Tips on How To Prepare For B-School Entrance Exam/GMAT
Exceptional scores on the GMAT will increase your chances of getting into the graduate program that you desire. It is considered a reliable indicator of an individual’s academic preparedness for business schools. However, what exactly is GMAT?
What is GMAT?
GMAT Stands for Graduate Management Admission Test. This test is a computer-adaptive and computer-based standardized exam with multiple-choice questions. It is widely used as an admission basis for graduate business programs across the globe.
The content of the 3 and a half hour exam will challenge your knowledge of grammar, multi-source data analysis, geometry, algebra, and basic arithmetic. It will also measure your critical thinking abilities and capacity to evaluate and analyze text, solve problems, etc.
If you plan on taking the GMAT soon, you must be aware of the primary sections covered on the exam:
- Verbal
The verbal part of the exam will be composed of sentence correction questions, critical reasoning questions, and reading comprehension questions with a total of 36 items. You will be allowed 65 minutes to complete this section. The score range will be from 0 to 60.
- Quantitative
The quantitative part of the exam will be allocated for 62 minutes. It will be composed of problem-solving questions and data sufficiency questions with a total of 31 items. The score for this section will range between 0 and 60.
- Integrated Reasoning
The integrated reasoning section will be given 30 minutes to complete. It will be composed of two-part analysis questions, table questions, graphics interpretation questions, and multi-source reasoning questions. All in all, it will have 12 items. The score range for this section will be 1 to 8.
- Analytical Writing Assessment
You will have 30 minutes to answer the Analytical Writing Assessment section of the GMAT. The score for it will range from 0 to 6, but it will be scored separately by human graders. This section will require you to do a writing task where you have to critique the author’s argument rather than provide a counter-argument.
As an exam taker, the score to aim for should be between 710 and 800 since that is the top 10% of test-takers. A score in this range will impress the admissions committee. At the very least, get a score of 650 to stand out.
The nice thing about GMAT is that exam takers can choose the sequence of sections that they will answer, which is why having an effective strategy will increase your chances of getting a higher score.
Tips on How to Prepare for GMAT
Now that you have a clearer idea of what GMAT is and how it works, you must strategically plan how to prepare for it to get the best scores possible. To help you with that, here are some tips for studying:
- Start preparing early
Do not underestimate the difficulty of the GMAT. Although passing it is easy, you should not look at it as a pass/fail exam. The higher the score, the more schools will open their doors to you and the better chance you have of receiving scholarships. Your primary goal should be getting an outstanding score; so start preparing as early as possible.
- Assess your current knowledge on GMAT topics
The best way to start your GMAT journey is by assessing your current level of knowledge. You can do this by doing some GMAT practice tests before you even begin studying. You can use the result to evaluate which section you will need to study more.
- Manage your time properly
As a working professional, your usual responsibilities will not stop because you will be taking an exam. Hence, the best solution for this is to make a GMAT study schedule that will cater to your pre-existing schedule.
With your study schedule, it would help if you also created a timetable of milestones that you have to achieve when studying. This will allow you to track your progress as the exam date approaches.
- Be strategic in picking your GMAT exam date
You can take the GMAT exam at any time at Pearson VUE Centers so you can strategize your exam date. Ensure that by the time you take your exam, you are fully prepared with knowledge and practice. To do this, give yourself at least six months for exam preparation.
- Simulate GMAT exam condition
Taking an exam can cause stress and anxiety, which may affect your performance on the actual date. To prevent that, condition yourself to the stress and anxiety during the exam.
You can do this by taking practise tests and using the time limits for each section. Another way is to take the GMAT exam stimulation offered by review platforms. Aside from helping you deal with the pressure of the exam scenario, doing this will also help you assess whether you are fast enough to answer the questions quickly.
- Improve your educated guessing skills
If you do not know the exact answer during the exam, the best thing that you can do is make an educated guess since GMAT is a multiple-choice exam. You can practice several techniques on how to do this during your study preparation.
Final Word
Although the GMAT is a big challenge, it is more than possible. You need to prepare well and consider using some of the tips mentioned above. Getting outstanding GMAT scores on your first try will save you time, money, and effort and increase the chances of getting into your desired graduate program. So give it your best and good luck!
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