GMAT Test Prep Resources and Study Tools

Quantum’s 7 Steps to a Higher GMAT Score

Every year, hundreds of GMAT students receive higher exam scores by following Quantum’s 7 Steps To A Higher GMAT Score. Follow this proven formula, and guarantee yourself admission to your top MBA school of choice!

Step 1: Attend a FREE GMAT Simulated Exam

Before you formally begin your GMAT test prep, you should take the time to properly assess your current GMAT skills. For this reason, we recommend you write a full simulated GMAT exam at our specialized downtown Toronto university computer lab facilities, then meet with a Quantum GMAT representative to review your results – all for FREE! Simulated GMAT Exams are offered monthly on Saturday afternoons from 12:30pm-4:30pm at Ryerson University. To register for the next available simulated exam date click here. Alternatively, if you’d like to start your GMAT test prep sooner, see Step 6 for tips on writing a simulated GMAT exam at home.

Step 2: Book a FREE 1-on-1 GMAT Assessment

After writing your simulated GMAT exam and getting your “baseline” or “starting” score, we invite you to meet with one of our expert Quantum GMAT course instructors who will help you to interpret your score results, build your own personalized study plan, and select the most appropriate set of GMAT test prep resources for you. In addition, your Quantum GMAT representative will be able to answer any GMAT and/or MBA admissions-related questions you may have. This service is also offered at no cost to you. Schedule your free personal GMAT Assessment by filling out a request form.

Step 3: Attend a FREE GMAT Trial Class

Try before you buy! Attend a portion of the Quantum Ultimate GMAT course for FREE. You will sit in on a real Quantum GMAT test prep class with other students who are taking the full 3-weekend, 90-hour Ultimate GMAT course. Request your complimentary ticket through our Free Trial Class Form.

Step 4: Take The Best GMAT Course Available

Quantum GMAT test prep courses are unparalleled in the industry. Our 2- and 3- weekend classes include a comprehensive review of all GMAT topics tested on the exam. Small class sizes, extended course curriculum with 60-90 teaching hours, and FREE repeat policy for 6 months – no questions asked! – mean excellent value for your money. To register for the next available class, click here to submit your request.

Step 5: Obtain Good Supplemental GMAT Resources

After taking the Quantum GMAT course and learning the best strategies for solving real GMAT questions, we recommend you continue practicing with a minimum of 1,000-2,000 GMAT questions before writing your real exam. In addition to the Official GMAT Guides, we offer a suite of customized GMAT Question Manuals, which organize GMAT questions by topic, subtopic, and level of difficulty. These customized GMAT Question Manuals are available for purchase at all of our GMAT test prep classes. For additional GMAT resources, see the GMAT Study Book tab below.

Step 6: Write Multiple GMAT Practice Exams

Before writing the real GMAT exam, we recommend you write a number of full-length, simulated GMAT practice tests to continue to assess your level of preparation and train for the rigor of the test day. Both the “old” (GMAT PowerPrep), “new” (GMAT Prep), and “brand new” (GMAT Prep II) versions of the Official GMAT software contain two full-length simulated GMAT exams each. We recommend you to take each of the six simulated exams at least once, but ideally two or three times.

Download all three versions of the Official GMAT diagnostic software here, and follow these tips to ensure the most accurate assessment of your present ability:

• Simulate test-taking conditions – Take the test in a quiet but not noiseless environment (such as a library).
• Simulate test procedures – Complete all sections and take only 8 minutes for breaks between each section.
• Take the test when you are rested and alert.
• Do not pause, stop, or restart the test (except for official breaks).
• Do not use a calculator or other external aid.

Step 7: Write the Real GMAT

When you are ready, register for the real GMAT exam online at www.mba.com. We recommend signing up at least two to three weeks in advance of your desired exam date, as most convenient time slots fill up quickly. There are two test centres in Toronto (listed below) as well as smaller test centres located in Pickering, Kitchener, London, Windsor and Ottawa.

