Is GMAT Tough? This is one common question which is on the mind of every Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) aspirant. Well, the answer is, that the exam is challenging and requires thorough preparation and mastery to crack it.
The GMAT exam is known for its rigorous testing of quantitative, verbal, and analytical writing skills. Its integrated reasoning section presents a unique challenge, requiring critical thinking and problem-solving in a novel format. While primarily associated with MBA admissions, the GMAT is a valuable credential for those seeking career advancement in business, finance, and other related fields.
Whether you’re aiming for a top-tier business school or simply boosting your career prospects, understanding the GMAT’s difficulty and developing a robust preparation strategy is crucial.
In this blog, you will find answers to all your questions (the primary being Is GMAT exam tough) and what are some of the preparation tips you can use to crack this entrance exam.
This Blog Includes:
Everything you need to know about the GMAT exam
GMAT Exam 2025: Overview
Before you skip to the answer to your question: Is GMAT tough? Let us pay heed to the overview of the GMAT exam.
The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a standardised exam designed to test the ability of aspirants planning to join a graduate programme based on their Quantitative, Verbal, and Data Insights. This entrance exam is for all these students who to get admission into business management universities abroad. This exam is accepted in more than 114 countries and more than 7,100 programs across the world.
In November 2023, the GMAT went through significant changes and introduced ‘GMAT Focus Edition’ which is the latest version of the GMAT exam. The duration of this exam is much shorter with just one break in between and has no writing section and only three sections with 64 questions.
Here is an overview of the GMAT exam which will give you all the key information about it and help you answer the question- Is GMAT exam tough?
Particulars | Details |
GMAT Full Form | Graduate Management Admission Test |
Exam Duration | 2 hours and 15 minutes long (with one optional 10-minute break) |
Total Questions | 64 Questions |
Exam Structure | Quantitative Reasoning: 21 questions, 45 minutes Verbal Reasoning: 23 questions, 45 minutes Data Insights: 20 questions, 45 minutes |
Must Read: GMAT Focus Edition Pattern, Syllabus & Scores
Is GMAT Exam Tough?
One of the main questions that arises in anyone’s mind is: Is GMAT Exam tough? Well, the answer to this question is: YES. The GMAT exam is considered a challenging exam. However, one must keep in mind that the difficulty level of the GMAT exam can vary depending on your strengths and weaknesses.
If you’re strong in math, the Quantitative section might seem more manageable, but the Data Sufficiency questions can be tricky. Conversely, if you excel in language arts, the Verbal section might be more challenging as it demands strong reading comprehension and critical reasoning skills.
Additionally, Data Insights (the new edition to the GMAT exam) challenges one’s ability to evaluate and synthesise data from various sources.
How Tough is GMAT Exam?
Now that we have established that the Graduate Management Admission Test or GMAT exam is challenging for students to crack, where having a preparation strategy is essential for everyone. It has been estimated that only 6% of the students who enrol in the examination can cover 720 or higher on the exam and gain admission to the top B-schools.
Why is GMAT So Difficult to Crack?
Is GMAT tough? When discussing the difficulty of the GMAT, it is critical to go beyond the surface-level definition of ‘hard.’ The GMAT’s difficulties stem from a unique combination of characteristics that extend beyond academic understanding.
Here are some of the challenges that aspirants face during GMAT exam preparation:
- Time Investment Challenge: One of the key factors for the GMAT exam is the amount of time that is required for preparation. Unlike other entrance exams which purely test the knowledge of the person, the GMAT assesses problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and the ability to apply concepts in different scenarios. This requires the person to have a thorough understanding of the material as well as extensive practice to master the exam’s format and question types.
- Broad Knowledge: The syllabus for the GMAT exam is vast and covers a wide range of content especially in quantitative and verbal reasoning. The quantitative section of the exam demands one to have a strong grasp of math concepts in topics like algebra and arithmetic; the verbal section tests complex comprehensive skills and finally the reasoning section tests skills in the English language. Therefore, it is essential for the aspirant to not just be familiar with the concepts but to have a proper understanding.
