An Overview

The letters "G M A T" stand for Graduate Management Admission Test. GMAT test is a required part of the admissions process for most MBA programs in the U.S., Canada and the rest of the world. GMAT is a multiple choice test that is administered in English. Until June 1997 GMAT was a standardized multiple choice test - meaning that all test takers were given the same questions. GMAT is now a Computer Adaptive Test where test takers will not receive the same questions. The multiple choice format has been retained.

History of GMAT

June 21, 1997 was the last of the traditional "paper and pencil" GMAT. A record number of people took the GMAT on that day. These test takers were not motivated by feelings of nostalgia. For many, June 21 was the final chance to avoid the new Computer Adaptive GMAT - commonly known as the CAT. Better the devil you know than the one you don't! Those in the test prep industry marketed the idea that the CAT should be avoided and that June 21 was the last chance to avoid it. Predictably, enrollments in GMAT prep courses were very high during the spring of 1997.

Between June 21, 1997 and October 11, 1997 the test prep industry worked hard to determine how the upcoming CAT should be taught. GMAT provided very little information. In July 1997 the new GMAT Bulletin was published. The new Official Guide For GMAT Review and Computer Adaptive PowerPrep Software were released in August of 1997. Appointments to take the CAT were made starting August 15, 1997. October 11, 1997 was the first day that the new Computer Adaptive GMAT was administered.

On January 1, 1980 New York's "Truth In Testing" law took effect. This law forced those in the business of standardized testing to disclose the questions that contributed to a test taker's score. GMAT CAT questions will not be subject to disclosure laws. Individual GMAT's are now constructed by computer, from a pool of questions, to meet the ability of specific test takers. Questions in the pool will be reused and will not be disclosed

The "paper and pencil" GMAT continues to be administered in a small number of countries. Obviously test disclosure laws would not apply to tests administered outside the U.S. Indications are that GMAT may not be generating new "paper and pencil" GMAT for these locations.