The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is a standardized, English-language aptitude test required for many international MBA and graduate programs. In contrast to the TOEFL, the GMAT is not only a language test, but primarily a test to measure the participant’s analytical and logical abilities. The minimum score needed varies among universities.

The whole test takes about four hours and is performed on a computer featuring an English keyboard layout (QWERTY). A preliminary score is provided right after completing the GMAT, the final score after about three weeks. During registration, you can select five different universities to receive your score. If you want to add another university later on, a fee of $28 (about € 23) is charged per university. The test results are valid for up to five years.

Currently, the examination costs about $250 (€ 210). Several dates are available in Vienna per month. Further information and the sign-up page can be found at testing.oead.at. It is not possible to sign up for the GMAT at the Language Resource Center. Please note that a valid ID is required for the exam.

The examination is conducted by:

OeAD - International Testing Services
Ebendorferstraße 6/3/11
1010 Wien

+43 1 533 6 533
testing@oead.at

It usually takes up to three months of studying to prepare for the GMAT. If your level is below “Matura” or B2, more time will be needed. In any case, four weeks of focused studying should be scheduled.

Go to the official GMAT website (mba.com/global/store) and download the GMATPrep. This software includes 100 comparatively easy questions. We recommend taking the two adaptive practice exams one or two weeks prior the exam to check your progress.

When looking for official GMAT books, we suggest using the latest edition of the GMAT Official Guide.

Excellent materials are also provided by another publisher, Kaplan, which offers free internet-based tests. These tests are only offered at scheduled times and require prior registration.

Helpful hints and suggestions for the GMAT can be found at gmatclub.com.

Writing a logbook can help you to identify your individual strengths and weaknesses. By noting down the parts and questions you had the most trouble with, you can focus on those areas to study more efficiently.

Don’t forget to familiarize yourself with the procedure, terms, and individual parts of the exam. The books in the Language Resource Center provide useful insights into the GMAT. Specially designed software packages allow you to take a sample exam.

The questions are selected automatically and are timed. Selection and difficulty depend on how well you did on the previous questions, i.e. correct answers are followed by more difficult questions. If an answer is wrong, the next question will be selected to be easier, however, the achievable score is lower then, too. The score depends on the number of correct answers and on the questions’ difficulty.

If you are below the B2 level, we recommend considering a longer preparation time. You can polish up your skills by …

• Watching movies and news channels (IPTV) with or without subtitles. A wide selection of DVDs is provided on bookshelf #3. Access to IPTV (internet-based television) is available on all PCs in the Language Resource Center.

• Reading news magazines and Business Spotlight. All magazines, newspapers, and periodicals for language learning are shelved in the lounge area.

• Concentrated reading of English-speaking business magazines, since the GMAT is based on a similar style and vocabulary. The Language Resource Center offers The Economist and Bloomberg Businessweek, both available in print and via tablets.

• Participating in the Tandem Program

• Taking English courses at WU.

• Using the English Toolkit. The Toolkit is comprised of a computer-based self-assessment test and materials that can be borrowed. More information can be found on the respective info sheet and on our website in the section “Autonomous language learning”.

Inventory numbers are located on the book covers. All books that can be borrowed are marked in green.

Access to software is provided via the Digital Lab. A link can be found on the desktop on all Language Resource Center computers. Furthermore, the Language Resource Center offers many additional materials for GMAT preparation and for learning English.