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The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a Standardized test that measures verbal, mathematical and analytical writing skills. It is intended to help the graduate schools of business assess the potential of applicants for advanced study in business and management.
Nearly 900 management institutes all over the world (almost all of them in the US) require GMAT scores from each applicant for admission to the MBA program.
The GMAT tests the fundamental skills - Reasoning and Comprehension included - and does not require any subject-specific theoretical study.
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What is GMAT and How do I Prepare for It?
By Tracey Drake
What is the GMAT Exam?
The GMAT exam is the Graduate Management Admission Test. The test is a
standardized test that helps business schools assess your skills. The test
measures your basic verbal, mathematical, and analytical writing skills. These
are skills that you have developed throughout your education.
The test is composed of three sections. These sections include analytical
writing assessment, the quantitative section and the verbal section. The
analytical writing assessment includes two separate writing tests over analysis
of issue and analysis of argument. You are allowed thirty minutes to complete
each section.
The quantitative section contains thirty-seven multiple-choice questions. These
questions are divided into two section as well including data sufficiency and
problem solving. You are allowed seventy-five minutes for this section of the
test.
The verbal section contains forty-one multiple-choice questions over three
sections. These sections include reading comprehension, critical reasoning and
sentence correction. You are allowed seventy-five minutes for these sections as
well.
The GMAT does not measure your knowledge of business or your job skills. The
test also does not measure any specific coursework that you may have taken in
college or your abilities in specific subject areas. The test does not measure
your creative skills or subjective qualities. Schools use the test as a tool for
predicting how you will do in MBA programs or other management graduate
programs.
Schools use your scores with two characteristics in mind. These characteristics
that are measured by the test will show how you have developed skills that are
found to be important in graduate study programs. The test is also used to
predict if you will have academic success your first year of graduate study.
GMAT scores also provide graduate schools consistent and standardized evaluation
of students. The meaning of your score to one school may be different to another
school. The test does not provide a “pass” or “fail” evaluation of your skills.
The key to studying for the test is to start early. Students should also pace
themselves as they study for the test. Students may want to review their basic
math skills as well as writing skills. Students should purchase practice tests
and practice, practice, practice. There are several review questions that can be
downloaded off the Internet. There are also computer programs available that
will help you study for the test as well. Student will want to review and study
one section at a time, try not to mix and match too much.
Studying for the GMAT: The Best and the Worst
Studying for the GMAT really isn't too bad. Although it may seem like a
daunting task at first, your undergraduate degree and related activities should
have adequately prepared you for the test, and really you should probably look
at studying for the test as reviewing what you already know rather than learning
something completely new.
The Official Guide for GMAT Review
Published by ETS, the people who make the test, this is definitely the best
study book available. You can order the book used from Half. com for just over
$20. The book uses past test questions, and many times the questions on the GMAT
are similar to the previous tests; thus, you may find that many of things you
study will appear on the test almost word for word. The practice test software
is essential for learning to take the test well and quickly.
Kaplan
Kaplan offers both a book and a class to help you prepare for the GMAT. The test
is a great resource and certainly a needed addition to the ETS book. There are
several hints and tricks that the test makers don't want to reveal, but that
Kaplan happily shares.
Now, about the classes. I know Kaplan will hate me for this, but I just don't
think they're worth your money. The GMAT is a fairly straightforward test and
spending thousands on a class will probably not make that much difference in
your grade. If, however, you are a student who has difficulty reading something
and learning it well, then the class may benefit you. Consider your own style
and study strategies and make the best decision for you.
Princeton Review
The Princeton Review also publishes a study book for the GMAT. Their books are
truly exceptional and a must have as you get ready for the test. If it sounds
like three books is just too much to buy, split it with a friend. You buy the
Kaplan and they buy the Princeton Review or vice versa. Both of you should get
the official guide, though, since it's really your best source for real test
questions.
Pace Yourself
As you study for the GMAT, pace yourself. Don't do it all in one weekend, but
the test isn't hard enough to warrant a year of study either. Keep yourself on
target by doing a chapter or two a week and maybe a practice test over the
course of a month or two.
Study with Friends
Studying with friends can make all the difference in your test score. You may
not get as much done at a time when studying with friends, but you will be
likely to study more often when you're having fun. You can also put together an
official study group and see if one of your professors will help you study. They
want you to do well as it reflects on them too, so don't be afraid to ask -
there's a good chance that they'll say, "Yes."
Final Thoughts
Buy the best books, pace yourself, and study with friends, preferably in a
professor-supervised study group. Even though it may sound too simple, that's
all you really need to be successful on the GMAT.
How To Self Study For The GMAT
If you've chosen to study on your own, you must realize that there's a
distinction between study and practice. Study is when you learn the methods for
tackling GMAT questions. Practice is when you sit down and practice those
methods. The best move is to buy one, and only one, commercial test preparation
book, complete it, and then practice the methods you've learned on former GMAT
exams, such as those found in ETS' Official Guide for GMAT Review, plus practice
on practice GMAT CATs (computer adaptive tests). You'll need to make a decision
on which commercial book you pick - but pick one and stick with it.
Don't concern yourself with much with whether or not a book has better methods
than the others. Instead, you should be more concerned with how well a book
teaches someone who is self-studying. For many people, learning something from a
book, without a teacher, can be a difficult experience. If this is true of you,
then you may want to seek out a book which guides you through the material well.
What NOT to Do
Buy more than one commercial test prep book. Working through several commercial
preparation books won't help more; indeed, it will actually hurt, as you'll
spend too much time learning methods and not enough practicing. Pick one book
and stick with it. Once you're done, practice heavily on full-length GMAT exams
and questions - paper or computer.
Buy textbooks from someone who took a live GMAT course. This is an enormous
waste of money. The books are designed for classroom use, not self-study. As
such, you'll be confused and frustrated. Even if the student took copious notes,
the text is still not designed for self-study, and, as such, will teach you
little. Many students assume that the big companies teach methods in live
classes not taught in the retail books. This is not true. The methods in the
live classes and the books are usually quite similar.
What To Buy For GMAT Self-Study
1- Commercial Preparation Book.
2- ETS' Official Guide for GMAT Review.
3- ETS' PowerPrep Software and any other quality computer tests you can find.