From 2016 to 2020, more than 1.1 million GMAT exams were held globally and in 2020, 173,176 GMAT exams were taken. However, 2020 was an exception; in the preceding years, more than 225,000 GMAT tests were conducted each year.
When it comes to GMAT preparation, students must note that GMAT evaluates their critical thinking skills in two subjects: GMAT Quantitative section and GMAT Verbal Reasoning section. The other two sections; namely, Integrated Reasoning and Analytical Writing Assessment scores are not added to the GMAT score that you get out of 800. Students are not required to prepare management theories and accounting basics.
This article will provide information about GMAT preparation online, GMAT online courses, and some important FAQs.
GMAT Preparation Online
The biggest impact of COVID-19 on the education sector was an increase in online courses. Universities, Colleges, coaching centres, etc. all accommodated online teaching in their operations. GMAT was no different. Even though GMAT already had sufficient online resources for preparation, these have increased in number in recent years. Let us cover some necessary GMAT online courses and resources.
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- GMAT Official Study Material: Every student is expected to start his/her preparation with the official GMAT study material. The official study material must form the base of your preparation. Students need to choose wisely from the given set of course offerings as per their needs. It is sincerely advised that the students complete their GMAT OG (Official Guide) at least twice during the course of their preparation. The official GMAT study material has the following courses:
- GMAT Official Starter Kit Practice Exams 1 & 2 (Free)
- GMAT Official Guide: ebook & Online Question Bank ($47.99)
- GMAT Official Guide Bundle: ebook & Online Question Bank ($81.99)
- GMAT Official Guide Quant Review 2022: ebook & Online Question Bank ($20.99)
- GMAT Official Quantitative Practice ($39.99)
- GMAT Official Guide Verbal Review 2022: ebook & Online Question Bank ($20.99)
- GMAT Official Advanced Questions: eBook Online Question Bank ($29.99)
- GMAT Official Practice Exams 3 & 4 ($59.99)
- GMAT Official Practice Exams 5 & 6 ($59.99)
- GMAT Official Practice Questions 1 ($29.99)
- GMAT Official Practice Questions 2 ($29.99)
- Premium GMAT Study Collection ($344.99)
- GMAT Official IR Practice ($19.99)
- Manhattan Prep: Manhattan Prep provides high-quality GMAT study material that includes their GMAT guides, foundation books, and advanced books. Moreover, they also provide various options for GMAT online classes. Once a student has completed his/her official study material, he/she can refer to Manhattan Prep resources for holistic preparation.
- Magoosh: Magoosh also offers online courses for GMAT preparation. Students have various options to choose from; these include self-study options and guided study options.
- The Princeton Review: The Princeton Review provides various GMAT online courses, which include private tutoring options as well.
- Others: There are GMAT online coaching options available at various other coachings such as Veritas Prep, The Economist, PrepScholar, Jamboree Education, etc.
- Important Online Resources for GMAT: Besides the GMAT Official Guide and Manhattan Prep books and e-material, there are various other GMAT online resources that a student must refer to. These include:
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- GMAT Club: It is a forum that is built around GMAT and MBA. Students can practice questions, learn from successful candidates, read reviews, etc.
- Beat The GMAT: It is similar to the GMAT Club forum and offers quality study material, honest reviews, advice, etc.
- Thursdays with Ron: You must definitely go through all the videos in this series. It is a great playlist that covers multiple aspects of the GMAT exam.
GMAT Preparation Tips
Here are a few GMAT preparation tips:
- Do not refer to too many resources. If you keep on adding books to your bookshelf, you will be confused while studying. Stick to a limited number of resources and focus on multiple revisions.
- Prepare short notes as you are studying. It will help you complete your revisions in a timely manner.
- Always stick to the official GMAT study material in case of any confusion. It must be your reference point for everything.
- Make sure that you attempt GMAT mock tests right from Day 1. Do not ignore mock tests at any cost. These are great ways to help you check your progress and increase your speed.
- As you are giving mock tests, prepare a strategy for your main exam. You can test these strategies during your subsequent GMAT mocks.
