Best GMAT® Practices to Help You Prepare for Your Exam

Scoring a high GMAT® score shows that you are ready and have the skills and ability to take on the rigorous MBA program. Attaining an MBA is a rewarding experience to help you grow your career and salary. If you want to get into a competitive business school, the GMAT score is part of your application requirements. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best GMAT® practices to prepare adequately for your exams.

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1. Dedicate at least three months to your studies

Past test takers who got high scores recommend that the ideal study time is eight weeks if you are familiar with the GMAT exam content. However, you can customize your study plan according to your strengths and weaknesses. While the duration of the study counts, the quality of reading is what matters most. It’s essential to get ready with the right study materials as well as a prep course that you can rely on to cover all the areas of the exam. If you’re going to study for three months, for example, make sure there’s a goal for every week.

2. Review each of the exam sections at a time

There are four sections in the GMAT exam, each of which contributes to your final score. It’s advisable to make sure your study plan covers all these areas so that you’re ready to tackle the entire exam. To give you an idea of what you expect, here are the four test sections in the GMAT exam:

• Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA): this is the essay section that tests your writing skills. Your writing task involves critiquing an author’s argument by analyzing their evidence and reasoning. The section takes 30 minutes to complete.
• Integrated Reasoning (IR): It tests how well you can analyze and interpret data and information presented in different formats. The section also takes 30 minutes to complete.
• Quantitative reasoning: This section tests your numerical literacy and mathematical abilities such as arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. It takes 62 minutes to complete and includes two types of questions; data-sufficiency questions and problem-solving questions.
• Verbal reasoning: the verbal section tests your reading and comprehension skills, editing ability, and skill in analyzing written arguments. The section takes 65 minutes to complete. The various types of questions in this section include; reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence correction.

3. Review your basic math skills.

The GMAT exam tests your critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Therefore, you must understand basic arithmetic, algebra, data analysis, geometry, grammar, and communication. When it comes to mathematical skills, it takes a lot of practice to gain confidence. AnalystPrep offers thousands of practice questions you can take advantage of to sharpen your skills. Nevertheless, it’s essential to master the course content before testing your skills. You can achieve this by reading comprehensive study notes, going through video lessons, or having one-on-one interaction with your tutors. All this is available at AnalystPrep.

4. Use timed practice exams

It’s essential to take timed practice exams before the real test. With that, you can pace yourself during the actual test. Time management is essential to ensure that you answer all the exam questions on time. At first, when you begin your timed practices, you’ll realize that time elapses before you complete the entire paper. That means you have to keep trying until you’re able to finish on time, or, even better, a few minutes earlier.

5. Review and understand the questions when taking the test.

The GMAT exam consists of different types and formats of questions, including charts and tables. The quantitative reasoning section may also include symbols that you need to understand.

Here are some of the best GMAT practices on the test day to ensure optimum performance:

1. Relax and focus on building confidence when taking the exam. Get enough rest and sleep to keep your mind sharp.

2. Plan your logistics to avoid getting late for the test. Confirm the location of the test center, appointment date, and time on your mba.com account. Find out directions to the test center and plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled test time.

3. Ensure that you carry relevant and valid identification. Double-check that your ID complies with the GMAC requirements and that your registration details match those on your ID.

4. Ensure good time management. It is essential to pace yourself during the exam because you have limited time. Although you will still receive scores if you answer questions in every section, there is a penalty for leaving questions unanswered. Therefore, do not spend too much time on one question, and if you get stumped, make a strategic guess.

5. Use the process of elimination during the exam. The GMAT exam has a time limit, and you can suffer score deductions if you leave questions unanswered. Therefore, you should not spend too much time on each question, even when unsure of the answer. Use the process of elimination to rule out the wrong answers and choose the best out of the remaining choices.

6. Confirm your answer when you are sure you want to move on to the next question. The GMAT exam uses computer-adaptive testing, selecting the next question based on your previous answer. Therefore, you cannot go back to previous questions or change your answer.

Key Items To Keep in Mind About the GMAT Exam

As an aspiring GMAT candidate, you should understand and follow the GMAT policies, procedures, and rules about your exam administration. According to the handbook, test administration starts when you walk into the test center (check-in) and ends at checkout after the test, including the scheduled breaks. Policy violations may result in canceled scores, banning from taking the test for up to three years, and sending notifications to business schools.

If you take the GMAT Exam at a test center, you should review the list of things you can bring to the center and those prohibited. You should carry a valid and approved ID, appointment confirmation letter or letter from the Pearson VUE, prescription glasses, and a light sweater.

You are not allowed to carry food, drinks, candy, and any time of firearm or weapon. The test center provides locker storage that you can use to keep small items such as watches, calculators, mobile phones, communication devices, books, and writing materials.

You should adequately prepare for your exams to ensure that you are confident and relaxed on the exam day. Enroll for exam prep materials from Analystprep.com to help you in your journey toward attaining an MBA.