GMAT
1. What is GMAT?
The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a computer adaptive test intended to assess certain analytical, writing, quantitative, verbal, and reading skills in written English for use in admission to a graduate management program, such as an MBA program. It requires knowledge of certain specific grammar and knowledge of certain specific algebra, geometry, and arithmetic. According to the test-owning company, the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), the GMAT assesses analytical writing and problem-solving abilities, while also addressing data sufficiency, logic, and critical reasoning skills that it believes to be vital to real-world business and management success. It can be taken up to five times a year but no more than 8 times total. Attempts must be at least 16 days apart.
The Graduate Management Admission Test, or GMAT, is an important part of the business school application process. The GMAT is developed and administered by test maker GMAC to provide business schools with common measures of applicants’ preparedness for graduate-level academic work. Business school admission committees look at your GMAT score, along with work experience, academic record, and supporting materials, to assess your readiness for the rigors of an MBA program.
2.Why GMAT?
MBA admission:
There is a high correlation between a high GMAT exam score and can admit in the business school of your choice. This is because GMAT is the only component of your application that can pitch you objectively against the other applicants.
Take a look at the chart below. You’ll see that the acceptance rate is directly proportional to the GMAT score.
Chances of getting a scholarship:
Most of the prospective MBA candidates don’t have a glorious bank balance to finance their education. Gaining a scholarship is a great way to pursue an MBA program without the financial burden that comes along with it. However, competition for such fee waivers can be brutal, with most of the students scrambling for a piece of the meat.
Better post MBA-salary:
If you thought that the role of GMAT exam is only to get you admitted into an MBA program, it is time to think again.
An outstanding GMAT score plays an equally big role post-MBA as it does before and during MBA. High scorers are more likely to get an admit in the top business schools. Students of these schools, in turn, have the greatest probability of landing the choicest of jobs after acquiring the coveted MBA degree.
- Demonstrates your commitment, motivation, and ability to succeed in business school.
- Measures your critical thinking and reasoning skills, the two most relevant skills to the world’s top graduate business programs.
- Connects you with the best-fit program through personalized program recommendations.
- Increases your earning potential and opens a world of opportunities.
- Business schools trust the GMAT exam to inform admission decisions.
3. How to prepare?
- Start your GMAT exam process at least six months before your test results are due. Most test takers report a minimum eight-week study timeline is ideal if you are somewhat familiar with the underlying GMAT exam content. But, you are the best judge of how much time you need to prepare.
- Review and study one section of the test at a time.
- Review basic math skills.
- Practice pacing, because time management is critical to completing the GMAT exam.
- Review the types of questions in the Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Verbal, and Quantitative Reasoning sections.
- Use the free GMAT Official Practice Starter Kit and Exams 1 & 2 to help you become familiar with the format used – and questions asked – in the actual exam, including two free computer-adaptive GMAT exams.
- Expand your preparation with more questions by using GMAT™ Official Practice Exams 3, 4, 5 & 6.
- Practice with real GMAT questions, answers, and explanations using the GMAT Official guide.
- Review the GMAT Official Guide Verbal Review or the GMAT Official Guide Quantitative Review.
- Target your preparation for a specific section of the exam, using the GMAT Write AWA prep, the IR Prep Tool, and GMAT Focus diagnostic and adaptive prep for Quant.
- Have a plan- Strong GMAT test-takers have a robust study plan. This helps them to stay on track week to week, and that consistency translates into progress as they work through the material.
- Practice with purpose-Practice is one of the most valuable elements of GMAT preparation. Approach each practice test as though you’re sitting down on your actual test day.
- Know how you learn- Strong test-takers know their strengths and use them to maximize their study time and perform well. There isn’t a single right way to study for the GMAT, only the way that is right for you.
- Have a positive mindset- Once you have put in the time and done the work to prepare for the GMAT exam, the best thing you can do is clear away your worries and relax.
