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How do GMAT Preparation Best Practices help you score well?

GMAT Preparation Best Practices

One of the essential things you’ll need to account for when investigating business school admissions criteria and planning out your application strategy is preparing for the GMAT Preparation best practices. With a high GMAT score, you’ll stand out in the admissions process and may even be eligible for scholarships to help pay for your education.

While GMAT preparation best practices may seem intimidating at first, rest assured that you can set yourself up for success and get your best score with an intense study plan, an efficient test prep approach, and our professional GMAT study advice. Earning a master’s degree in business administration is a rewarding experience. The GMAT test is one of the steps in this procedure. We’re here to assist you in figuring out what you’ll need to get the most significant outcomes. Take the advice of GMAT test takers and follow these best practices:

  • Start preparing for the GMAT exam at least six months before you expect to get your test results. If you are acquainted with the underlying GMAT exam material, most test-takers agree that a minimum of an eight-week preparation period is appropriate for you. However, you are the most qualified to determine how much time you will need to prepare.
  • One part of the exam at a time should be reviewed and studied.
  • Refresh your fundamental math abilities.
  • Pacing yourself is essential since time management is essential for passing the GMAT test.
  • Examine the kinds of questions asked in the Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Verbal, and Quantitative Reasoning portions of the exam.
  • Use the free GMAT Official Practice Starter Kit and Exams 1 & 2 to familiarise yourself with the test’s structure and questions. You may also utilize two free computer-adaptive GMAT tests to help you prepare for the exam.
  • GMAT Official Practice Exams 3, 4, 5, and 6 will provide you with more questions to supplement your preparation.
  • Using the GMAT Official Guide, you may get hands-on experience with actual GMAT questions, answers, and explanations.
  • Examine the GMAT Official Guide Quantitative Review or the GMAT Official Guide Verbal Review.
  • Use GMAT Official AWA Practice, GMAT Official IR Practice, and GMAT Official Quantitative Practice diagnostic and adaptive practice for quantitative reasoning to focus your study on a particular portion of the test.

GMAT Exam 8-Week Study Plan

The choice of when to study for the GMAT may be the most crucial in the preparation process. In my 16 years of preparing students for this exam, I’ve seen numerous instances of individuals who prolong the process unnecessarily and never spend the proper amount of time on the exam. They begin their GMAT preparation and then:

  • They get engrossed in a job endeavor that consumes all of their time.
  • Try studying while working in an investment bank or consulting company for 70+ hours a week.
  • You have ten weddings to attend in a year, and you have to travel every weekend for two months.
  • After an 18-mile training run on Sundays, prepare for a marathon and attempt to study.

It is not an efficient GMAT preparation strategy! You will be much more effective in this approach if you dedicate most of your time to GMAT preparation over a specified period while avoiding distractions and taking lengthy pauses from studying throughout that time. Set aside a time of about ten weeks (see our suggested GMAT study plan below!) and attempt to adhere to the following golden rules:

Create a thorough study plan.       

It is natural to feel a bit anxious before taking the GMAT test. Remind yourself that you possess the necessary skills. Reduce your nervousness by approaching the exam with a well-thought-out strategy and following through on it. Utilize practice exams and other tools to their full potential, understand your learning style, and have a good attitude throughout the process. Preparation and hard effort are essential for achieving any significant objective.

GMAT Strong: Four Steps to Become a More Skilled Test-Taker

Preparing for the GMAT test will require time and effort on your part. It also adopts the appropriate strategy. Follow the method used by successful test-takers: stick to your study schedule, understand how to get the most out of practice tests, understand your learning style, and approach the process and the exam with a calm, optimistic attitude.

Make a schedule:

  • Strong GMAT preparation best practices test takers have a well-thought-out study strategy. Identify the topics and actions you will do on particular days, such as answering practice questions or taking a full-length practice test. This makes it easier for students to remain on track from week to week, and that consistency translates into more remarkable improvement as they move through the content.

Practice with a specific goal in mind: When it comes to GMAT preparation best practices, practice is one of the most critical components. Each practice exam should be approached as though you were sitting down on the day of the actual test. This will assist you in developing the habit of maintaining concentration for long periods, moving at a reasonable speed, and maintaining your endurance.

Understand your learning style: Strong test-takers are aware of their strengths and utilize them to their advantage to optimize their study time and do well. There is no one correct method to prepare for the GMAT; instead, there is only one right way for you to study for the GMAT. Depending on your needs, you may discover that you need the responsibility and structure of a class setting, or you may prefer to study in a self-paced atmosphere.