• Pearson Professional Centres – Toronto, 21 St. Clair Avenue East, Suite 501, M4T 1L9
• Pearson Professional Centres – Toronto West, 1 Eva Road, Suite 400, M9C 4Z5 (just south of 427 & 401)
• Pearson Professional Centres – Pickering, 1099 Kingston Rd, Suite 220, L1V 1B5
• Pearson Professional Centres – Kitchener, 110 King St E, N2G 0A5
• Pearson Professional Centres – London, 250 York St, Suite 210, N6A 6K2
• Pearson Professional Centres – Windsor, 1737 Walker Rd, N8W 3P2
• Pearson Professional Centres – Ottawa, 11 Holland Ave, Suite 512, K1Y 4S1

The GMAT may be the most important and most difficult exam you will ever write. While it tests only basic high school Math and English topics, it does so in very unconventional ways that require the right strategies and extensive training. Think of GMAT as a mental marathon.

By now, you know that planning ahead for challenging tasks like GMAT is already half the battle. By being proactive, taking a GMAT test prep course, and taking control of your own personal study plan, you are already well on your way towards a higher GMAT score. Above all, we hope Quantum’s 7 Steps To A Higher GMAT Score is helpful in your test prep and your GMAT course selection process.

Free GMAT Practice Tests

Download 6 Free GMAT practice tests, including 2 Next Generation GMAT Prep II practice tests (all containing previous real GMAT questions). The last 3 versions of the official GMAT prep software (GMAT PowerPrep, GMAT Prep, and GMAT Prep II) have been packaged together into a single download for your easy access. This download package includes 6 GMAT tests for PC users (GMAT PowerPrep, GMAT Prep and GMAT Prep II) and 2 GMAT tests for Mac users (GMAT Prep II).

Free Download

GMAT Paper Tests

Each set of three easy-to-download GMAT paper tests contains 3 full-length GMAT tests that are now “retired” and out of circulation. Each paper test includes timed sections, an answer sheet, and a way to convert your raw score to the equivalent GMAT score.

GMAT Paper Tests I—Includes “retired” tests 14, 31, and 55
GMAT Paper Tests II—Includes “retired” tests 25, 37, and 48
GMAT Paper Tests III—Includes “retired” tests 28, 42, and 52

More than half the questions in GMAT Paper Tests can’t be found in any other GMAT prep materials. Some portions of the paper tests can be found in earlier versions of the GMAT Official Guide.

Buy GMAT Paper Tests

GMAT Focus

GMAT Focus is an official pay-per-use GMAT website that allows students to write an online simulated diagnostic test for the Math section of the GMAT exam. The website is unique in the sense that it uses actual real GMAT questions taken from previous real GMAT exams. The results from this diagnostic test are then scored using the official GMAT scoring algorithm and an estimated Math score range is provided to you by comparing your performance to a real pool of previous GMAT test takers. Each GMAT Focus test contains 25 questions and there are 4 tests available in total. Students can purchase one test for US$25 or three for US$65.

Buy GMAT Focus

GMAT Write

GMAT Write is another official pay-per-use GMAT website that allows students to write online simulated diagnostic essays for the AWA section of the GMAT exam. Created in partnership with Vantage Learning and powered by Measured Success, the GMAT Write product is essentially a web-based essay writing practice tool that uses actual real GMAT writing prompts taken from previous real GMAT exams. Each practice essay will be scored in real time using the same automated essay-scoring engine used by the official GMAT exam. After completing your essays, you will receive immediate results that provide you with an estimated score as well as some specific qualitative and quantitative feedback outlining how you could have improved your score. Each GMAT Write test costs US$30. With each subscription you’ll receive two unique essay prompts and will have the chance to write a total of four essays, two for each prompt.

