The GMAT exam (Graduate Management Admission Test) is one of the crucial determining factors of admission to MBA programs. Developed by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) in 1953, the GMAT is a computer adaptive test that you need to take to secure an admit into the top MBA program. This exam tests your critical reading, writing, quantitative, verbal, and analytical skills.
Admission decision to MBA programs encompasses a number of factors and although the GMAT score is definitely an important factor, it is not the only one. Nonetheless, having a competitive GMAT score can significantly boost your admission chances. This is because the GMAT score helps to set you apart during the admission process. However, this does not solely mean that you need to have a good GMAT score, even a low score but a compelling story addressing the low score can make for a strong application, highlighting your determination to tide over challenging situations and not bowing down to failures. Moreover, a good GMAT score can be a wonderful asset to your overall profile, if you have a low GPA. It also serves the role of the most recent and updated assessment of your academic abilities.
At the same time, you need to understand that you cannot approach a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to GMAT scores for MBA program. That is to say, while a GMAT score within the range of the 85 to 97th percentile is considered a good score, you need to also understand the program requirements – look into the type of the program and the average GMAT score of the cohort. This will give you an idea of the target score on your GMAT exam.
In this article, we will see what strategies can be employed to ensure a competitive GMAT score.
While GMAT used to be available in two formats, namely the GMAT Classic Edition (GCE) and the GMAT Focus Edition (GFE), it will now be available only in the GFE format (since February 1, 2024). Thus per the new format, the GMAT exam will be only of a duration of two hours and fifteen minutes with three sections and 64 questions. This new format excludes the writing assessment. The three sections are:
A full-proof strategy for your GMAT exam would be the following:
Here’s a detailed breakdown of your GMAT exam preparation plan
Starting your preparation early for the GMAT exam is always recommended. This helps you to assess your skills and improve your weak points. However, how do you determine how early you need to start?
You can use the following two tricks to determine when to start your preparation:
Make a rigorous study schedule. This is an important step in preparing for your GMAT exam. If you are getting back to academics after a considerable gap, you need to get into the habit of having a study schedule. Even if you are a working professional, you need to know how to divide your time efficiently between fulfilling your job commitments and preparing for your GMAT. A rigorous schedule will help you manage these commitments efficiently.
Here are a few study plans that you can take inspiration from while building your schedule for GMAT prep:
Questions solved | Time remaining ( Quantitative Reasoning – 21 questions in 45 minutes) | Time remaining (Verbal Reasoning – 23 questions in 45 minutes) | Time remaining (Data Insights – 20 questions in 45 minutes) |
5 | 35 minutes | 35 minutes | 35 minutes |
10 | 25 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
15 | 15 minutes | 15 minutes | 15 minutes |
This is simple – after you complete the first five questions, check the time remaining. If you have more than 35 minutes remaining, you are on the right track. Next, check the time remaining after ten questions and again after fifteen minutes. If you happen to have less than 35 minutes remaining after solving the first five, you will know that you will have to act faster on completing the rest of the section.
If you are considering an MBA program, you may look into an MBA in India. One definite advantage of pursuing an MBA in India is the cost. Tuition fees, accommodation costs, and miscellaneous expenses can significantly add to the overall cost of doing an MBA. However, an MBA in India will help significantly cut down on these costs and improve your return on investment. Moreover, as the global job market continues to get more saturated, pursuing an MBA in India may seem beneficial. Oftentimes, companies offer sponsored MBA opportunities, provided you agree to join back the firm. Thus you can comfortably focus on your skill development while being assured of employment.
Interestingly, India houses some of the top MBA programs in the world. For instance, institutes such as the IIMs (Indian Institute of Management – Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Kozhikode), Department of Management Studies, IIT Delhi, Xavier School of Management, ISB and the like have an affordable fee structure while also being at par with the curriculum offered by MBA programs abroad. Additionally, these schools offer the much needed and crucial training in leadership development and global exposure, thereby enabling your overall growth.
If you are interested in exploring MBA programs in India and wish to take the GMAT exam, get in touch with the advisors at Manya- The Princeton Review.
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