GMAT/ CAT

Here are answers to frequently asked questions about the Cranfield Australian Alumni Scholarship. The FAQs have been divided into nine categories. However if your answer can’t be found here please DON’T hesitate to contact us. We are here to help.

You can also find our supporters group for the scholarship  on www.linkedin.com.


What is the GMAT and how is the score calculated?

Go to Taking the GMAT for more information

How long is the GMAT results valid for?

It is valid for 5 years.

Can I resit the exam?

Yes. A maximum of five time per calendar year and you must leave 31 days between resits.

What happens if I fail the GMAT?

Re-sit it! You will need to wait the requisite amount of time before you do. If you have left it too late to retake it to meet the scholarship deadlines, you may be able to re-sit it outside the Scholarship assessment time frame (which completes each year at the end of April) and still have a chance to be awarded a place on the course (and a Fee Share scholarship if Cranfield deems you a worthy candidate).

Otherwise, you may wish to re-sit the GMAT and reapply for the following year. Whilst getting the required GMAT score is part of the eligibility criteria, we do not mark down candidates who have to re-sit the GMAT. It’s more common than we would like that highly intelligent and numerate people mess up the quantitative sections of the test because they were rusty on mental arithmentic!

Don’t say we didn’t warn you that practice was a good idea. Alternatively, you  choose to sit the Cranfield Admission Test (CAT).  Usually this means that you will need to travel to the UK to undertake the test and in the past some candidates have used airmiles to do exactly that. But check our home page to see if we are offering the test in Australia.

What does a score of 600 refer mean?

This is the score for the 66% percentile i.e. if you get above this score you will be in the top third of scorers for the GMAT worldwide.

How much preparation should I do for the GMAT?

Some of the websites recommend months of study. We don’t think that this is necessary. Remember, the GMAT is used for all the business schools around the world. Some of the students have neither the breadth of work experience nor the quality of educational experience that most of you will have or may not be native English speakers. That will give you a huge advantage in getting a good score. Having said that, because the GMAT is a world-wide test and applicants of all qualities from all countries of the world are competing to get into their chosen school, over the last 20 years a huge industry has grown up in coaching services for the GMAT. Percentile scores have thus also risen (20 years ago 500+ was considered a good score – now its 600+) from are competing.

Our suggested level of study is 3 – 4  solid weekends with the practice books, a few days break, another solid weekend and then sit the test. Past finalists for the scholarship have done their GMAT study in this way and achieved acceptable scores. Also, you will NEED to relearn how to do mental arithmetic and GET fast at it!

You need to get familiar and comfortable with the types of questions so that stress does not reduce your performance. AND we do stress, the maths section is really straightforward but some of the easy question e.g. how many inches in 4.5 yards, will throw a few of you who have grown up in a decimal world. And yet such questions can easily add percentile points to your score. Mental arithmetic is also an important part of the quantitative section. So – do some practice and you can easily improve your score.

Do I need to do an GMAT – I’ve just finished a post grad qualification?

GMAT or a Cranfield Test score of 600 or above is necessary regardless of experience/education. In principle someone with a post graduate degree shouldn’t have a problem. If a candidate gets say 590 they should still apply and anything above will do.

Does my GMAT score influence my chances of winning the Alumni scholarship?

As part of the scholarship assessment, we do not consider GMAT score during the scholarship process on the basis that if Cranfield Admissions, who are highly skilled at assessing applicants, offer you a place on the Programme then is the clearest indicator that you are also a worthy potential scholar.

We have had excellent applicants who have achieved exceptionally high scores and also applicant who were exactly on the 600 mark. High GMAT scores are achievable if people put lots of time into studying. But there are other more worthwhile things to spend your time on… like putting a really clear and persuasive submission for the scholarship together.

Having said that, a higher GMAT score can influence whether Cranfield might offer you a FeeShare Scholarship. These are granted by them, with no involvement from the Alumni and for 2010, one FeeShare scholarship was offered of £13,000 GBP i.e. fairly substantial amounts.

I can’t get my GMAT done in time to meet the scholarship application deadline. Are there any other options?

You can also apply directly to Cranfield as their cutoff for the September academic year is late June. That means that you may still be able to go this year. In this case though, I would maximize your chance of getting any Feeshare scholarships which may be offered, by putting the time into GMAT prep, as a high GMAT score as well as your performance in the Admissions interview may result in you being offered one of these. If not, then just email us and we can move you to the next year and you will get email reminders as the dates draw closer.

I booked my GMAT and now have been advised that the session has been cancelled and I can’t get another in time to meet the scholarship application deadline. What do I do?

This has happened a few times! Especially in states other than NSW and VIC. Email us and we will try to organize a revised deadline if we can.

I got a score of 590 – what do I do now?

Apply anyway. Cranfield admission will look at your application as a whole and also the interview in deciding whether to grant you a place on the course.

I got a really good score on the Verbal section but messed up the Quantitative.

We wish that this was a rare occurrence – but it happens a lot and the most common offenders are those who are actually very numerate e.g. engineers. In this case I would submit the application to Cranfield anyway, and meanwhile get the GMAT books out and start doing some more practice. Cranfield will indicate to you whether they will take the score you have or whether they are happy to accept you subject to an acceptable score on re-sit. Cranfield Admissions look at thousands of applications and they are very experienced in screening talent. They will make the decision.

I got a really good score on the Quantitative section but messed up the Verbal.

This happens too. See previous FAQ.

I’ve now sat the GMAT twice and this time messed up the section that I got a really good score on last time.

See previous FAQ.

What is the Cranfield Admission Test  (CAT)?

Cranfield have their own admission test which candidates may choose to sit instead of GMAT. For Australians, the biggest difference is that you are allowed to use calculators, which saves much of the drudgery of relearning times-tables and mental arithmentic. The test is still tough and requires practice for, but being able to use a calculator means one less thing to revise.

Do I have to do both CAT and GMAT?

No, just one or the other.

Do I more chance of getting a place with the GMAT or CAT?

No. Either is acceptable