Getting ready to apply to business school? Then the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) should be on your to-do list. What is the GMAT and how can you prepare for it? The GMAT measures a variety of skills that are thought to predict success in business school. It measures skills that you've acquired over the high school and college years. The GMAT is an aptitude test because it is meant to measure your potential to succeed in business school.

While the GMAT is only one of several criteria that graduate business programs use to evaluate your application, it is one of the most important. This is particularly true if your college GPA is not as high as you'd like. Exceptional GMAT scores can open up new opportunities for business school.

The GMAT contains sections that measure verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing skills.