5 Helpful Tips for the GMAT Exam

The Graduate Management Admission Test or GMAT is a computer adaptive test which examines the analytical, writing, quantitative, verbal and reading skills of the candidate who wish to pursue graduate management programs such as MBA. The GMAT test score remains valid for up to five years. There are more than 600 test centres in the world in around 100 countries that conduct GMAT. You can take GMAT once in every 16 days but no more than five times in 12 months. 

Here are a few tips for you, if you are planning to write the GMAT exam. 

•    Learn the GMAT exam format 
It’s essential to learn about the test format before jumpstarting your GMAT preparation. The exam is a 3.5-hour computer adaptive test which assesses your Analytical, writing, Quantitative, Verbal and reading skills. Getting acquainted with the exam format will give you a rough idea about what all you need to focus on and how to go about your preparation. More than anything the GMAT tests your analytical and critical thinking skills. Once you familiarise yourself with the GMAT format, you will learn where you stand, and it will pave the way how you want to go about your GMAT preparation. 

•    Get the official GMAT resources 
The Official GMAT resources will help you in your preparation and improving your GMAT score. The content of the Official GMAT resources is of high quality and designed by the actual test makers. The official GMAT guide is a set of three books which include one official guide book, one Quantitative guide and one Verbal guide.  

•    Build a study plan 
Your GMAT study plan will depend on a lot of factors, i.e. How much time you can take out in a day for the preparation, what your level of confidence is with mathematics and English, and when you aim to apply to colleges. The study plans vary from 2-3 months to 6 months depending on your comfort with the subjects. 

•    Book your exam in advance
The GMAT tests are available on specific dates. So, you need to keep an eye on the GMAT test dates. If you do not have an immediate college application deadline, then you can wait till you have started achieving your target score in mock tests. If you have a college application deadline coming, take the test at least one month before the application submission. This is to ensure that you have an option to retake the test if you do not get your desired score in your GMAT test.  

•    Enrol in a GMAT course
Enrolling for a GMAT score is a highly personal choice. If you feel confident enough and do not need professional guidance then there is no need for you to enrol in a GMAT course. There is plenty of information and practice material available online to help you prepare for GMAT yourself. However, many students need help in brushing up on the fundamentals and understanding various concepts. These students can benefit from a GMAT course which can help them score high on the GMAT test.