Quite often I get calls about preparing for the GMAT and one of the first questions asked is “How do I start to prepare?”, invariably my answer is the same “Take a test." Before you decide to sign up for any course or tutor undertake any type of study it only makes sense that you find how much study you will need. Far too many people make assumptions about their scores. Whether you assume your score will be good or bad is irrelevant, it makes no sense to guess if you have the resources to find out the truth!
Everyone considering applying to business school (and thus by nature considering preparing for the GMAT) must immediately and without delay go to www.mba.com, download GMATPrep, and take a practice test under as realistic conditions as possible. This is the only practice tests created by the writers of the GMAT, and it will give you a highly reliable assessment of your current level of readiness to take the test.
Once you’ve taken the test you must spend some time analyzing your performance and understanding what you need to do to achieve the score you want. Below is some information that will help you understand your practice test score.
Your practice test score will give you an approximate range for your current GMAT score. Think “if I took the GMAT today, I would have received a score within 30 points of this score.” Based on this score you should have a strong sense of how much time and work you will need to make a significant improvement in your score (significant meaning a score increase that will get you from one range to the next, i.e. from 200 – 400 range to 400 – 480 range)
Consider the following when you look at the score results from your practice test:
| Prep Plan |
| If your score is between 200 and 400 | · Prior to attending a general prep course you should: - devote a few weeks to self-study in order to review the basic rules - consider hiring a tutor or taking a basic math or grammar class to focus on the fundamental rules (subject verb agreement, fraction rules, geometry formulas, etc) before taking a GMAT course which will focus on how to apply those rules · Start your prep today and give yourself a head start! |
| If your score is in the 400 – 550 range | · Review the basic rules and formulas that will be tested on the GMAT using either GMAT specific flashcards or books. · Take a GMAT prep course that will finish early enough so you can do some self study following the course and take the test two times before any deadline you are trying to meet. · Consider tutoring after or during your course. |
| If your score is in the 560 – 640 range | · Take a GMAT prep course that will finish early enough so you can do some self study following the course and take the test two times before any deadline you are trying to meet. · Consider tutoring after or during your course. |
| If your score is between 650 and 800 | · Review your mistakes and learn from them. · Take another practice test within 2 weeks to determine whether your score is consistently in that range - if your score is consistently within the range you want take the GMAT within the month - if your score is inconsistent, review the inconsistency and consider working with a tutor to resolve those inconsistencies |
| If your score in one section is 15+ points higher than your score in the other | · Consider doing some preliminary work in your weaker area before taking a class · Consider hiring a tutor to develop your weak area before, during or after taking a class |
Akil Bello
The GMAT Expert
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