The first thing you need to know about acing the GMAT: it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
The GMAT exam is 2 hours and 15 minutes long, with 64 questions from the three test sections (Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and Data Insights).
While there are strategies you can use to eliminate answers and to save time in each section, the biggest component in your study success will be regular and sustained preparation.
How to Develop a Study Schedule
Maybe you were able to cram the night before the test in high school or at university- this won’t work for the GMAT.
It’s all about breaking the material down into manageable chunks that fit into your daily or weekly schedule.
You probably have work and family responsibilities that demand significant amounts of your time.
Is setting time aside nightly to review concepts unrealistic?
Find a day in your week where you can block off a chunk and stick to it.
The more you keep to your habits, the easier it will be!
How to Approach the Material
Start by determining what you know and what you don’t know- take a practice exam!
There are many websites (including that of GMAC, which administers the exam) that offer practice tests where you can review your answers in each section and determine your weakest points.
If you’re confident about your Quantitative Reasoning knowledge, great!
Devote more time to the sections and concepts that are less familiar to you.
Where to Find Study Resources
A wealth of study materials can be found online, from timed practice tests to video explanations.
Figure out which resources suit you best and dive in!
In addition to preparing for the exam content, a key element in your success lies in knowing the structure of the test.
For example, during the Quantitative Reasoning section of the test, you will not be allowed to use a calculator, while during the Data Insights section you can use the on-screen calculator to help you answer the questions. When you study, make sure that you’re able to solve Quantitative Reasoning questions without a calculator, and when preparing for Data Insights questions, don’t waste time calculating your answers by hand.
Important tip: You should also know that you are allowed to edit up to three of your answers in each section of the exam this means that you can afford to keep going even if you’re not sure about every question in the section, and come back to those problematic questions at the end.
How to prepare the week of/night before?
Get a good night’s rest before you take the exam! At this point, you’ve studied as much as you can- trust that it will pay off.
Make sure to eat breakfast on the test day and give yourself ample time to get to the test center.
Take a deep breath- you’ve got this!
Formal Review
If you decide that preparing for the GMAT in an organized framework would suit you best,
Yeda Plus offers GMAT courses and private lessons with our instructors (in person or by Zoom).
Contact us today to find out how we can help you ace your GMAT exam!
