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Who doesn’t want a seat in one of the world’s leading MBA programs? After all, business is a sought-after career line for many Indian students today. Statistically speaking, 2021 saw over 4.35 lakh enrollments for B-schools in India. India also has the second-largest number of MBAs in the world. If the course is so popular, the GMAT exam is bound to be competitive. So, the obvious question is how to prepare for GMAT.
A good GMAT score is the foundational step towards getting into top B-schools in India and worldwide. Almost 2300 business schools worldwide accept and rely on GMAT scores for admissions. After course completion, if you have a good GMAT score, you can smoothly land up to a post-MBA placement and get a good salary. A GMAT score manifests your analytical and problem-solving skills and thus requires a good GMAT preparation strategy.
Now that we know how significant a GMAT score can be for your career, let’s explore some bigger prospects. Like, how to start preparing for GMAT? How to prepare for GMAT at home? What is GMAT study material? What is the best GMAT preparation strategy? This article will address these aspects and make you strategize how to get 700+ in GMAT.
GMAT Exam Format
Understanding the syllabus of GMAT is a prerequisite to understanding how to prepare for GMAT. The exam is a blend of both subjective and objective type of questions. In total, 80 questions have to be answered in 3 hours and 7 minutes.
The syllabus is divided into four segments which are mentioned below.
1. Quantitative Reasoning:
This segment measures the candidate’s analytical skills, from numeral literacy to data interpretation, from reasoning to mathematical ability. You will get 62 minutes to solve 31 questions. This segment helps the candidate handle complex problems in finance, managerial statistics, and accounting. To ace this section, you must be familiar with key comets like arithmetic, algebra, and geometry, to name a few.
2. Verbal Reasoning:
This segment includes a blend of three categories of questions, which aim to analyze the critical reading abilities of a student. Reading comprehension passages up to 350 words and questions are put up. You will be required to solve 36 questions within 65 minutes.
These questions are usually related to finding the core idea of the comprehension, inferences, or identifying relationships between different passage elements. Additionally, there can be another segment of questions in which you must decipher conclusions from short arguments. The third category of questions includes grammatical sentence correction.
3. Integrated Reasoning:
Unlike the previous sections, this segment includes data in tabular and graphical format. The candidate is required to interpret data and make an analysis. The questions can be divided into four segments, of which 12 response questions must be answered within 30 minutes.
- Graphics Interpretation: MCQs and True/false questions out of graphic
- Table Analysis: Tabular analysis of numeric data.
- Multi-source Reasoning: Fill-in-the-blank statements from a graphic.
- Two-part Analysis: Choosing the best decisions or alternatives present in a table.
4. Analytical Writing Assessment:
This segment can be a win-win situation for students with good critical thinking and communication skills. It comprises 1 question of an essay, which must be completed within 30 minutes. The topic may vary from general knowledge to business or other subjects of general interest.
This segment aims not to check how knowledgeable you are but to analyze your writing skills. Additionally, it also checks your command of the English language and communication skills.
5. Computer adaptive test:
The exam is commuter adaptive in nature. This means that the computer makes a real-time assessment of your performance on its own. It is, therefore, not merely a written test on a computer.
The quantitative or the Verbal Reasoning sections make a real-time assessment of your performance as you take the test. Additionally, after you answer a question right, it is followed by a more challenging question than the previous one. Similarly, an easier question is followed by a difficult one.
How to Study for GMAT
Students must bear the structure of the exam in their minds before starting to prepare for it. Now that you are well versed with the pattern let’s begin to understand how to prepare for GMAT.
Prepare a study plan:
Go through the syllabus, and understand the exam format. Once done, you must begin the journey by making a realistic and strategized study plan. Once you are sorted with the time schedules and management, you can easily start your preparation with clarity. Not to mention that MBA admissions can be hectic in the end. A condensed timetable will help you build your problem-solving abilities.
Explore your core strengths:
Once the timetable is set, explore where you score the best. In the beginning, it might be difficult to do that right away. But you need to make a comparative analysis between all exam segments. This will help you build confidence and boost your score in areas where you perform the best.
Work on your core weaknesses:
This tip can be a score maker. Whether it is quantitative aptitude, comprehension, essay, or integrated reasoning, you can not master all these segments quickly. However, you can identify what you find difficult and continue working on it. You can also perform sectional tests to help you build better coherence and confidence in the subject.
Aim conceptual clarity:
Most students aim to jump onto advanced questions in sections like Quantitative analysis without building a strong basic foundation. Before solving any question, try to dig into the core concept. The rest will follow up.