Buy GMAT Write

GMAT® Handbook

The GMAT® Handbook answers your questions about taking the GMAT exam.
It includes comprehensive information on:

• Exploring the MBA as a degree option
• Registering for the Graduate Management Admission Test® (GMAT®) exam
• Rescheduling or canceling a GMAT appointment
• The format and content of the GMAT exam
• GMAT scores and reports
• GMAT preparation

Download the GMAT Handbook

GMAT Official Guide – 13th Edition

The Official Guide to the GMAT Review (13th Edition) is the newest version of the Official Guide. This book contains more than 900 real GMAT questions taken from previous real pen & paper GMAT exams. There are approximately 425 Math questions, 425 Verbal questions, and 50 Integrated Reasoning questions contained in this guide. The book also contains full solutions to each of these 900 questions as well as provides students with a fairly comprehensive theoretical math review section. This new edition, however, does not contain that many new questions. In fact, only about 200 of these 900 questions are different from those contained in the previous version of the Official Guide (12th Edition), the other 700 or so are the same.

Buy from Chapters

GMAT Official Guide – 12th Edition

The Official Guide to the GMAT Review (12th Edition) is the newest version of the Official Guide. This book contains more than 800 real GMAT questions taken from previous real pen & paper GMAT exams. There are approximately 400 Math & 400 Verbal practice questions contained in this guide. The book also contains full solutions to each of these 800 questions as well as provides students with a fairly comprehensive theoretical math review section. This new edition, however, does not contain very many new questions. In fact, only about 300 of these 800 questions are different from those contained in the previous version of the Official Guide (11th Edition), the other 500 are exactly the same.

Buy from Chapters

GMAT Official Guide – 11th Edition

The previous version of the Official Guide, the Official Guide to the GMAT Review, the 11th Edition, also contains approximately 800 real GMAT questions taken from previous real pen & paper GMAT exams. Like the 12th Edition, it too contains approximately 400 Math & 400 Verbal practice questions along with full solutions to each of these questions. Again only about 300 of the 800 questions in this guide are different than those listed in the newest version of the Official Guide (12th Edition).

Buy from Chapters

GMAT Quantitative Review – 2nd Edition

The Official Guide to the GMAT: Quantitative Review (2nd Edition) is a supplementary GMAT study guide that contains approximately 300 additional real GMAT Math questions taken from other previous real pen & paper GMAT exams. As a note, the 300 Math questions listed in the Quantitative Review book are distinct from the 400 Math questions contained in the main version of the Official Guide.

Buy from Chapters

GMAT Verbal Review – 2nd Edition

The Official Guide to the GMAT: Verbal Review (2nd Edition) is a supplemental GMAT study guide that contains approximately 300 additional real GMAT Verbal questions taken from other previous real pen & paper GMAT exams. As a note, the 300 Verbal questions listed in the Verbal Review book are distinct from the 400 Verbal questions contained in the main version of the Official Guide.

Buy from Chapters

The GMAT consists of four main sections—Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, and Verbal. You have three and a half hours in which to take the exam, but plan for a total time of approximately four hours to include optional breaks. The following provides a quick snapshot of the different sections, number of questions, question types, allotted time for each section, and total time.

		# OF QUESTIONS	TOTAL TIME	SCORE SCALE	PERCENTILE
1.	Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA)	1. Argument	30 Minutes	0-6	1st – 99th
2.	Integrated Reasoning	12 Questions	30 Minutes	1-8	1st – 99th
	Break #1	–	8 Minutes	–	–
3.	Quantitative Section	37 Questions	75 Minutes	0-60	1st – 99th
	Break #2	–	8 Minutes	–	–
4.	Verbal Section	41 Questions	75 Minutes	0-60	1st – 99th
	Total GMAT Score:	–	–	200-800	1st – 99th

GMAT Scores

The GMAT exam yields five scores: Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, Verbal, and Total. Each score is reported on a fixed scale and will appear on the Official GMAT Score Report that you and your designated score recipients (graduate management programs) receive. Your score report includes all GMAT scores from tests taken in the past five years. The contact and demographic information that was required for you to register for the test will also appear on your score report.

GMAT Score Reports

As soon as you complete your GMAT exam, you will be able to view and print an Unofficial Score Report that shows your Quantitative, Verbal, and Total scores, as well as any schools you have designated as score-report recipients. You may also choose to receive a printed copy of your unofficial GMAT scores from a test Administrator.