GMAT Preparation Online: Conclusion
Students need to know that there is no such thing as the best GMAT online coaching. Scoring well on the GMAT depends entirely on a student’s efforts and practice. There is the availability of sufficient online GMAT resources and online GMAT coaching. However, it depends on an individual as to how he/she utilizes the available resources. However, it is advised that the students must start their preparation with the official GMAT material. Along with the official GMAT study material, they can refer to Manhattan Prep books. Moreover, students are sincerely advised to attempt as many online GMAT mock tests as possible.
Also Read:
GMAT Eligibility | GMAT Registration |
GMAT Dates | GMAT Pattern |
GMAT Preparation Online FAQs
Q. Can I prepare for the GMAT exam online?
A. Yes. Preparation for the GMAT exam can done online and it is not compulsory for students to attend the physical GMAT coaching. The biggest benefit of preparing for the GMAT exam in online mode is that your time for commuting to GMAT coaching centres is saved and that you can prepare from the comfort of your home. However, a big drawback of online GMAT preparation is that you tend to lose out on a study group. Irrespective of your mode of GMAT exam preparation, it is important for you to follow certain points. These include familiarity with the GMAT exam syllabus and pattern, choice of right GMAT books, preparation of short notes, and appearing for multiple mock tests.
Q. What are the GMAT online preparation resources?
A. While preparing for the GMAT exam (whether online or at a coaching centre), here are some important points to consider:
- Start with the GMAT exam syllabus and the GMAT exam pattern. Understand the exam pattern thoroughly before you even pick up the GMAT books.
- GMAT Books & Resources: Choose limited resources. These include the official GMAT study material, Manhattan guides, Veritas study material, any coaching study material where you have enrolled, GMAT Club, Beat the GMAT, and Thursdays with Ron.
- Short Notes: As you prepare, it is vital to make short notes and revise them from time to time.
- GMAT Mock Tests: It is critical for students to appear for GMAT mock tests every week. Moreover, it is vital to analyse the performance of these mocks to gain clarity about the progress.
Q. How much time is required to prepare for the GMAT exam?
A. Depending on a variety of variables, such as the student's starting point, study habits, and resources available, the amount of time needed to prepare for the GMAT exam can vary significantly. However, the majority of students devote at least 2-3 months to prepare for the exam, putting in roughly 100–120 hours. Some students can require three to six months of dedicated study time to pass the GMAT. In the end, the time needed can vary greatly based on personal progress and preparation method.
Q. What is the pattern of the online GMAT exam?
A. The following points provide an overview of the online GMAT exam pattern:
- Analytical Writing Assessment: It consists of 1 question to be answered in 30 minutes.
- Integrated Reasoning: It consists of 12 questions to be answered in 30 minutes. Question types include multi-source reasoning, graphics interpretation, two-part analysis, and table analysis.
- Quantitative Reasoning: It consists of 31 questions to be answered in 62 minutes. Question types include problem-solving and data sufficiency.
- Verbal Reasoning: It consists of 36 questions to be answered in 65 minutes. Question types include reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence correction.
Q. Is 650 GMAT a good score?
A. A GMAT score of 650 and above is generally regarded as a good GMAT score for the majority of the MBA programmes. However, most of the top MBA colleges have a GMAT cut-off of more than 700. 650 on the GMAT will get through most of the MBA colleges in the US. However, it is worth noting that a good GMAT score is not the only criterion that determines your selection to a good MBA college. Other factors such as work experience, a statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, an updated resume, admission essays, etc. are equally important.
Q: Â Is the GMAT test hard?
GMAT exam is actually very tough, as only a handful number of students crack the exam. Out of 200,000 students, only 6% of the students qualified the exam. SIne the competition is very high, these tests are a hard nut to crack. Students preparing for GMAT exam will have to prepare rigorously and solve question papers in order to crack the exam. GMAT is hard to crack but not impossible. With the right strategies, students can aim to crack the exam.
Check out: Is GMAT exam tough?
Q: Â What is the best GMAT Focus book?
Some of the best books to prepare for GMAT Focus Edition are as follows:
- The GMAT Focus Official Guide
- The Critical Reasoning Bible
- All the GMAT guides (Manhattan Prep)
- Total GMAT Math (Jeff Sackmann)
- GMAT Prep Plus (Kaplan)
Ideally these are some of the most important GMAT Focus books to prepare for the exam.
