Taking the GMAT can be your doorway into higher education in business and accounting, and therefore a better career later on. Although initially it may seem like a daunting challenge, it is one that many choose to face every year. If this is the direction you are interested in going then being prepared is the first step.
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The GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test) is a computerized test designed to assess a student’s potential in business studies. It is a challenging and long (approximately 4 hours) exam that includes an analytical writing portion, a quantitative section, and a verbal component. It is not advised to improvise as the test can be tricky, for example, the quantitative section includes a data sufficiency section which was designed just for the GMAT. You will not be allowed a calculator, so prepare for that. In addition, the GMAT is computer-adaptive so that if you do well on the first few questions, then the questions get harder. If you get the first few wrong, then the questions get easier, but this will lower your final score. Finally, you are not penalized for wrong answers like you might be used to on the SAT, in fact you are penalized for leaving scores blank. All of this requires that you stay alert to the unique requirements of taking the GMAT.
It is also not cheap, (currently $250 USD) so taking the GMAT represents a significant initial investment of time and energy in your future career. Schools can end up using GMAT scores as a weeding out tool in their admissions process, so doing your best on the GMAT will give the best shot at success in graduate school.
What you can do to prepare.
Each test taker will need to determine their own method to prepare. The stated purpose of the GMAT is to evaluate one’s accumulated educational experience, so this will not be the first test you will have taken. However, it is also a very important one, so starting your preparation sooner and taking more time can be a good start. On average, test takers spend 51 hours preparing and begin at least 4 weeks in advance. The GMAT website offers free preparation software, use it and see how you do in order to gauge your needed level of preparation.
Many test takers choose to pay for a preparatory book or class such those offered by Kaplan or Princeton Review. While to some extent these are optional, and knowing what level of preparation you feel comfortable with beforehand is a good idea, to a certain degree they are not optional: you have to do practice exams. Do not fool yourself, these tests are designed to be tricky and to fool you into thinking that they are just like any other test. They are not, the GMAT is designed to test you just as much as the GRE or the LSAT. Respect it and your test taking process enough to prepare and ensure your best possible result. Other takers are learning the tricks, you should too. That said, do not feel pressured into paying for a prep class if that is not what is right for you just because others are preparing that way. Do chose a method that you feel comfortable with, but if the date comes and you still do not feel ready, it is better to postpone the test than to take it unprepared. Think of it as setting yourself up for success.
Getting your results.
The maximum score on a GMAT is 800. Two thirds of test takers’ scores will fall between 400-600. On average, the score is 538 for the last 3 years preceding October 2008. However, as competition is stiff, the admissions requirements for many top business schools can be in the upper 600s to low 700s.
Like the GRE and LSAT, GMAT scores are valid for up to 5 years after they have been awarded. Getting your results is an important stepping-stone in sending off an application.
Finally, if you have a legitimate reason to request more time due disability or impairment then by all means do so. There is no stigma attached to your results and any extra time you can get is yours to use. You may not need it, but why not have it, just in case?
