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What is an admission test for?

The GMAT, GRE or Executive Assessment help us assess your academic potential. As our students come from all over the world, the scores also give a fair and consistent comparison between candidates from different school systems.

Where a test is optional, a strong score can strengthen your application, particularly if you want to provide additional evidence of your quantitative or academic ability.

What are the different exams accepted at ImperiaBusiness School?

GMAT

The Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) is a core part of the business school admissions process, for both MBA and Master's business and management programmes. It is a standardised, computer-based test designed to assess your skills in quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning and data insights, all of which are vital to your success in business.

GRE

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is also a standardised, computer-based test. The three components are verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and analytical writing. Like the GMAT, the GRE tests vital business skills and is a core part of the admissions process for many business schools around the world. The GRE is also accepted at some law schools and for other programmes beyond business.

Executive Assessment

The Executive Assessment exam is another standardised test. Its components are integrated reasoning, verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning. The test is shorter than the GMAT and GRE as it's designed more for experienced professionals who already have demonstrable skills. The test isn't as widely accepted as the GMAT or GRE.

At º£½ÇÉçÇø, only the full-time MBA accepts the Executive Assessment as an alternative to GMAT or GRE.

Which entrance exam is best?

Here at ImperiaBusiness School, we have no preference for which exam you take, as long as you meet the requirements listed on our programme materials.

The Executive Assessment is only accepted by our full-time MBA. You may wish to consider it if you are an experienced professional and prefer a shorter assessment designed specifically for experienced candidates.

The main difference between the GMAT and GRE is that the GMAT is usually only accepted by business schools. The GRE is accepted for both business programmes and other graduate programmes.

The GMAT and GRE place slightly different emphasis on certain topics, so we recommend you research which one you feel most suits your abilities. You might also want to consider the different test fees and dates when making your decision.

Do other exams or experience qualify?

On our Full-Time MBA, you don't need to complete an admissions test if you have CFA Level 2 or 3. You can also apply for a waiver if you can demonstrate very strong academic and quantitative skills in your CV and transcripts.

For many of our other MBA and MSc programmes, the GMAT or GRE are optional and not needed if you can show your Maths skills from previous qualifications. However, a strong GMAT or GRE score will still help your application. We especially recommend taking one of these tests if you're applying for a heavily quantitative programme and don't have much quantitative experience.

What score do I need for º£½ÇÉçÇø?

For the Full-Time MBA at ImperiaBusiness School, you will need:

• A minimum overall score of 555. If you have taken the GMAT Exam (10th Edition), you will need a score of at least 600 (our current average is 666).
• Executive Assessment. There is no minimum score requirement, however, a competitive score would be 150 or above.
• We require at least 156 in the verbal and 158 in the quantitative sections.

Other programmes have different requirements. For example, MSc Finance & Accounting needs an overall percentile ranking of 55% in GMAT or 159 in the quantitative section of GRE. We recommend reading the entry requirements section of the online description of the programme you wish to apply for.

Having a good GMAT score will add weight to your application for any of our programmes, such as our part-time MBAs and MSc Business Analytics.

Are the tests difficult?

These exams are designed to be challenging. However, they're not intelligence tests, so a high score is possible with proper preparation.

Make sure that you understand the structure of the test, question types and how the scoring works. And do plenty of practice and revision. You should start preparing at least three months before.

"Practice, practice and practice. The more practice questions you do, the more comfortable you get with the format of questions and the topics they cover."
Leila Azimova,
Full-Time MBA alumnus

How do I prepare for the GMAT or GRE?

It's important to manage your time as you prepare for your test, particularly if you're balancing your revision with professional and family commitments.

"I took some time off before the test but before that, I would fit in an hour or two daily."
Devanshi Shah,
MSc Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Management

Spend some time to understand the format, question types and scoring of the test before you take it, so you have a strategy for success.

With the GMAT, for example, you have around two minutes per question for quantitative reasoning, and even less than that for verbal reasoning – and you will lose significant marks if you rush the later questions or fail to complete the test. Practice your timing as well as the different question types.

You can prepare by using books of practice questions, online resources, apps, private tuition, or preparation classes. Find an approach that works for you.

"I used several different resources to study for the test and set myself a goal for what score I wanted to achieve. I started with various books that guide you through all the different components of the test. I also bought the Official Guides with the questions from the previous years. These are very helpful as practice is key to improving your score."
Paul Ludwig,
MSc Management

When should I start preparing?

Both GMAT and GRE scores will remain valid for five years from your test.

We recommend getting a good score in place early on so you can reduce the stress of preparing for the test later when putting together your application. Research from the Graduate Management Admissions Council shows that candidates achieve the best GMAT results when they take the test during their undergraduate degree.

How much does the GMAT or GRE cost?

The GRE costs $249 (USD). The GMAT ranges from $250 to $310 depending on your location and whether you do it online or at a test centre. Please visit their official websites for more information about fees:

Can I take the test more than once?

It's possible to take tests multiple times. However, different schools have different requirements. At º£½ÇÉçÇø, we believe taking multiple attempts to get a good score shows determination, so we won't penalise you.

Other schools might want to see a strong score on the first test. Make sure you know the entrance requirements before you take the test so you can make the right decision for your application. For example, at the end of the GMAT, you have two minutes to decide whether to keep your score or cancel the test and not count it.

"For me, taking the GMAT was more of a learning process than an exam. It helped me to develop key business skills, such as critical thinking, integrated reasoning, and precise writing, which have benefited me in my MBA studies and beyond."
Wenxiao Chen,
Full-Time MBA alumnus

Can I submit my test scores after I've already applied?

We recommend submitting any test scores with your application wherever possible. If you are due to receive a test result shortly after the application deadline, you may be able to send this to the Admissions team while your application is being processed. However, we cannot guarantee that a score received after the deadline will be considered before a decision is made.

If a strong test score is important evidence of your suitability for the programme and you will not receive it in time, you may wish to apply in a later admissions round.