With the introduction of the new format ‘GMAT Focus Edition’ a new section has been added known as: Data Insights (DI). This new section has added another layer of unpredictability where the test takers have to be adaptable and well-prepared for a variety of data analysis scenarios. Here, the aspirants are tested for their critical thinking and decision-making.
- Beyond Memorisation: In the GMAT exam just knowing the formulas is not enough. The candidate needs to see how well they apply this knowledge in solving complex problems under time constraints. GMAT tests how fast a student can manipulate information and accurately answer them.
- Psychological Factors: Finally, the GMAT exam is also influenced by several psychological factors. With the preparation, one can also test if the student has been stressed, or had anxiety while answering the question and others.
Key Features of the GMAT Exam
In our journey to analyse Is GMAT tough, we must have a look at the essential features of this standardised test.
The GMAT exam is a standardised test which is extensively used to get admission into MBA and other business management programs abroad. The exam assesses a candidate’s quantitative, verbal, and data skills. Let us look at some of the key features of this exam:
Exam Structure:
- The GMAT exam covers three distinct sections which are: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights.
- With the new guideline, the aspirant will only get one break either in the first or second section of the exam.
- Interestingly, candidates will get an option to bookmark questions and review and change three answers per section.
- Finally, participants have the flexibility to take the exam in any order.
Scoring:
- The GMAT Focus Edition features a total score range of 205 to 805 in 10-point increments, encompassing Quantitative, Verbal, and Data Insights sections.
- All candidates will receive individual section scores on a scale of 60 to 90 in 1-point increments.
- Option to send your score when you know how you fared and not before.
- An updated Official Score Report with extensive performance insights is offered free with registration.
Content of the Exam:
- Quantitative Reasoning – 21 questions – tests mathematical skills and problem-solving abilities.
- Verbal Reasoning – 23 questions – assesses comprehension, critical reasoning and command of the English language.
- Data Insights – 20 questions- designed to test data analysis and interpretation skills in a business context.
Also Read: GMAT Exam Breakdown
Comparison of GMAT with other Entrance Exams
Now that we have a basic idea of the GMAT exam, is GMAT tough, why and how? Let us look at the comparison of this exam with other competitive exams that take place alongside.
CAT or GMAT: Which is Tough?
- CAT is an Indian exam for all those students who wish to get admission to the MBA program. It is considered to be tough in terms of competition as it is the primary gateway to some of the top IIMs in India.
- The quantitative section of the CAT exam is considered to be more challenging, with a high emphasis on problem-solving questions.
- Finally, the verbal section of the CAT exam has a strong focus on reading comprehension and less focus on grammar as compared to the GMAT exam.
Which is tough GRE or GMAT?
- The quantitative section of the GRE exam is easier than the GMAT. One of the best thinking is, that you also get the calculator to solve mathematical problems. The GRE exam has more geometry questions while the GMAT has more logical questions.
- On the other hand, the GRE verbal section has more difficult vocabulary as compared to the GMAT exam. Many aspirants believe that the GMAT verbal section is slightly easier.
Other similar competitive exams of GMAT are XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test), NMAT, CMAT (Common Management Admission Test) and MAT(Management Aptitude Test).
Also Read:
- Difference Between NMAT and GMAT Exam
- Difference Between CMAT and NMAT
- GMAT vs CMAT
- Difference Between CMAT and NMAT
What is GMAT Preparation Time?
The recommended time to prepare for the GMAT exam can vary depending on an individual’s existing knowledge, academic background, and desired target score. Here are some of the criteria based on which an individual must prepare:
- Candidates with strong backgrounds and familiarity with the GMAT format will at least need 2-3 months of focused preparation.
- Candidates who still need to build their skills in quantitative reasoning, verbal, and data insights need 3-6 months of preparation.
