MBA GMAT Studying

The Graduate Management Admission Test or GMAT is a requirement in almost all business schools around the world. Passing it is one of the biggest obstacles you have to overcome to obtain an MBA degree. It requires time, effort and dedication if you truly want to obtain a postgraduate degree in business administration.

GMAT OVERVIEW

The GMAT is an aptitude test that measures your proficiency in reading, writing, arithmetic and logic. The exam has a three and a half hour time limit and a maximum score of 800. The exam is computer adaptive, which means the difficulty of the next question will depend on how you answer the previous one.

For instance, if you answer the first item correctly, the next one would increase in difficulty. The GMAT was created this way to prevent any form of cheating and leakage among students. Most schools do not have a minimum score requirement, but they use the average scores as basis for accepting students instead.

Verbal Section

There are three subcategories here, namely, sentence correction, critical reasoning and reading comprehension. You have 75 minutes to answer 40 multiple choice questions that evaluate your ability to understand written material, create rational arguments, improve sentence structures, derive assumptions and understand long paragraphs.

Quantitative Section

This part of the GMAT is about crunching number. Similar to the verbal section, you have 75 minutes to complete 37 multiple choice inquiries on problem solving, graph interpretation and quantitative analysis. The topics covered in this portion are basic arithmetic, elementary algebra and general geometry. The quantitative section is slightly easier than the verbal part as the questions aren’t entirely about business or economics, while the answers are definite and exact.

Analytical Writing Assessment

The AWA evaluates your writing skills through two different topics, namely a certain issue and an argument. The topics aren’t concentrated on the business field, but rather of general interest. You have 30 minutes to create well-structured sentences, coherent paragraphs and a satisfactory essay. Unlike the first two sections, essays are not part of the 800-point limit. Instead, they are graded from zero to six, with six being the highest.

PREPARATION

The most ideal time to take the GMAT is at least four to five months before your application deadline because you have to wait for a month in case you need to take the test again. Before diving into the test, make sure you are well-prepared so you don’t have to maximize the five attempts allowed per year.

(Apart from having the right stuff and requirements for an MBA, it’s also important that you know When To Apply For An MBA School.)

Start Early

Don’t take the GMAT for granted and start studying at least four months before you start sending applications to business schools. The GMAT is a formidable foe, especially if you haven’t been exposed to complex mathematics or logical problems in a while. The exam requires critical thinking that doesn’t come naturally to many people, including those who are already long-time professionals. Give yourself time to improve your weak areas so you don’t have to re-take the exam.

Don’t Be Overconfident

Even if you have a 4.0 GPA in college or a perfect SAT in high school, don’t expect the GMAT to be as easy as those exams. Simulate the environment of taking the GMAT exam, particularly on following the time limit for each section. Condition yourself by taking full-length sample tests from various websites. There are many smart MBA applicants who take the GMAT extremely seriously and some of them barely made it through.

The Official Guide

Part of your MBA investment is preparing for the GMAT. That includes buying The Official Guides from The Graduate Management Admission Council or GMAC. If you have budget for only one book, buy this one. It comes from the organization that developed the GMAT itself. Additionally, get a copy of GMAT Prep, a free downloadable software where you can practice with real GMAT algorithm and previously used GMAT problems. If these resources aren’t enough, consider other books and materials. Be careful though, because some of them are just replicates of one another and might not be worth buying.

Improve Your Weaknesses

Ideally, you should enhance both your strengths and weaknesses. However, if you have little time to prepare and have to choose, dissect your weaknesses and improve it. Prioritize your mastery on aspects that you are having trouble with, but don’t forget to review your strengths as well. When the exam day arrives, you are now comfortable answering every type of question that comes your way.

Keep Practicing

Take practice tests similar to the GMAT computer-adaptive format. It is a relatively new method and more difficult than a paper-based format. Similarly, do drills from the GMAC handbook repeatedly as if you were taking the actual GMAT. Review your answers carefully and double check so you can master each problem. You may do this everyday, especially as you get closer to the real exam.

However, be careful not to burn yourself out. When you’ve reached a point that your motivation, interest and performance during practice has peaked, take some time out and resume your study habits after a couple of weeks. (Try these 24 burnout solutions)

Exam Tips

Have a good sleep the night before you take the GMAT and eat a hearty breakfast before heading out. Arrive early at the test center and just relax until the exam begins. Once you panic, you might forget everything you studied and might have to cram information again.

During the exam, read the instructions carefully and maintain a healthy pace so you still have time to review your answers. Never resort to random guesses or skip an answer. The computer-adaptive format penalizes blank items heavier than a right-minus-wrong exam. Start with the easy questions and go back to the difficult problems. When you feel the pressure caving in, take a deep breath and relax. Remember that though the GMAT is difficult, it is still possible to get a high remark.

The GMAT is just part of several MBA requirements that you have to complete. Your academic performance, employment history, professional references and recommendation letters should also be equally impressive if you want to enter an MBA program. If you learn from reading this article, might as well read how to prepare for a test.