How to improve your GMAT scores to get into better colleges
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If you are working full-time and preparing for GMAT, you will need to manage your office work in a way so that it does not affect your study time. You also have to keep an eye on the free time you normally devoted to leisure activities such as TV, meeting friends, travelling etc.
So the main question remains unanswered: How do you score well in GMAT without having lots of free time dedicated to practicing concepts and theories? Here are a few tips if you will be studying for the exam entirely on your own and not taking any coaching classes.
1. Familiarize yourself with the test content - According to statistics given out by GMAC, about 30% of the test takers put in four to six weeks of preparation time, and 18% put in seven to nine weeks of preparation time. That shows that majority of test takers put in at least four weeks to prepare for the exam. It is obvious that students who put in more hours studying for the GMAT tend to do better on it.
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2. Get your hands on the GMAT official guide - As a first step, buy the GMAT Official Guide (OG), to make yourself familiar with the topics and subjects you will need to study.
3. Estimate preparation time required - Try to estimate the amount of time you need to prepare each topic thoroughly. Those who are recent graduates might need less time and those who are working might need more. Estimate the number of hours you need every day.
4. Estimate practice time - GMAT is not the test you can ace by memorizing the concepts without practicing them through practice. The GMAT Official Guide, and other official guides for each sections will help you practice every day. In addition, you will need 10 hours to go through the practice tests called GMATPrep, and additional 5 hours to go through the practice questions in the software.
5. Review other prep material too - If you are also using extra reference material, then make sure that you take into account the approximate time you will need to review the material.
6. Make a study schedule - Once you know how many hours and days you need to study, map out a schedule around that. Figure out what time of the day you will be studying and keep a firm schedule around it. Block these hours and don’t allow any room for distractions. Discipline is very important characteristic required to prepare for GMAT.
7. Start with the basics first - you need to understand the basics of each topic before you get into finer details. Many people will give you the advice that you should take your GMATPrep test at the beginning to know where you stand. You should, rather, take the first GMATPrep test when you are comfortable with 80% of the topics. Not taking the practice exam too early will ensure that you don’t get discouraged early on
8. After preparation, take lots of tests - Use the GMATPrep software to retake tests and make sure you have gone through most of the questions. As you take more tests, you will become familiar with the experience and that will automatically decrease your nervousness.
9. Keep the last 2-3 days just for revision - your last phase of revision should be used to strengthen weaker areas and to practice questions related to them. You should also relook at material you are less confident about.
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Q: Is GMAT harder than CAT?
Both GMAT and CAT entrance exams for MBA admissions. While CAT is required for Indian B-schools, GMAT is required for both Indian and international B-schools. GMAT is tougher than CAT because:
- GMAT records more applicants since it is accepted globally, which means there is a higher competition among applicants, in comparison to CAT.
- GMAT tests applicants holistically across its three broad sections - Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Reasoning and Data Insights.
- Also, GMAT is tougher than CAT because, questions on GMAT have stronger emphasis on global business school entrance exams and their specific requirements. CAT only focuses on Indian business specific requirements.
Check: GMAT vs CAT: Key Differences
Q: Is the GRE exam easier than GMAT?
The GMAT test might be easy for those go prefer logical problems instead of Geometry as there are more Geometry questions in the GRE. In addition, the Quantitative section is harder in the GMAT in comparison to the GRE. The verbal section in the GRE can be difficult for non-native English speakers. Candidates can go back and forth in the GRE test, whereas in GMAT one doesn't have the freedom to save and return to each section during the exam. The decision to choose a test for studying abroad depends on various factors such the course requirement, university requirements, current level of preparation, comfort level with the exam pattern, etc.
Q: Do schools like Harvard prefer GRE or GMAT?
Harvard accepts both GRE and GMAT scores for admission, it depends on the type, of course, you are planning to do. So, check whether your degree programme requires you to submit GRE or GMAT score before applying. Particularly, they do not give preference to one exam over another. Moreover, you must assess your comfort level with the pattern of both the exams and then make a choice. The best way to do this is to appear for mock tests, for both the exams, before you make a decision. You must also check the course and university requirements for more clarity.
Q: What is the difference between GMAT and CAT?
GMAT or otherwise known as the Graduate Management Admission Test and Common Admission Test or commonly referred to as CAT are the two most widely accepted management entrance tests, scores of which are accepted by all the top B-schools, including the IIMs. The basic difference, between the two, is that while CAT is a national-level entrance exam for students looking for admission to Top Business Schools in India, GMAT is held on a global level and helps students for admission to top B-Schools worldwide. Conducted by Graduate Management Admission Council, GMAT scores are acceptable mainly in the case of NRI/Foreign students who want to study in India. The IIMs accept the GMAT score of domestic candidates for executive management programmes. Candidates can learn in-depth about the difference between GMAT and CAT exams.
Anushree is a Graduate in Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and takes keen interest in content creation. She has affinity for writing and travelling around the world takes the top spot on her bu... Read Full Bio
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