Opleiding: GMAT exam training for MBA application

GMAT is the most widely used exam for business school admissions.

Launched in 1953, the GMAT exam was created by business schools for business schools to assist with the business school admissions process. The GMAT test is now used in 110 different countries.

The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is a standardized computer adaptive test.

The total GMAT score ranges from 205 to 805. Most people need to pass the GMAT when they apply for a Pre-Master’s or a Master’s program and need a 550 or a 600 score. In order to obtain such a score, preparation for the GMAT is absolutely necessary!

So, do you want to apply for a master's degree or more specifically a MBA but do not meet the application criteria? Then sign up for the GMAT Exam Training with Kronenburgh Business College in The Hague: "Blended Learning" (in-class and / or online).

The GMAT Exam Training is an 8-day course that is a standard part of our Bachelor Business Management program. Participate in a small group of students and receive sufficient guidance and support to be well prepared for the external GMAT exam.

What makes this training so special?

– An 8 days course to be well prepared,
– Optionally you can obtain the unit BTEC4 HN certificate: Statistics for Management,
– Blended learning: in class lectures but you can also participate with zoom,
– Access for students from all european countries,
– Learning with the teaching materials from the exam makers,
– Lecturers who work professionally in practice,
– Ambitious fellow students.

Programme

The GMAT Exam Training prepares you for the different sections of the external GMAT exam:

Analytical Writing assessment (AWA); writing a short essay on a general topic that is presented to you. This part tests your ability to express your arguments and thoughts clearly.
Integrated Reasoning section (IR); answering multiple choice questions about information presented to you in tables and graphs. The IR Section tests your ability to interpret data, which is an important skill for managers and business students.
Quantitative section; answering multiple choice questions testing your mathematics knowledge and your ability to solve abstract quantitative problems.
Verbal section; answering multiple choice questions in three different formats: Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning and Sentence Correction, testing your ability to extract meaning from texts and recognize relationships between words and phrases.

(See the TAB 'Examination (examinering)' for more information about the types of exam questions.)

BTEC Unit

This unit is part of the second-year bachelor's program. In addition to the external GMAT exam, you can also take the BTEC assessment: Statistics for Management. Here you write an assignment and present your results during the orals.

Admission criteria

This unit is part of the second year Bachelor Business and Management. This is an international BTEC5 / HND programme at (science) university level.

Your level of English should be at the level Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) level B1 or 2, PTE 51, IELTS 5.5; Reading and Writing must be at 5.5, or equivalent.
Students that have studied in English for last two years also have acces.

Examination

You will be trained to take the external GMAT exam. Optionally, you can also participate in the BTEC assessment.

GMAT exam

The external GMAT exam is 2 hours and 15 minutes long (with one optional 10-minute break) and consists of 64 questions in total:

• Quantitative Reasoning: 21 questions, 45 minutes
• Verbal Reasoning: 23 questions, 45 minutes
• Data Insights: 20 questions, 45 minutes

Quantitative Reasoning

This section measures your algebraic and arithmetic foundational knowledge and how you apply this knowledge to solve problems. It is composed of 21 Problem Solving questions. These types of questions require some knowledge of arithmetic and elementary algebra. Answering these questions correctly relies on logic and analytical skills, not the underlying math skills. You cannot use a calculator while working on this section.

Verbal Reasoning

This section measures your ability to read and comprehend written material and to reason and evaluate arguments. It is composed of 23 Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning questions.

Reading Comprehension questions measure your ability to understand words and statements, understand logical relationships between significant points, draw inferences, and follow the development of quantitative concepts. Specifically, the following reading skills will be tested: main idea, supporting idea, inference, application, logical structure, and style.

Critical Reasoning questions measure your ability to make arguments, evaluate arguments, and formulate or evaluate a plan of action. Critical Reasoning questions are based on a short reading passage, usually fewer than 100 words. Typically, the short text comes with a question that asks you which of the five answer options strengthens or weakens an argument, tells why the argument is flawed, or strongly supports or damages the argument. You will not need specialized knowledge of the subject matter to answer the questions.

Data Insights

The Data Insights section measures candidates’ ability to analyze and interpret data and apply it to real-world business scenarios. It also measures digital and data literacy—one of the most relevant and in-demand skills in business today.

It is composed of 20 questions that ask you to assess how multiple sources and types of information – including graphic, numeric, and verbal – relate to one another and can be leveraged to make informed decisions. Questions may require math, data analysis, verbal reasoning, or all three. You can use an on-screen calculator while working on this section.

The question types you'll find on this section are:

Data Sufficiency: Measures your ability to analyze a quantitative problem, recognize which data is relevant, and determine at what point there is enough data to solve the problem.

