You can reschedule or cancel, but the associated fees are substantial, so factor that into your plans.\"\r\n      }\r\n    },\r\n    {\r\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n      \"name\": \"Can I retake the GMAT?\",\r\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n        \"text\": \"Generally, yes, but there are limits: you may take the exam up to five times in a rolling twelve-month period and must wait sixteen days between attempts. Whether you should retake depends on your target score and application timeline.\"\r\n      }\r\n    },\r\n    {\r\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n      \"name\": \"Can my GMAT scores expire?\",\r\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n        \"text\": \"Yes. GMAT scores are valid for five years from the date of your test.\"\r\n      }\r\n    },\r\n    {\r\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n      \"name\": \"Can I use scratch paper during the test?\",\r\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n        \"text\": \"Sort of. For the online GMAT you may use the built-in whiteboard or a physical whiteboard. At a test center you will receive laminated sheets and a dry-erase marker. These tools feel different from regular pen-and-paper, so practice with them ahead of time.\"\r\n      }\r\n    },\r\n    {\r\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n      \"name\": \"Can I use my own calculator?\",\r\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n        \"text\": \"No. Physical calculators are not allowed. You may only use the built-in on-screen calculator, and only during the Data Insights section.\"\r\n      }\r\n    }\r\n  ]\r\n}\r\n<\/script>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"color: #4d2079;\" id=\"resources\">More Resources and Next Steps<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>Now you know what the GMAT exam is all about!  We&#8217;ve covered a lot in this article, so where do you go from here?<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>If you&#8217;re itching to try out some GMAT practice questions, you have a few options:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/gmat-practice-questions-diagnostic-quiz\/\">Free 20-Question GMAT Diagnostic Quiz<\/a> &#8211; Sample some questions from each section to see what the GMAT is all about<\/li>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gmat\/gmat-practice-test\/\">Free, Full GMAT Practice Test<\/a> &#8211; Or take a whole test if you&#8217;re ready to establish a baseline score.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<p>Or you could brush up on some concepts first:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/gmat.magooshstage.wpengine.com\/flashcards\/math\">Free GMAT Math Flashcards<\/a> &#8211; Review some key concepts to know for the Quant section<\/li>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/gmat.magooshstage.wpengine.com\/lessons\/?utm_source=gmatblog&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=gmatlessons&amp;utm_term=inline&amp;utm_content=gmat-101\">Free GMAT Lessons<\/a> &#8211; Sample some Magoosh lessons covering topics from each section of the exam<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<p>Still not sure if the GMAT is the right test for you (<a href=\"https:\/\/magooshstage.wpengine.com\/gre\/gmat-vs-gre\/\">what about the GRE instead?<\/a>) or even undecided about business school?<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n  <li>Hear more from Admissions at top business schools in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLP4J_TCNVLDgzncTjg7_Hte_TGYvAyW2p\">GradTalk MBA series on YouTube<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<p>Or if you&#8217;ve officially decided to take the GMAT, now is a great time to start prepping! For lessons covering all the content and strategies you need to know, as well as ample practice questions and practice tests, take a look at a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/gmat.magooshstage.wpengine.com\/plans?utm_source=gmatblog&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=gmatplans&amp;utm_term=inline&amp;utm_content=what-is-the-gmat\">Magoosh GMAT Premium plan<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Happy studying!<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Planning on taking the GMAT test? Find out all about the GMAT exam from Magoosh&#8217;s experts, from test registration to practice questions!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":228,"featured_media":9604,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10761],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[13206,13261],"class_list":["post-7748","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-about"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v21.7 (Yoast SEO v21.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What is the GMAT? All You Need to Know (2025) - Magoosh Blog \u2014 GMAT\u00ae Exam<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Wondering what is the GMAT? In this post, we break down everything you need to know about the Graduate Management Admissions Test.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/what-is-the-gmat\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What is the GMAT? All You Need to Know (2025)\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Wondering what is the GMAT? In this post, we break down everything you need to know about the Graduate Management Admissions Test.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/what-is-the-gmat\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Magoosh Blog \u2014 GMAT\u00ae Exam\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MagooshGMAT\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-05-19T22:45:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-06-28T23:40:45+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/files\/2019\/10\/whatIsGMAT_featured-image-200.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Rachel Kapelke-Dale, Linnea Newman\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@MagooshGMAT\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@MagooshGMAT\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Rachel Kapelke-Dale\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/what-is-the-gmat\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/what-is-the-gmat\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Rachel Kapelke-Dale\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/#\/schema\/person\/e8bb674fd0d6a6accfb4fb3d336f366a\"},\"headline\":\"What is the GMAT? 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She writes and updates content on our <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/hs\/\">High School <\/a>and <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gre\/\">GRE Blogs<\/a> to ensure students are equipped with the best information during their test prep journey. As a test-prep instructor for more than five years in there different countries, Rachel has helped students around the world prepare for various standardized tests, including the SAT, ACT, TOEFL, GRE, and GMAT, and she is one of the authors of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/ACT-Prep-Magoosh-Schedules-Strategies\/dp\/1610660692\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Magoosh ACT Prep Book<\/a>. Rachel has a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature from Brown University, an MA in Cinematography from the Universit\u00e9 de Paris VII, and a Ph.D. in Film Studies from University College London. For over a decade, Rachel has honed her craft as a fiction and memoir writer and public speaker. Her novel,<a href=\"https:\/\/read.macmillan.com\/lp\/the-ballerinas\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> THE BALLERINAS<\/a>, is forthcoming in December 2021 from<a href=\"https:\/\/us.macmillan.com\/author\/rachelkapelkedale\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> St. Martin's Press<\/a>, while her memoir,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/315080\/graduates-in-wonderland-by-jessica-pan\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> GRADUATES IN WONDERLAND<\/a>, co-written with Jessica Pan, was published in 2014 by Penguin Random House. Her <a href=\"http:\/\/rachelkapelkedale.com\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">work<\/a> has appeared in over a dozen online and print publications, including Vanity Fair Hollywood. When she isn't strategically stringing words together at Magoosh, you can find Rachel riding horses or with her nose in a book. Join her on<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RKapelkeDale\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Twitter<\/a>,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/rachelkapelkedale\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Instagram<\/a>, or<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/rkapelkedale\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Facebook<\/a>!"},{"term_id":13261,"user_id":397,"is_guest":0,"slug":"linnea","display_name":"Linnea Newman","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/67f06112012967692aa8dbc86028c3ba9e4a4cbd50271a935d18c819bcd555d8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","user_url":"","last_name":"Newman","first_name":"Linnea","description":"Over the last 15 years, Linnea has worked with students of all ages and abilities in the U.S. and abroad, trained new teachers for the classroom, and written curricula for various test types. Her past experience includes tutoring TOEFL, ISEE, SSAT, ACT, SAT, GRE, LSAT, and GMAT students for The Princeton Review and working as the Director of Instruction Management for The Princeton Review Taipei. Her expertise runs the gamut of standardized tests, but there\u2019s a special place in her heart for the verbal and essay components. Looking for a way to help more students, especially those who were unable to afford access to expensive test prep programs, Linnea joined Magoosh in 2019. She is a member of the Content Team, who connects with students as a blog contributor  and through various lessons and other content on the Magoosh platform."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7748","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/228"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7748"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7748\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9604"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7748"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7748"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7748"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=7748"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}