GMAT Exam Preparation: How to Start Preparing For GMAT

A few days ago, I met my niece who is planning to study MBA abroad. She has to appear for her GMAT exam in about 6-7 months. She looked extremely anxious and indecisive regarding its study material and preparation. So I did some research and decided to share GMAT preparation details through this article to help more people like her. Here’s what I found.

GMAT or Graduate Management Admission Test is a standardized entrance exam students take to get admission into MBA programs worldwide. The 2 hours 15-minute test evaluates management aptitude and critical/logical skills to be a global business leader.  

The difficulty level of the GMAT examination is very high. Therefore, students need to prepare well to get a good score. 

A GMAT score above 750 makes the students eligible to apply to the top globally ranked business schools and get scholarship opportunities.

Let’s further discuss GMAT preparation for beginners.

Top 10 Study Tips to Prepare for GMAT Exam 2024

GMAT preparation may seem overwhelming initially, but with a comprehensive study plan, an effective test preparation strategy, and expert GMAT study tips, you can position yourself for success and achieve your best possible score. Advance toward your business school objectives with these tips for GMAT preparation for beginners.

Develop a GMAT Study Plan Early

Applications for MBA education abroad and business master’s programs involve various elements such as essays, recommendation letters, resumes, and more. It can be challenging to manage all of these while preparing for the GMAT on a tight schedule. To avoid this situation, it's important to establish a GMAT study plan early in your business school journey. 

Generally, a 12-week plan will provide you with essential strategies for success. Most students spend 3-6 months preparing for the GMAT. It's advisable to take a practice test to assess your readiness and then plan your study timeline based on your performance.

Know the Test Sections and Include Them in Your Study Plan

Before creating a study plan, it’s best to familiarize yourself with the GMAT exam structure. The test consists of mainly four sections:

• Quantitative Reasoning (Quant section) - measures your ability to reason mathematically, solve quantitative problems, and interpret graphic data.
• Verbal Reasoning (Verbal section) - evaluates your reading comprehension skills, editing abilities, and ability to understand written arguments.
• Data Insights - measures your ability to analyze data from multiple sources.

Choose Your GMAT Prep Materials Wisely

Many GMAT test prep resources are available, so it's important to choose the right one carefully since not all resources are equally effective.

For the best preparation and to simulate the actual test experience, it's recommended to use GMAT Official prep materials. These materials use the same scoring algorithm as the actual test and include real questions from past exams.

Identify Your GMAT Weaknesses and Work on Them

Know which skills need the most focus for your overall GMAT test prep strategy. We recommend using the GMAT Official Guide Series to assess your abilities and identify weak areas. After analyzing your results, create a customized, targeted study plan to improve in areas where you need to strengthen your skills to reach your goals.

Scoring a 700 or higher on the GMAT isn’t always feasible. Take the GMAT quiz tests for an instant estimated score range and get a sense of what an achievable goal is for you.

Monitor Your Time as Part of Your GMAT Prep

Given the limited time, pacing yourself is crucial to GMAT success. For instance, if you find the Verbal section challenging, refine your verbal skills and ensure you can execute them quickly.

Once you have practiced sufficiently and understand the concepts, start tracking time to train yourself in efficient problem-solving. You must pace yourself through the four-timed sections on practice exams.

Don’t Linger on a GMAT Question

Remember, there is a penalty for not completing each test section, also, each unanswered question could lower your score. Don’t spend more than two and a half minutes on any question. If you’re stuck, make a strategic guess. 

Use the Process of Elimination on the GMAT Exam

Don’t spend time on questions if you're unsure of the answer. If you're in doubt, try eliminating incorrect answers to narrow down the correct ones. Then, choose the best option from the remaining choices and move on. 

Practice Visual Literacy During GMAT Prep

Time management is crucial for scoring in the GMAT examination. To improve efficiency, it's important to become proficient in visual literacy, which involves interpreting symbols, charts, and tables.

In the Quant section, you may encounter non-standard mathematical notations or symbols specific to a particular problem, so being comfortable with visuals is very important.

Enhance Your Mental Math as Part of Your Study Plan

Mental math is a valuable time-saving tool for the quantitative section.

As you practice, resist the urge to use your calculator constantly. Instead, practice doing calculations mentally. Since you won’t have a calculator for the Quant section of the GMAT, honing your mental math skills is essential.

Challenge Yourself with Advanced Questions

For an extra challenge, you can try out the GMAT Official Advanced Questions. This pack includes 300 carefully selected tough GMAT questions from previous exams. This practice is essential for individuals striving for a high GMAT score and seeking admission to their dream MBA or business master’s program.

GMAT 2024 Study Material

Kickstart your GMAT preparation online with over 800 real practice questions. The new edition includes the Data Insights chapter, Math and Verbal Reviews, online Diagnostic Evaluations, and an Online Question Bank for custom practice sets.

GMAT Official Guide 2024: eBook and Online Question Bank

• Data Insights Review: 200+ additional GMAT preparation online questions to master the new GMAT section.
• Quantitative Review: 150+ extra questions to enhance your math skills.
• Verbal Review: 200+ questions to boost reading comprehension and critical reasoning.

GMAT™ Official Practice Questions

Measure your progress with practice sets based on question types and difficulty. Choose study mode (answers revealed) or exam mode (no answers). Detailed explanations help you grasp the concepts. Several practice packs are available for 

Data Insights, Verbal, and Quantitative sections. 

GMAT™ Official Practice Exams

Simulate the real test with practice exams that increase difficulty as you improve. These exams help you refine your pacing strategy and overall test-taking approach.