Maintain an optimistic frame of mind: As soon as you have put in the necessary time and effort to study for the GMAT test, the most important thing you can do is to put your concerns aside and relax. Stress on test days will only serve to hinder your performance. Strong GMAT test-takers approach the exam with a positive, can-do attitude; they are confident in their skills and believe they are well prepared.

Checklist for GMAT Preparation

Before beginning the 8-week preparation procedure, it is suggested that all test takers have the following information close at hand:

GMAT Handbook: This manual contains all of the necessary information, such as how to verify your GMAT eligibility for registration, how to prepare, and what to anticipate on the day of the exam. This will increase the intensity of the preparation process.

Full-length practise tests are available: Make sure you have enough GMAT sample practice exams on hand since this is the only method to improve your test-taking abilities.

Answers to Practice Questions: After studying every new part, it is essential to solve practice questions to retain what you have learned.

GMAT preparation books: It is essential to get GMAT preparation books that include methods, practice questions, tips, and tricks, and are, last but not least, authored by academics. When it comes to GMAT preparation books, Kaplan and Manhattan are excellent examples.

The calendar on the internet: It is critical to keep track of time since the GMAT is a time-limited exam, and test-takers must pay close attention to the amount of time spent on each part.

GMAT Study Plan for 8 Weeks

Every test-taker should include three critical stages in their preparation process before beginning their GMAT preparation.

Step 1: Take a preliminary full-length practice exam to get a sense of what to expect.

  • A candidate’s knowledge level will be determined at this stage, which is critical since it will define how far they have progressed in their preparation. The results of this preliminary exam will be used to calculate the scores for the verbal, quantitative, reasoning, and analytical writing sections. The test results provide information on the kinds of questions on which the applicant performed well and the types of questions on which they struggled.
  • The second advantage of taking a practice test is that it allows the applicant to get more acquainted with the GMAT exam format. Once you have a general understanding of the test structure, you will begin to build an image in your mind of what the exam will be like.
  • The third advantage is that you will be able to correct any errors you made by going through the exam again. Once you’ve finished taking the exam, you’ll find the explanation videos to be handy.

Note: The preparatory practice test should be attempted in a setting comparable to that of the GMAT examination. Give yourself 4 hours of your day to give the test and 3.5 hours if you intend to skip the essay portion of the exam.

STEP 2: Devoting time to putting together a study plan.

Even though two months may seem like a lengthy period, you are procrastinating is not an option in this situation. It has been shown that studying for one and a half hours five days a week is helpful. The study plan will be beneficial if you want to improve a specific weak area, such as verbal or quantitative reasoning. Make arrangements for flashcards or a phone app to help you improve that particular area.

STEP 3: Develop a study strategy              

When creating a study schedule, the most important thing to remember is constantly learning and practising. The best way to pass the GMAT test is to put into practice what you’ve just learned.

610 is the diagnostic score, while 720 is the target score.

Week 1  Test + Review (6.5 hours), Class twice a day for three hours (6 hours), Study twice a day for 1.5 hours (3 Hours)
Week 22 days x 3 hours (6 hours) of class, 3 days x 1.5 hours/day of study (4.5 Hours)  
Week 3Class 2 days a week for 3 hours (6 hours), Study 3 days a week for 1.5 hours (4.5 Hours)
Week 42 days x 3 hours (6 hours) of class, 3 days x 1.5 hours/day of study (4.5 Hours)  
Week 5Practice Test + Review (6.5 Hours)                             
Week 6Practice Test + Review (6.5 Hours), Study for 4 days at 1.5 hours each day (6 Hours)  
Week 7Practice Test + Review (6.5 Hours), Study for 4 days at 1.5 hours each day (6 Hours)  
Week 8Practice Test + Review (6.5 Hours), 4 days of 1.5-hour study each day (6 Hours)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long do you need to prepare for GMAT?

Ans. As a general rule, three to six months is roughly the optimum length of time to maintain the level of preparation required for the GMAT.

How many hours a day should I study for GMAT?

Ans. We recommend studying for at least 1.5 hours on weekdays and 4+ hours on weekends (assuming you have a traditional work-week schedule). You should also consider your own requirements.

What is the best CAT or GMAT?

Ans. GMAT is suitable for individuals who are currently employed, whilst CAT is suitable for those who want to pursue their MBA in India immediately after completing their bachelor’s degree.

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