An Official GMAT Score Report, which includes all four (4) individual scores as well as a total GMAT score, will be made available to you online and to designated schools that the test-taker applied to within 20 business days after the test. If you provided an email address when you registered for the GMAT, you will also receive an email with a security-coded Internet address to allow you to view your score report online.

Official GMAT score reports include all test results for the last five (5) years, the most recent AWA essay responses, and certain demographic background information (i.e. Gender, Citizenship, Date of Birth, etc.)

Download a Sample Next Generation GMAT Score Report

GMAT Fees and Services (For Canadian Registrants)

GMAT Appointment: US$250 (subject to the current exchange rate, and applicable federal and provincial taxes).

Forms of Payment: Credit card (Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express®, or JCB®), Mailed Forms Only (Cashier’s cheque, Personal cheque, Money Orders). Payments by cheque must be payable in U.S. dollars and drawn on banks located in the United States.

Rescheduling your GMAT appointment: US$50 (At least 7 days before your appointment), US$250 (within 7 days of your appointment)

Cancelling your GMAT Appointment: US$80 (At least 7 days before your GMAT appointment)

Additional Score Report: US$28

All fees are subject to the current exchange rate, and applicable federal and provincial taxes.
For additional information on all fees, please check the GMAC website.

On June 5, 2012, a brand new section, called Integrated Reasoning, was added to the GMAT exam. This new Integrated Reasoning section is designed to measure a test takers’ ability to evaluate information presented in multiple formats and from multiple sources. It also provides schools with a new data point to help them find the right candidates for their programs, while at the same time providing applicants with a new opportunity to stand out against their peers.

The Next Generation GMAT includes:

• A new 30-minute Integrated Reasoning section that consists of 12 questions made up of 4 new question types (Graphic Interpretation, Table Analysis, Multi-Source Reasoning, and Two-Part Analysis).
• The Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) section has been streamlined to include only one essay instead of two. However, the GMAT Quantitative and Verbal sections have not changed. As such, the overall length of the GMAT exam will not change.
• Test takers will still receive a separate AWA score. However, test takers will now also receive a separate Integrated Reasoning score (on a scale of 1-8).

Download NextGen GMAT FactSheet

Integrated Reasoning Scores

Integrated Reasoning scores range from 1-8, in single-digit intervals. Like the Analytical Writing Assessment, the IR score will be scored separately and is not included on the unofficial score reports provided to test takers immediately after the exam. It is delivered within 20 days on the Official Score Reports. Official Score Reports will also include an Integrated Reasoning score percentile. As the section is introduced, the IR score percentile may change slightly over time as more test takers sit for the exam. IR percentile scores will be updated monthly through 2012 and then updated yearly on the same schedule as the other GMAT percentiles. The Integrated Reasoning score is meant to act as a new data point for schools and thus will not affect the Quantitative, Verbal, Total, or Analytic Writing Assessment scores.

Integrated Reasoning Question Types

Integrated Reasoning consists of four question types, which require you to analyze and synthesize data in different formats and from multiple sources. Almost all question formats require multiple responses. Questions are designed to measure how well you integrate data to solve complex problems, so you must answer all parts of a single question correctly to receive credit. All answer choices for a single question are presented on the same screen. You must submit responses to all parts of the question before moving on to a new question on another screen. Once you answer a question, you may not go back and change the answer.

Table Analysis

Test takers are presented with a sortable table of information, similar to a spreadsheet, which has to be analyzed. Each question has several statements with opposite-answer options (e.g., true/false, yes/no), and test takers click on the correct option.

Graphics Interpretation

Test takers are asked to interpret a graph or graphical image. Each question has fill-in-the-blank statements with pull-down menus, and test takers must choose the options that make the statements accurate.

 

Multi-Source Reasoning

Test takers are asked to interpret a graph or graphical image. Each question has fill-in-the-blank statements with pull-down menus, and test takers must choose the options that make the statements accurate.

Two-Part Analysis

A question involves two components for a solution. Possible answers are given in a table format with a column for each component and rows with possible options. Test takers have to choose one response per column.