Multi-Source Reasoning: Measures your ability to examine data from multiple sources including text passages, tables, graphics, or some combination of the three—and to analyze each source of data carefully to answer multiple questions. Some questions will require you to recognize discrepancies among different sources of data, while others will ask you to draw inferences, or require you to determine whether data is relevant.

Table Analysis: Measures your ability to sort and analyze a table of data, similar to a spreadsheet, in order to determine what information is relevant or meets certain conditions.

Graphics Interpretation: Measures your ability to interpret the information presented in a graph or other graphical image (scatter plot, x/y graph, bar chart, pie chart, or statistical curve distribution) to discern relationships, and make inferences.

Two-Part Analysis: Measures your ability to solve complex problems. They could be quantitative, verbal, or some combination of both. The format is intentionally versatile to cover a wide range of content. Your ability to evaluate trade-offs, solve simultaneous equations, and discern relationships between two entities is measured.

GMAT score

The total GMAT score ranges from 205 to 805. Some people apply for a prestigious Master’s program or an MBA abroad and need a 650+ score. Most people in the Netherlands need to pass the GMAT when they apply for a Pre-Master’s or a Master’s program and need a 550 or a 600 score. In order to obtain such a score, preparation for the GMAT is absolutely necessary!

Note that this score is only based on the Quantitative and Verbal section. Each Pre-Master’s, Master’s or MBA program sets their own minimum admission score.

Your score will be based on your result on the Data Insights, Verbal and Quantitative sections. These three subscores per section are based on:
1) The number of questions answered,
2) Whether the answers are correct or incorrect,
3) the difficulty and other parameters of the question (adaptive test).

The GMAT test is an adaptive test. This means that the test becomes increasingly difficult and asks higher level questions as more correct answers are given. With every correct answer you go up a level and with every wrong answer you get a slightly easier question. In this way, the GMAT test gets to know the participant's level well. All questions must be answered within the allotted time. This time pressure is experienced as difficult by many participants; a good time management strategy is therefore of great importance.

Limited resits

You are allowed to take a GMAT exam every 16 calendar days. However, there is a limit on the number of times someone can take the GMAT. The exam can be taken a maximum of five times a year, and only eight times in total.

Enhanced Score Report

An 'Enhanced Score Report' is also available (extra costs). This report gives you more insight into your strengths and weaknesses, and therefore helps you choose a strategy in the event of a resit, for example.

BTEC assessment

This unit is part of the second-year bachelor's program. In addition to the external GMAT exam, you can also take the BTEC assessment: Statistics for Management. Here you write an assignment and present your results during the orals.

Planning

We offer this programme once a year as part of our second years bachelors' programme. You will participate in a small group of students.

College times: 09.00-16.20.

College day: Thursday.

College duration: 8 college days.

Time investment: As a guideline, we use one hour of homework for every hour of lecture.

In class and / or online: Blended Learning: in class lectures but you can also participate with zoom,

University application:

It is very important to keep an eye on university application deadlines; some universities ask for GMAT scores well before the start of the study. It is also important to find out whether the scores should be sent digitally or by post. It can sometimes take longer by post, so the test must be taken even earlier. In addition, it is wise to take possible resits into account. You must always wait 16 days between 2 attempts. To avoid having to wait six months to a year for a new university deadline, it is wise to find out in advance how much time you have.

Investment

Contact hours
8 lecture days of 6 lecture hours per lecture day + 3 hours for exams comes to a total of 51 contact hours. Participating the BTEC assessment comes with 3 hours extra.

Literature

Invoicing is done via Indexbooks.nl. It is possible that the bibliography will be adjusted and therefore prices will change or additional material costs will be charged.

Good to know

• Prices Pearson are subject to exchange rates.
• Pearson may change prices.
• Literature is based on previous academic year prices.

Other costs

• You bring your own laptop. We work with Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint (full software versions, so no free or limited versions).
• Additional lecture material/literature may be charged.
• If sufficient study results are not obtained, there are costs for attending lectures, taking exams and assessments (depending on what is necessary).

Nice bonus
- No registration costs;
- No VAT on tuition fees;
- No arrangement costs;
- No reproduction rights fees.

Does the government support NL students?
An employer can set off employee training costs for tax purposes.

Further learning

The total GMAT score ranges from 205 to 805. Most people need to pass the GMAT when they apply for a Pre-Master’s or a Master’s program and need a 550 or a 600 score.

Note that each Pre-Master’s, Master’s or MBA program sets their own minimum admission score.

Always check the requirements of the school you are applying fore, and if a digital transcript of your score is accepted.

After the exam, you can have your official GMAT Score Report sent to up to five programs of your choice free of charge. It is possible to purchase more of these but there will be extra costs.

The score you obtain for the GMAT exam remains valid for five years, but also remains available for reporting for up to ten years. Please note that there are some institutions that have their own standards of validity, so look carefully at the details when choosing a (pre) master or MBA.