The GMAT is the standard admission test for MBA and business master's programmes worldwide. Since 1 February 2024, the only version offered is the redesigned GMAT Focus Edition — which GMAC now calls simply the GMAT. It is shorter than the old test, has no essay, and uses a new scoring scale that is not comparable to the old 200–800 scale. This guide explains the current format for 2027 applicants.
Format at a glance
| Section | Questions | Time | Score range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Reasoning | 21 | 45 minutes | 60–90 |
| Verbal Reasoning | 23 | 45 minutes | 60–90 |
| Data Insights | 20 | 45 minutes | 60–90 |
| Total | 64 | 2 hours 15 minutes | 205–805 |
There is one optional 10-minute break, and you can choose the order in which you take the three sections. The three sections count equally toward the Total Score, which runs from 205 to 805 in 10-point steps — every total ends in 5. A score of 655 is roughly the 90th percentile and about equivalent to 700–710 on the old scale.
What each section tests
- Quantitative Reasoning: problem solving in arithmetic and algebra. Geometry was removed in the Focus Edition, and no calculator is allowed in this section.
- Verbal Reasoning: Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning only. Sentence Correction was removed, so grammar is no longer tested as a separate question type.
- Data Insights: Data Sufficiency, Multi-Source Reasoning, Table Analysis, Graphics Interpretation and Two-Part Analysis. An on-screen calculator is available in this section only — this is where the old Integrated Reasoning content now lives.
There is no Analytical Writing Assessment: the essay section was removed entirely in the Focus Edition.
Fees and logistics
The exam costs US$275 at a test centre and US$300 online in the United States; fees vary slightly by country, so confirm the amount for Pakistan on mba.com before registering. Scores are valid for five years. You can retake the test, and since August 2026 GMAC has added a GMAT Superscore — made of your best section scores across attempts — to score reports automatically and at no cost. Rescheduling fees apply if you change your booking within 14 days of the exam, and cancelling within 14 days gives a partial refund rather than a full one.
What is a good score?
| Target | Indicative Total Score |
|---|---|
| Competitive for most MBA programmes | 615–655 |
| Strong for top-20 programmes | 665–705 |
| Median at Harvard Business School (Class of 2027) | 685 (middle 80%: 645–735) |
These are guides, not cut-offs: business schools weigh work experience, essays, recommendations and interviews alongside the score, and some programmes are test-optional or accept the GRE instead.
GMAT or GRE?
Choose the GMAT if you are set on business school: its Data Insights section mirrors business-school work, and admissions teams read it natively. Choose the GRE (about 1 hour 58 minutes, Verbal and Quant scored 130–170, Analytical Writing 0–6, fee US$249 from 1 August 2026) if you want to keep non-business graduate options open, or if your strengths favour vocabulary-heavy verbal questions. Take a free official practice test of each before deciding — the better fit is usually obvious within one sitting.
Preparation plan
- Diagnostic first. Take an official practice test cold to find your baseline and weakest section.
- 100–150 hours over 2–3 months is the typical preparation load; Data Insights deserves dedicated practice because it is new to most test-takers.
- Time discipline. At 45 minutes per section, you have roughly two minutes per question — practise with a timer from week one.
- Review, don't just repeat. Log every error by type; most score gains come from fixing two or three repeated mistakes, not from doing more questions.
Test day and sending scores
On test day, bring the ID you registered with and arrive early — check-in, identity verification and the tutorial take time on top of the 2 hours 15 minutes of testing. At a test centre you use a provided computer and noteboard; online, your room and desk must meet GMAC's proctoring rules, including a clear workspace and a closed door. You will see an unofficial score immediately after the test, and the official score report follows within a few days. You choose which scores to send to schools through your mba.com account, and each programme sets its own policy on how many attempts it wants to see — most consider your highest total, and the Superscore now summarises your best sections automatically. Send scores early enough that they arrive before the programme's deadline, and keep a copy of every score report for your own records.
Who should not take the GMAT?
The GMAT is the wrong test if you are not aiming at business school: most non-business graduate programmes prefer the GRE, and some business programmes now accept either. It is also a poor use of money if your target programmes are test-optional and the rest of your profile — work experience, essays, recommendations — is already strong; a mediocre GMAT score can weaken an otherwise good application, while no score leaves the question open. If you are unsure, check the admissions pages of your five target programmes first: if three or more accept the GRE, take the test that plays to your strengths, not the one with the better-known name.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a calculator? Only in Data Insights, on screen. Quantitative Reasoning has no calculator.
How many times can I take it? You may retake the GMAT, subject to GMAC's retake limits (including a 16-day gap between attempts and a lifetime cap) — confirm the current limits on mba.com before booking a retake.
Do schools see all my attempts? You choose which scores to send, and the Superscore now summarises your best sections automatically.
To be confirmed: the exact 2027 fee for Pakistan, test-centre availability in Pakistan, and current retake limits. Verify on mba.com before registering.
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Sources and verification: GMAC via mba.com, checked November 2026: 64 questions, 2 hours 15 minutes, sections 21/23/20 questions × 45 minutes, Total Score 205–805, section scores 60–90, fee US$275 test centre / US$300 online (US), scores valid 5 years, Superscore added August 2026, no essay, no Sentence Correction, no geometry. GRE comparison figures from the 2026-11-03 run (fee US$249 from 1 August 2026, ~1h58, 130–170, 0–6 writing).