GMAT Prep Strategies

Activities

• Identify the schools you want to apply to.
• Check program application deadlines.
• Check the programs’ GMAT score ranges and set your target score.

Resources

• Explore mba.com for information about graduate management education, specific schools and programs, the GMAT exam, and GMAT prep materials.

Tips

• Give yourself enough time to prepare in the way that works best for you —self-study, study groups, tutoring or, classes. 3-6 months allows plenty of opportunity for different preparation activities.
• If you have limited study time, try to include four weeks to take advantage of the various GMAT Official Practice products. Remember that if you have been out of school for several years, it may take time to readjust to studying.
• If you have lots of time to study, don’t spread your prep time out so much that you lose momentum and make sure you practice regularly enough for the lessons learned to stick.

Activities: 

• Develop a study schedule that lists not just when but also what you’ll study.
• Select your date based on your study schedule, and book your GMAT exam at a test center or online – the farther in advance you book, the greater your choice. 

Resources:

• 8-week Study Plan
• Find a test center near you
• Register for your GMAT exam
• Familiarize yourself with the GMAT exam by reviewing the basics and reading about the exam format and the different question types.

Tips:

• Plan to study twice a week.
• Mix up different question types and exam sections in your schedule.

Activities:

• Take a first free GMAT Official Practice Exam to see what you most need to study. 
• You can use the second free exam and additional paid practice exams for comparison later. 

Resources:

•  Take a practice exam.

Tips:

• Make sure you replicate actual test conditions as you practice. Don’t use a calculator (on the Quantitative section) or study materials.
• Keep an eye on the clock.
• If you’re spending too long on a question, take your best guess and move on.

Activities:

• Work through the free questions in the GMAT Official FREE Starter Kit.
• Review your progress report regularly and plan strategies to improve your weak areas.

Resources:

• Refresh your quantitative skills in the Math Review.
• Review Verbal Reasoning concepts in Verbal Review.
• Review strategies to use for specific question types.
• Get more GMAT™ Official Practice questions  to practice with.

Tips:

• If you need to improve your score, add more study time and practice tests to your calendar.
• Focus on the content areas and question types you need the most help with.
• Review and study one section of the test at a time. Don’t try to cram.

Activities:

• Take your second GMAT Official Practice Exam and compare your score to that needed for your target program(s).

Resources:

• Take your second practice exam.

Tips:

• Again, replicate actual test conditions as you practice. Time yourself, and don’t use a calculator (on the Quantitative section) or study materials.
• Review the GMAT exam myths and general test-taking strategies; revisit the strategies for specific question types.

Activities:

• Devote extra prep work to your weakest areas.
• Don’t forget to review the areas where you do well.

Resources:

• Find other GMAT™ Official Practice products that address your specific needs.
• Revisit strategies to use for specific question types.

Tips:

• Focus on the content areas or question types you need the most help with.
• Review and study one section of the test at a time. Don’t try to cram.