Q: Â What is the highest GMAT score?
The highest possible GMAT score is 800. It seems impossible to get a perfect score of 800 on the GMAT, but it can be achieved with sheer hard work, dedication, and the right study plan. Even the top B-schools require candidates to score 720 or more than 720, so, candidates need not score a perfect 800 to get into a top Business program. If you get a decent score then also you are eligible to apply to a top business program.
Q: Â Which month is best for GMAT exam?
As such there is no particular preference for choosing the best month to appear for GMAT exam. It is up to the applicants to choose a relevant GMAT exam date based on their admission intakes abroad and regster accordingly. Those who wish to submit GMAT scores for Fall intake should register for July-August months. While those applying for Spring intakes can appear for the exam in September-December months. It is completely up to the students because they need time to prepare and select an apt GMAT exam date.
Q: Â Is 650 a good GMAT score?
650 - 690 is a good score, however, if you score above 700 then it is great and it also enhances your chances of securing admission to a top B-school. However, a good GMAT score is not the only criterion for securing admission to a top MBA college. Students need to build a holistic profile that should have a decent balance of work experience, academic excellence, extracurricular activities, etc. Nonetheless, a good GMAT score will definitely help you in improving your candidature. Make sure to cover every aspect of the GMAT syllabus with the correct resources.
Q: Â Is the GMAT exam tough?
GMAT exam assesses different skill sets of candidates like the ability to think critically, ability to analyse data and draw conclusions using reasoning skills. According to an estimate, only very few of the candidates are able to score more than 720+. So, one needs to develop these skills to get a decent score in order to get admission to their dream B-school. However, GMAT does not require you to study management concepts. It tests your basic mathematical and verbal skills only. Hence, it is not a tough exam; however, it does require focused and dedicated preparation. Here are a few points that will help you prepare well for the GMAT exam 2023:
- Familiarize yourself with the GMAT exam syllabus and pattern.
- Complete the official GMAT study material (cover-to-cover) at least twice.
- Appear for the GMAT mocks every week and analyse your performance in each of them.
Q: Â How do I cover the latest GMAT syllabus in 3 months?
To cover the GMAT 2023 syllabus in 3 months, you can follow a structured study plan and make efficient use of your time. Here's a suggested approach:
- Understand the GMAT syllabus: Learn the topics covered by the GMAT's syllabus, including Analytical Writing, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning. You can prioritise your study topics with this assistance.
- Create a study schedule: Divide your 3-month study period into weekly and daily goals. Allocate specific time slots for each section of the GMAT syllabus. Ensure that your schedule is realistic and allows for regular practice and revision.
- Gather study materials: Gather pertinent study materials that span the whole GMAT course, both online and off. Textbooks, question banks, GMAT prep books, and online materials may all be included in this.
- Focus on weak areas: Identify your weak areas and allocate more time to study and practice those topics.
- Practice regularly: Set aside dedicated time for GMAT practice questions and mock tests.
- Seek guidance and support: Consider enrolling in a GMAT prep course or working with a tutor who can guide you through the syllabus and provide feedback on your progress.
- Review and revise: Regularly review the topics you have covered and revise key concepts. Make use of flashcards, summaries, and mnemonic techniques to reinforce your learning.
- Take mock exams: As you approach the end of your 3-month study period, take full-length mock exams to simulate the actual GMAT test conditions. Analyze your performance, identify areas for improvement, and adjust your study plan accordingly.
Keep in mind that perseverance and commitment are essential for success. Stick to your study schedule, stay inspired, and keep a good outlook throughout the GMAT prep process. Good fortune!
Q: Â Is it hard to score 600+ on GMAT?
To get a 600+ score on the GMAT one needs to do a lot of hard work and made consistent efforts to get this score. Start with the GMAT syllabus and pattern. You can then move on to the GMAT official guide and other official study material. Make this as the base of your preparation. Once you are thorough with this, you can read other authentic sources such as the Manhattan guides, Princeton Review study material, etc. Make a study plan and follow it strictly and try to cover one topic at a time. Also, note down your weakness and try to work on them to increase your score.
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