4.Important materials:
Syllabus:
GMAT Exam syllabus divided into four sections:
- Analytical Writing
- Integrated Reasoning
- Quantitative Aptitude Section
- Verbal Reasoning Section
GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment Syllabus:
The Analytical Writing section will have topics on which the candidate will have to write, or passage may be given on which questions will be asked. On the basis of the passage, the candidate will have to answer. The syllabus for this section is vast and varied as the topic of the passage could be any topic of interest. The main idea is to focus on the structure of the answer and not the arguments presented
- Argument essay
In this section, you have to analyze the reasoning and then present your argument. Remember, you will be judged on how well reasoned you find a given argument.
- Issue essay
In this section, you have to write an essay on the issue given to you. The candidate has to give an opinion in around 600 words. The opinion can be supportive of the given statement or candidates can give their own opinion. However, make sure to give your opinion in a properly structured manner as you will be judged on this basis.
GMAT Integrated Reasoning Syllabus:
The Integrated Reasoning section is the newest addition in the GMAT Exam syllabus. This section tests the candidates’ ability to evaluate the data presented in graph or table format. This section has 12 questions of the following type:
- Table Analysis:
This section measures candidates’ ability to sort and analyze a table comprising data, like a spreadsheet, to determine the important information or the one that meets certain conditions.
- Two-Part Analysis:
Measures the candidates’ skills to solve complex problems. The problems can be verbal, quantitative, or a combination of both. The format is versatile and covers a wide range of content. The candidates’ ability to solve simultaneous equations, evaluate trade-offs, and discern relationships between two entities is measured.
- Multi-Source Reasoning:
It measures candidates’ skills to examine data from multiple sources tables, graphics, text passages, or a combination of all the three and analyze each source of data carefully for answering multiple questions. The candidates will be asked to draw inferences and others may require you to determine whether data is important. In a few questions, candidates will have to recognize discrepancies among different sources of data.
- Graphics Interpretation:
It measures candidates’ ability to interpret the information presented in a graph or graphical image (scatter plot, x/y graph, bar chart, pie chart, or statistical curve distribution) to find out relationships, and make inferences.
GMAT Quantitative Reasoning:
The Quantitative Section consists of two sections, namely Data Sufficiency and Problem Solving. In the Data Sufficiency section, there will be 18 questions and in the Problem Solving section, there will be 18 questions. The questions will be objective type and will have multiple choice answers. In this section the questions can be expected from the following math syllabus:
- Problem Solving
It measures the candidates’ skills to use logic and analytical reasoning for solving quantitative problems.
- Data Sufficiency
It measures the candidates’ ability to examine a quantitative problem, identify which data is important, and determine at what point there is enough data to solve the problem.
The topics are further divided into the following categories:
- Geometry
- Elementary Algebra
- Arithmetic
- Ratio Proportions
- Properties of Integers
- Permutation and combinations
- Exponents and roots
- Linear equations.
GMAT Verbal Reasoning Syllabus:
This Verbal Skills section will have 36 multiple-choice questions. This section is divided into Critical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension and Sentence Correction. This section tests the candidates’ ability to comprehend the written material, read and understand the logical relationship between the points mentioned in the passage and concepts.
- Critical Reasoning
It measures the candidates’ skill to make arguments, evaluate arguments, and formulate or evaluate a plan of action.
- Reading Comprehension
It measures the candidates’ skill to draw inferences, understand logical relationships between significant points, understand words and statements, and follow the development of quantitative concepts. Apart from this, the candidates’ will be tested on the following reading skills: inference, application, main idea, supporting the idea, logical structure, and style.
- Sentence Correction
This section measures two broad aspects of the candidates’ language proficiency. The first aspect is to correct expression while referring to sentences that are grammatically and structurally sound. The second aspect is an effective expression while referring to sentences that effectively express an idea or relationship clearly, concisely, and grammatically.
Following areas will be covered in this Verbal Reasoning section:
- Critical reasoning
- Rhetorical construction of the sentences
- Sentence correction related to finding error or omission
- Reading unseen passages
- Subject-verb agreement
- Misplaced modifiers
- Countable Vs Uncountable
- Parallelism
a. E-books:
GMAT Official Advanced Questions:
The latest GMAT Official Guide by The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), offers a mix of easy, medium and hard questions. The book comprises 150 Quantitative Reasoning and 150 Verbal Reasoning questions. This is the only test preparation material that exclusively contains hard questions from past GMAT exams.
