For those who have their sights set on coveted MBA programs, doing well on your GMAT is imperative to becoming a desirable candidate.
Not knowing how to properly prepare for the exam can cause your painstaking process of studying to ultimately be fruitless. Thankfully, by following the proper study guidelines, you’ll be able to find yourself acing the GMAT and qualifying yourself for spots in desirable programs such as Point Loma Nazarene University’s Daytime and Evening MBA programs.
What is the GMAT?
The Graduate Management Admission Test is a comprehensive entrance exam students must take in order to apply for an MBA program. The exam tests a variety of skills and includes four sections which one must complete in three and a half hours. Since the GMAT involves a wide variety of topics, it’s important to study the correct ones to ensure that you’re prepared for the exam.
__________
Become who are you called to be
Pursue your purpose at PLNU.
__________
Tip #1: Take a GMAT Test Prep Course
The best place to start when preparing to take the GMAT is finding a reputable test prep course designed to help prepare you for the GMAT. By taking an intensive course specifically tailored to the GMAT, you’ll find you may gain an insight into both the material you need to study to take the course and how to go about taking the exam itself.
Many people are put off by the sometimes exorbitant prices of GMAT test prep courses and decide to study on their own. This can lead to disastrous outcomes as you forego the insight you’d gain from a topic-specific test prep course. Luckily, universities such as PLNU offer free GMAT test prep courses that can be completed in as few as six weeks. Don’t let high prices scare you away from GMAT test prep courses and instead utilize free courses such as those found at PLNU.
Tip #2: Become Familiar With the GMAT’s Sections and How They’re Scored
The GMAT consists of four distinct sections, including:
- The Analytical Writing Assessment Section
- The Integrated Reasoning Section
- The Quantitative Reasoning Section
- The Verbal Reasoning Section
By becoming familiar with the distinct components of the exam, you’ll find yourself studying in a more organized and streamlined manner. Having a comprehensive understanding of the type of material each section of the GMAT addresses will aid you in your studying and preparations. It’s also important to become familiar with how each section is scored and how you can score the most points with your answers in each respective section.
Tip #3: Take GMAT Practice Tests
There’s no better way to become more comfortable and adjusted to the GMAT format and content than by taking practice tests. By becoming familiar with the process of taking the GMAT, you’ll get a good sense of the areas you need to put more time and effort into studying and get a good sense of the pace at which you’ll have to perform in order to complete the exam in the allotted three and a half hours.
Rather than waiting to put your knowledge to the test on the real GMAT, utilizing GMAT practice tests will give you the upper hand. Practice tests can provide you with the valuable experience of completing the test in a no-stakes environment.
By becoming familiar with the process of taking the GMAT, you’ll get a good sense of the areas you need to put more time and effort into studying and get a good sense of the pace at which you’ll have to perform in order to complete the exam in the allotted three and a half hours.
Tip #4: Remember Not to Spend Too Much Time on One Question
One of the most daunting features of the GMAT is its three-and-a-half-hour time constraint. Learning to answer questions faster and use the process of elimination are integral skills to do well on the exam. In your studying, remember to sharpen the skill of processing information as quickly as possible and identifying answers you know to be incorrect.
When taking the GMAT, it’s imperative that you simply move on from a question that’s taking too long. Being mindful of time constraints during your studies will help you be more prepared to move efficiently when it comes time to take the GMAT.
Tip #5: Discover What Calms You
For many, the GMAT can seem like an overwhelming and nerve-racking experience. Being able to calm your nerves is an important part of doing well on the exam. In a study designed by Benenden Healthcare and carried out by Mindlab, it was found that short-term stress can have a measurably negative impact on cognitive function, including critical thinking. Knowing how to stay calm and stress-free is critical to doing your best on the GMAT and thinking clearly.
Make sure to explore your stress-relieving options and have a reliable way to feel calm before walking into your GMAT exam.
Tip #6: Start Early
A good score on the GMAT requires you to study large and intense amounts of material before taking the test. Trying to cram all of this work into a short amount of time can ultimately leave you unprepared to do well on the exam. Start making preparations for the exam as early as you can.
Allowing procrastination to get the better of you will likely lead to a less-than-remarkable performance on the GMAT. By starting your GMAT preparations early and taking the time you need to prepare, you’ll set yourself up to perform at your best on the exam.
Trying to cram all of this work into a short amount of time can ultimately leave you unprepared to do well on the exam. Start making preparations for the exam as early as you can.
Begin Your MBA Program
Why wait when you can start preparing for your GMAT now? Point Loma Nazarene University offers free GMAT test prep courses in which trained professionals help you study and feel confident about your entrance exam. By utilizing PLNU’s resources, you’ll likely find yourself in a position to apply to coveted programs such as PLNU’s Daytime and Evening MBA programs, which prepare you for a fruitful career in business, management, marketing, and more.
Take the step now to start pursuing your purpose and making a difference in business by signing up for your free GMAT test prep course today.
About the Author
Amir Deen earned his Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Writing from CSUSM. He currently works as a freelance writer and lives in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California
