{"id":15816,"date":"2020-09-24T03:09:38","date_gmt":"2020-09-23T21:39:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/e-gmat.com\/blogs\/?p=15816"},"modified":"2026-01-24T22:28:44","modified_gmt":"2026-01-24T16:58:44","slug":"how-does-gmat-computer-adaptive-test-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/e-gmat.com\/blogs\/how-does-gmat-computer-adaptive-test-work\/","title":{"rendered":"How does GMAT work as a computer adaptive test?"},"content":{"rendered":"A <\/span> 9<\/span> min read <\/span><\/span>

If you\u2019ve been planning on taking the GMAT, chances are you\u2019ve come across the term \u2018computer adaptive test (CAT)\u2019, but do you really understand what that means, particularly with regard to the GMAT?<\/p>\n

Understanding how CATs work can dramatically improve your GMAT score. It allows you to roughly gauge your performance in real time, helps in building your test-taking strategy, and much more. In this article, we\u2019ll discuss in detail all that you need to know about computer adaptive tests, how GMAT fits into the picture, and what it means for you as a GMAT taker.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a list of the topics we\u2019ll cover in this article:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Purpose of the GMAT CAT – A test of skill<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Why is the GMAT computer adaptive?<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. What does the GMAT test?<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. How does the GMAT, a computer adaptive test, work?<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. How does the GMAT’s adaptive nature impact your score?\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\n
  6. How does the structure of the GMAT CAT impact your preparation strategy?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    This article is the first in a series aimed at decoding some of the finer aspects of the GMAT. Our aim is to empower you to give your best on your test day. To learn how to best manage your time on the GMAT, read our article on \u2018Time management on the GMAT<\/a>\u2019.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

    \"How-GMAT-adaptive-test-works\"<\/h2>\n

    Purpose of the GMAT – A test of skill<\/h2>\n

    In 1953, the organization now called the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) began as an association of nine business schools. The goal of this organization was to develop a standardized test to help business schools select qualified applicants.<\/p>\n

    The intended purpose of the GMAT is to predict student success in graduate business programs. According to GMAC, there is a 0.459 correlation (21% variance) between total GMAT scores and mid-program student grades based on data it collected between 1997 and 2004.<\/p>\n

    Thus, the focus of the GMAT is to provide a precise and reliable measure of ability. This contrasts with other standardized tests such as the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) and CAT (Common Admission Test).<\/p>\n

    GMAT (Computer Adaptive Test) – An Intro<\/h2>\n

    \u00a0<\/p>\n

    Why is the GMAT Computer adaptive?<\/h3>\n

    Over 200,000 people take the GMAT every year, and one of the most challenging jobs that the test must do is to rank these individuals in the relative order of ability in the context of the skills required by B-Schools. The challenge is to do it in a precise manner based on how students perform on a 3-hour exam.<\/p>\n

    Based on their research, the folks at GMAC concluded that one of the most efficient ways to gauge people’s abilities in the shortest amount of time is by making the test adaptive.<\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/p>\n

    What does the GMAT Test?<\/h3>\n

    GMAT is a test of your ability to reason logically. It tests this ability in both Quantitative and Verbal sections. Consequently, GMAT Verbal is not about merely learning grammar rules and reading fast, rather it is about being able to select the most “effective” sentence in GMAT Sentence Correction and understand the author’s reasoning\/intent in GMAT Critical Reasoning and GMAT Reading Comprehension.<\/p>\n

    It is important to make a note of this, as it forms the basis of understanding the rest of this article.<\/p>\n

    How does the GMAT, a Computer Adaptive Test, work?<\/h2>\n

    Before we can understand how the GMAT works, we need to understand more about the principles of adaptive testing in general.<\/p>\n