The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is one of the most popular standardized tests for individuals planning to study in a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. In fact, according to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), GMAT’s administrator, 9 out of 10 MBA enrollments worldwide are made using GMAT scores.
This is because the GMAT evaluates an individual’s skills necessary to excel and go through an MBA program’s tough courses.
Securing a competitive GMAT score increases an applicant’s chances of getting accepted into an MBA institution and winning a scholarship. Because of GMAT’s reputation, many graduate students and professionals take this test to improve their career prospects or qualify for a promotion.
Here are some valuable tips you can follow to increase your GMAT score.
Create a Study Plan
The first thing to do is to create a study plan that you will follow and commit to. Making a study plan and following a schedule keeps everything organized and ensures that you are covering all the essential topics and concepts for the test.
When creating your study plan and schedule, don’t forget to allocate time for other things that you should do to maintain a study-life balance. These include spending time with your family and friends and taking regular breaks from school or work. Having a plan also helps you keep track of your progress in preparing for the GMAT.
Understand GMAT’s Structure
Knowing the exam’s structure can help you create a better study plan and strategy when taking the test. The GMAT has four sections that measure the skills required when studying for an MBA degree. These are:
Analytical writing assessment is the part that measures one’s critical thinking ability and way to communicate it. Test-takers are given 30 minutes for this section.
Integrated reasoning measures one’s analytical skills and how well they integrate data in solving complex problems. Test-takers are given 30 minutes for this section to answer questions in multiple formats.
Quantitative reasoning measures an individual’s analytical and reasoning skills to draw conclusions from available data. Test-takers are given 62 minutes for this section, and it includes multiple-choice questions.
Verbal reasoning measures an individual’s reading comprehension skills. In this section, test-takers evaluate arguments based on provided written material and make necessary corrections to it. Test-takers are given 65 minutes for this section, which includes multiple-choice questions.
Take Practice Tests
To get an idea of how the test questions will look like and get a feel for the actual exam, it’s advisable to take practice tests. You can check out different unofficial GMAT practice tests, which replicate how the actual test is conducted, including the length of time given per section.
Taking practice tests for the GMAT helps you become familiar with its format. It also allows you to identify your strengths and weaknesses in terms of the different test sections. Practice tests also let you take note of which questions give you a hard time answering so you can prepare for them more.
The results of your practice test will give you a better idea of what you need to work on. Revise your study plan accordingly and focus on those problematic areas. You can take another practice test to see if you’ve made any improvement and if you’re ready to take the actual GMAT exam.
Review Mathematical Concepts
GMAT’s quantitative section uses a lot of math concepts, like geometry, algebra, and arithmetic, which most prospective MBA students studied when they were in high school. Going back to those basic math concepts and brushing up on your mathematical skills can help you perform well on the exam and get a good GMAT score.
Want to know more about standardized tests you can take to study abroad? Browse through MSM Unify’s articles on the IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge Exam, CAEL, and more.
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