The Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), owners and administrators of the GMAT, continually research testing trends, and develop new programs to help GMAT test-takers, such as the new GMAT Focus Diagnostic tool. Here are some of the most important tips from GMAC to keep in mind for your prep:
The GMAT is about more than "the first 10 questions."
While the first 10 questions on the exam are important to the initial estimate of your performance level, every question on the test is important. The algorithm self-corrects to a student's "real ability level" as the test progresses, and it's important to pace yourself throughout the exam so you don't run out of time at the end. Remember, your final score is based on all the questions you answered correctly as well as their difficulty level.
Leave no question unanswered.
GMAC reiterates the severe penalty for not finishing the exam in time—it's estimated to impact your score even more than getting a few questions incorrect. By the time you get to Test Day you should have taken enough full-length practice exams that you're prepared with a timing and pacing plan; but, worse case scenario, be sure you enter an answer for EVERY question on the exam to avoid the timing penalty.
The difficulty of the GMAT comes from analytical skills, not just content.
While the GMAT tests a variety of math skills, the difficulty of the questions doesn't necessarily come from extremely challenging content; according to GMAC, it comes more from the logical and analytical thinking needed to answer GMAT-style questions. The math, for example, is actually high-school level math—there's no calculus or trigonometry. Make sure you get prep that focuses on both content and critical thinking so that you can answer questions quickly and accurately.
High-scorers log more studying hours.
Don't under-estimate the amount of prep required to get that high score on the GMAT! GMAC's research shows a strong correlation between hours of preparation and GMAT score:
| 700+ |
114 |
600-690 |
104 |
|
550-590 |
100 |
|
< 500 |
82 |
Student-reported data. Data Source: GMAC (2005) mba.com Registrants Survey
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Check out gmac.com for additional research and trends, and mba.com for information about the test and registering for an exam date. As always, Kaplan will keep you up to date on announcements and latest trends concerning the GMAT and MBA admissions.