Manhattan Prep Complete GMAT Strategy Guide Set:
The Manhattan GMAT books cover each and every aspect of the GMAT exam. The complete set of books comprises ten guides covering each area from analytic to integrated reasoning to Mathematics.
MAC GMAT Official Guide Bundle:
It gives users exclusive access to the same questions online. Apart from this, users can also access additional 58 integrated reasoning questions. The official GMAT guide also includes more than 200 never seen before questions. It also includes 900 questions from the past exams with detailed answer explanations.
Kaplan GMAT Prep Plus:
The biggest advantage of studying from Kaplan guide is that it provides with the perfect content required for the exam and excludes the concepts that can prove to be a distraction. The Kaplan GMAT Verbal Workbook helps you in framing advanced strategies to deal with verbal questions.
Veritas Prep Complete GMAT Course Set:
Those looking to enhance their knowledge in each topic should go for Veritas Prep GMAT Set. It covers each topic in detail and the books are also written nicely. Further, the practice questions offered in the books are not only unique but difficult as well.
b. Videos:
GMAT preparation guide:
How to score 700 on GMAT:
GMAT exam pattern and syllabus:
https://youtu.be/pgTZrzXz5TQ?list=TLPQMjIwNjIwMjCBOywirsbWKA
How to crush the GMAT in less than 3 months:
https://youtu.be/8ElZsRGrJ0w?list=TLPQMjIwNjIwMjCBOywirsbWKA
Preparation for GMAT exam:
https://youtu.be/D8ZLwFBLYPM?list=TLPQMjIwNjIwMjCBOywirsbWKA
GMAT test preparation:
https://youtu.be/cCcbGrJlY3o?list=TLPQMjIwNjIwMjCBOywirsbWKA
Introduction to GMAT exam:
https://youtu.be/Tf9yJ8PBIv0?list=TLPQMjIwNjIwMjCBOywirsbWKA
A guide to success when taking the GMAT:
GMAT time management strategy:
5. Previous year question paper:
GMAT sample question paper1:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_V4Kkm2koFqa19yT3lTR2ppYVU/view
GMAT sample question paper 2:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_V4Kkm2koFqcXUwRnh0R19Zakk/view
GMAT practice paper 1:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B59Zuf1V0qkNQXpUcE81VnRzZkk/view
GMAT practice paper2:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B59Zuf1V0qkNNnN4cGNtQnNYSjA/view
GMAT practice paper3:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B59Zuf1V0qkNeHBwNWY0UmN5eE0/view
GMAT practice paper4:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B59Zuf1V0qkNQ3ZBamJLb3ZGVFk/view
6. Important tips:
Keep a steady pace
The GMAT is not a test you want to, or can cram. You need a long, realistic runway, and you need to make sure you have a game plan that focuses on learning strategies that you can take with you to test day.
Find your Zen
Discover stress-reducing techniques. Slow, deep-belly breathing, mindfulness, meditation, and walks in nature are among the activities McGarry suggests. Unplugging from TV, movies, and devices can also be calming, he adds.
Embrace errors
The GMAT is an adaptive test. This means that the more questions you get correct, the more difficult the test will become. Some applicants become frustrated as the test goes on because it becomes more challenging to answer correctly
Work around the boredom
One of the biggest challenges for business school applicants is shifting gears to the verbal portion of the test. After all, many b-school applicants feel their strength lies in number crunching. In addition, the reading comprehension passages can be boring and laborious to get through
Pick up mental math skills
Doing math in your head can serve you well. “The entire time you are preparing for the GMAT, resist the urge to reach for the calculator whenever you need to do some real-world calculations
Have a strategy for sentence correction questions
To get the correct answer in sentence correction items, you must first find the wrong ones. Eliminate commonly tested errors in other answer choices until only one remains.
Practice visual literacy
McGarry says visual literacy is a necessity. He advises applicants to become familiar with efficiently analyzing charts, tables, and imaginary symbols, which are commonly featured in the GMAT.