- Finally, all those candidates who are aiming for very high scores (e.g. 700+) will at least need 6 months of intensive preparation which will include taking practice tests, reviewing content areas thoroughly, and working on test-taking strategies.
Also Read: GMAT in 90 Days: The Ultimate 3-Month Crash Course
GMAT Exam Preparation Tips for 2025
By now we have already established that GMAT is a challenging exam, but with the right preparation, you can increase your chances of achieving a good score. Here are some tips to guide your 2025 GMAT prep and help you analyse the question ‘Is GMAT tough’?
1. Understand the Exam Format: You should familiarise yourself with GMAT question types and the computer-adaptive nature of the Quantitative and Verbal sections of this exam. For this, you can use official GMAT guides and practice tests to experience the real format.
2. Create a Study Plan: Thereafter, you must create a study plan. Ideally, you should dedicate 3–6 months to prepare. Your time allotment to GMAT preparation should depend on your familiarity with the test content.
While preparing a GMAT study plan, you should allocate specific time for each section based on your strengths and weaknesses. For this, you can use tools like calendars or study apps to track progress.
3. Use High-Quality Study Materials: Here are some of the high-quality GMAT study materials that you can use to study and practice for the test:
- Start with the GMAT Official Guide or you can visit mba.com
- You can consider online GMAT study material by Leverage Edu.
- Lastly, you must take regular full-length practice exams to build endurance and assess readiness.
4. Master Each Section: While preparing for the GMAT, you should focus on each section of the exam simultaneously. Here are some tips you can use while studying and evaluating is GMAT tough.
- Quantitative Section of GMAT: You should focus on math fundamentals: algebra, geometry, and arithmetic. Additionally, you must practice data sufficiency problems as they are unique to the GMAT.
- Verbal Section of GMAT: For this section, you should focus on improving English grammar and sentence correction skills. Furthermore, you must hone your reading comprehension by analysing passages quickly and efficiently. Lastly, you have to develop critical reasoning abilities by evaluating arguments.
- IR and AWA Section of GMAT: To ace the IR and AWA section of GMAT, you need to practice interpreting charts, graphs, and multi-source reasoning. Also, review sample essays and practice structuring arguments concisely.
5. Time Management: You must learn to pace yourself since the GMAT penalizes unanswered questions. In addition, allocate time to review incorrect answers and understand mistakes.
6. Develop Test-Taking Strategies: While solving GMAT mock tests or GMAT test papers, you must tackle easier questions first to secure quick points. Use elimination techniques for tough questions. Practice educated guessing to avoid wasting time.
7. Use Adaptive Practice: You should work on computer-adaptive tests (CATs) to simulate the real exam environment.
8. Consider Professional Guidance: If self-study isn’t enough, hire a tutor or enrol in a personalized prep program.
FAQs
Yes, the GMAT is considered a challenging exam. It tests a wide range of skills, including quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning, and data interpretation, all within a time-pressured environment.
Comprehensive Coverage: The GMAT assesses a broad spectrum of knowledge and skills.
Competitive Scoring: Achieving a high score (700+) is highly competitive, placing you in the top percentile of test-takers.
Emphasis on Critical Thinking: The exam focuses on your ability to think critically, analyse information, and apply problem-solving skills, not just rote memorization.
Time Pressure: The GMAT is a timed exam, requiring efficient time management and strategic decision-making.
The GMAT is generally considered more challenging than the SAT and ACT, but less challenging than the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) or MCAT (Medical College Admission Test).
Absolutely! With dedicated preparation, you can significantly improve your GMAT score. This includes:
Thorough Study: Consistent study using high-quality study materials (books, online courses, etc.) is crucial.
Practice: Regular practice with official GMAT practice questions and mock exams is essential to build test-taking stamina and identify areas for improvement.
Individual Strengths and Weaknesses: Your background in math and English will significantly impact your experience.
Study Habits and Time Commitment: Consistent and focused preparation is key to success.
Test-Taking Skills: Developing effective test-taking strategies, such as time management and question selection, can improve your performance.
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