Top GMAT Prep Books

Discover essential GMAT preparation for beginners books that streamline your study approach and maximize your exam readiness.

GMAT Premium Prep by Princeton Review, it covers the following:

1. Comprehensive content review.
2. Six realistic computer-adaptive tests.
3. Two additional diagnostic tests.
4. Video tutorials on preparation plans and time management.

GMAT Official Guide Quantitative Review 2023-2024, it includes

1. Detailed explanation of reasoning skills.
2. Digital flashcards and online question bank.
3. Custom practice sets and performance analysis.

The GMAT Official Advanced Questions, it includes 

1. 300 additional verbal and quantitative questions.
2. Practice sets online with similar GMAT questions.
3. Mobile app access for tracking performance.

How to Prepare for GMAT 2024 Exam

Prepare to excel on the GMAT in just 2 months with our detailed study plan. This comprehensive GMAT exam preparation roadmap is your key to mastering essential skills and acing the exam, ensuring you are ready for success on test day.

Week	Days	Tasks	Description
Week 1	Day 1	Diagnostic Test	Take a full-length diagnostic test to assess your current level and identify strengths and weaknesses.
	Day 2	Review and Error Log Setup	Create an error log to track mistakes and areas needing improvement. Review diagnostic test answers and explanations to understand errors.
	Day 3	GMAT Basics	Learn about the GMAT structure, question types, and test-taking strategies. Focus on understanding the computer-adaptive nature of the exam.
	Day 4	Quantitative Reasoning Basics	Begin with fundamental math concepts required for the Quantitative Reasoning section, such as arithmetic operations, algebra basics, and geometry concepts.
	Day 5	Verbal Reasoning Basics	Start with foundational concepts in Verbal Reasoning, including critical reasoning, reading comprehension strategies, and sentence correction tips.
	Day 6	Review and Practice	Review all topics covered during the week. Practice questions related to both Quantitative and Verbal sections.
	Day 7	Rest Day	Take a break to relax and recharge.
Week 2	Day 8-14	Daily Study Sessions	Allocate each day to focus on Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and integrated reasoning. Include timed practice sessions to simulate test conditions.
	Day 15	Mock Test 1	Take a full-length practice test to evaluate progress. Mimic actual test conditions are as close as possible. Analyze results to identify areas for improvement.
	Day 16	Review Mock Test	Go through each question from the mock test. Analyze mistakes and review explanations. Update the error log with new insights.
	Day 17-21	Intensive Practice	Focus on weak areas identified during the mock test. Drill down on specific question types and concepts.
	Day 22	Review and Rest	Review all practice sessions from the week. Take a day off to rejuvenate before diving into more intense study sessions.
Week 3-4	Day 23-28	Advanced Quantitative Reasoning	Deepen understanding of advanced math topics like probability, statistics, and advanced algebra. Practice with higher-difficulty questions.
	Day 29-31	Advanced Verbal Reasoning	Tackle complex verbal reasoning questions, including inference, logical structure, and argument analysis.
	Day 32	Mock Test 2	Take another full-length practice test to measure progress and readiness. Focus on pacing and time management.
	Day 33	Review Mock Test 2	Analyze results and update the error log. Identify persistent weaknesses and devise strategies for improvement.
	Day 34-38	Sectional Practice	Practice timed sections of the GMAT. Focus on refining skills and strategies for each section independently.
	Day 39	Review and Rest	Reflect on progress made so far. Take time off to recharge mentally and physically before entering the final stretch of preparation.
Week 5-8	Day 40-49	Refinement Phase	Review all content thoroughly. Focus on mastering tricky concepts and fine-tuning strategies.
	Day 50	Mock Test 3	Take the final full-length practice test to simulate the actual GMAT experience. Evaluate readiness and identify any remaining weak areas.
	Day 51-56	Final Review and Practice	Review all practice tests, mock exams, and notes. Focus on solidifying knowledge and improving performance in all sections.
	Day 57-59	Last-Minute Revision	Focus on quick reviews of key concepts, formulas, and strategies. Ensure familiarity with the test format and timing.
	Day 60	Rest and Relax	Take the day off to relax, clear your mind, and mentally prepare for the exam day.

GMAT Exam Preparation Tips: Quantitative Section

• The quantitative section includes 21 questions with a duration of 45 minutes. 
• It is easy to score in data sufficiency and problem-solving questions. 
• Try to complete all 31 questions in 55 minutes and save the last few minutes from revising and proofreading the answers. 
• Practice tricky and simple questions in this section covering the GMAT syllabus. 
• Aim to remember mathematical formulas for these topics to enhance the score.

GMAT Exam Preparation Tips: Verbal Section

• The verbal section includes 23 questions for a duration of 45 minutes. It is essential to manage your time accordingly. 
• The section evaluates English language proficiency and skills. Applicants need to focus on improving grammar and pronunciation. Reading newspapers regularly can help one prepare for the verbal section. 
• This section consists of mixed questions from topics of general interest like synonyms and antonyms, reasoning and idioms, subject-verb, and sentence correction. 
• Use different books to prepare for this section that evaluates the analytical and reasoning skills.

Conclusion

The GMAT examination needs months of rigorous preparation and dedication with the right strategy. For most people, it can take 6 months, while some may take more than a year to complete the GMAT preparation. Try to scale up your preparation using suitable study materials and helpful tips mentioned above. Get in touch with the experts of upGrad Abroad to create the right exam strategy to ace up your GMAT score.