Attempt regular mock tests:
With many online test preparation resources, one must selectively choose and practice. Mock tests are the best way to analyze your performance and prepare for the exam day. You can also go ahead and practice the previous year’s questions and use the actual GMAT scoring algorithm.
Build your pace:
GMAT is not only a test of your intelligence but is also a test of your efficiency. It analyzes how well you can work under pressure in a limited time. Therefore, all mock tests must be given in a time-bound manner. While refining your skills in different segments, make sure you finish questions in time or best before it.
Explore time-tested techniques:
Follow the GMAT preparation strategy on how to study for GMAT given by previous top scorers. Strategies like the elimination technique have worked for applicants to make the most out of questions they know little about. While performing the test, do not try to answer every question correctly. While giving your best attempt, do not overdo some tough questions. You can invest a maximum of two and a half minutes on each question.
Practice advanced questions:
Try practicing GMAT official advanced questions after your bases are thorough. Once you have developed good comprehension and analytical skills, moving to the advanced level and improving your skills is best.
Improve your mental math:
You might need to save time while practicing quantitative ability questions. This can be done by improving mental math. By keeping a calculator at bay, you can minimize the time it would take to solve math problems.
GMAT Preparation Material
There is no dearth of resources to help boost your GMAT preparation or improve your skills. Today, there are a plethora of platforms that provide GMAT preparation material to candidates for free. Some of the useful and popular GMAT prep courses are mentioned below.
- mba.com: You can use the Official GMATPrep Software to get access to a computerized adaptive GMAT practice test, two sets of customized practice questions, and a GMAT quant review.
- Beat the GMAT: This forum will connect with other GMAT aspirants and get access to the study strategies of students with top GMAT scores. You will also get a 60-day GMAT study plan to help you strategize your preparation effectively.
- Manhattan Prep can be useful for full-length adaptive GMAT practice tests, strength and weakness analysis, tutorials, mock tests, etc.
- Veritas Prep Question Bank and Free Practise test have loads of mock tests and video explanations for all sections that you can access for free.
- GMAT Club has some effective study tools like a GMAT Timer, quant and verbal flashcards, practice materials, and attempt strategies, to name a few.
- Khan Academy is another free resource that you can leverage for conceptual clarity and video lectures. Additionally, there are free GMAT practice tests to maximize your GMAT score.
The Perfect Score In a Nutshell
The key to getting into top B-schools is a good GMAT score. While one must keep their goals realistic, it is important to manage your time smartly inside and outside the exam hall. Aiming for a 700+ score is the way to keep yourself motivated and consistent.
Practicing regular tests and understanding the structure of the exam becomes very crucial. Only through these tests and assignments can you brush up your marks in strong segments and work hard on weak areas. One must start with a realistic and strong time-bound plan and follow it religiously.
The answer to how to prepare for GMAT lies in smartly understanding the tricks of previous toppers while simultaneously finding out what works for you. Practicing tests on GMAT-specific timers, using GMAT prep books and full-length mock tests can prepare you for the exam day. You can reduce the time used in the quant section by practicing mental math and acing it. While continuing this journey, you can leverage the insights and resources provided for free by resources all over the internet. But, at the end of the day, it is all about the effort you put on your own. Use the best books for GMAT preparation and fulfill your dream of getting a 700+in GMAT today.
Evaluate numerous career choices to choose the right career path for yourself. Dive in to our guide on Career Advice.
Frequently Asked Questions ( FAQ’s )
Studying for GMAT is not a cakewalk; it surely requires an investment of both time and money to get a 700+ score. It takes 2-3 months to get a hold of the preparation. Using these 2-3 months efficiently and strategizing your preparation with a study plan is important.
GMAT preparation can be done at home with mock and full-length tests available online. You can also buy GMAT preparation books and GMAT study material to get a hold of the nature and pattern of the exam. Focus on time management and be thorough with the basics. You can also ace speed reading and mental math through practice at home.
Statistically, only 20% of candidates can score 700+ in GMAT. It is all due to strong comprehension and analytical skills that they can get such good scores. If you study efficiently, work at pace, and use tactics and GMAT practice tests, you can reach this 20%.
There are a plethora of institutes in India that give GMAT coaching and assistance to freshers. It is best to start studying at least 4-6 months before the exam. Alternatively, you can leverage free GMAT preparation materials for mock tests, timers, study plans, tricks and tools, and tutorials.
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