MBA.com (the official GMAT website)

Created in 1954, the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) is a standardized test designed to measure and predict a student’s ability to succeed in graduate business school. It is generally viewed as one of the most important, and generally mandatory, elements of any MBA program application as well as many other related business program applications (i.e. Phd, Master in Finance, etc.) worldwide.

Graduate Management Admissions Council

The Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), a global association of leading graduate business schools, is the owner and administrator of the GMAT exam. GMAC’s purpose is to meets the needs of business schools and students through a wide array of products, services, and programs. GMAC also serves as a primary resource of research and information about quality graduate management education.

Pearson VUE

Pearson VUE is a leading provider of global computer-based testing solutions for a variety of academic, professional, and government testing programs. Pearson VUE is the organization responsible for administering the GMAT exam worldwide. The company, through its global network of computer based testing centres, manages the delivery of the GMAT exam worldwide. Students writing their GMAT exam, for example, in Toronto will write their exam at a Pearson VUE test centre.

ACT

ACT Inc. is an independent, non-profit organization that provides a broad array of assessment, research, information, and program management solutions in the areas of education and workforce development. ACT is the organization responsible for managing the overall development of the GMAT exam. Specifically, ACT is responsible for developing new GMAT questions, constructing item pools, implementing test specifications, and scoring the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) essays.

GMAT Test Prep Toronto

GMAT Test Prep Toronto is a collection of local test prep services that have been created to help people living in the Toronto area to prepare for writing the GMAT. These services, hosted by Ryerson University’s Ted Rogers School of Management, include monthly FREE GMAT Information Sessions as well as monthly 25-hr single weekend GMAT workshops taught by Quantum GMAT instructors.

MBA Rankings

Business Week

Business Week magazine provides an annual ranking of the top USA (and non-USA) MBA and EMBA programs, based on their own ranking criteria. The site also ranks the top undergraduate business programs in the USA, along with the top part-time, executive education, and distance learning MBA options available in the USA as well. In 2010, the University of Chicago (Booth) took the top ranking spot among both full-time US MBA programs and US EMBA programs. INSEAD took the top ranking spot among full-time non-US MBA programs.

U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report provides a comprehensive ranking of the top MBA programs in the USA, based on their own ranking criteria. The site ranks over 425 business schools across the USA. In 2012, Harvard University took the top ranking spot.

The Economist

The Economist provides an annual ranking of the top full-time MBA programs worldwide. Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business took the top spot in 2011. The New Hampshire school moved up from second position last year. Chicago dropped to second, having come top last year, while the world’s most famous school, Harvard, also drops a place to fifth. Europe’s top programme is IMD, a Swiss school, which ranks third. The top Canadian business school in 2011 was York University’s Schulich School of Business (9th place).

The Financial Times

The Financial Times of London, like the Economist, also provides an annual ranking of the top full-time MBA programs worldwide. The Stanford Graduate School of Business took the top spot in 2012. The top Canadian MBA program in 2012 was the University of Toronto (Rotman) in 44th place overall.

Forbes

Forbes magazine provides an annual ranking of the top US business schools as well as the top 1-year and 2-year non-US business schools. In 2011, Harvard took the top ranking spot for US MBA schools. The top 1-year non-US MBA spot went to IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland and the top 2-year non-US MBA spot went to the London School of Business (LBS). The top Canadian business school in 2011 was York University’s Schulich School of Business (10th place).

Canadian Business

Canadian Business magazine performs an annual survey of MBA programs and graduate level business schools across Canada, but does not rank the schools. They simply provide a comprehensive resource that covers everything an aspiring MBA and/or EMBA student needs to know before choosing the right program. The survey lists all Canadian full-time and part-time MBA and executive MBA programs by tuition, program duration, admission requirements and class composition. They also provide post-graduate employment and salary figures for graduates of each MBA school as well as average work experience figures for all EMBA participants.

Maclean’s

Maclean’s magazine, like Canadian Business magazine, only provides a survey of Canada’s MBA and EMBA programs, not a ranking of these programs. Their survey includes figures such as average GMAT scores, tuition cost, program length, enrollment numbers, as well as percentage of female vs. male and domestic vs. international students.