How to prepare for GMAT- A complete Guide

This blog is a quick guide for your entire GMAT journey, right from registration to the day of the exam. I will begin by explaining the exam structure, marking scheme and the pattern. I will also answer frequently asked questions such as, whether coaching is required, how important are mock exams, and how to manage time during the exam. The blog also includes a list of resources I used during my prep.

Enter the pre-final year, and everyone around you is either a CAT, GRE, GMAT aspirant (not mutually exclusively). We will focus on GMAT. So I’m assuming those of you reading this have absolutely made up their mind that they want to give the GMAT test.

Before I go ahead giving out gyaan on acing the GMAT, I’d like to mention a few things about myself.

My Story:

I’m an engineering student at Delhi Technological University. I gave the GMAT exam in late July, during the summer break between my final and pre-final year. I began preparing in June and gave 50 days to the prep.

The score breakdown was as follows:

Quantitative- 49/51 ie 74 percentile
Verbal- 39/51 ie 88 percentile
Overall- 720/800 ie 94 percentile

I applied to ISB YLP and received at admit for the year 2022. The reason I gave the test so early was that ISB YLP has their application deadline on 31st August. This also allowed me to have an option to give the exam again, in case I didn’t score well.

Following is a link to my YouTube video where I share my ISB journey and answer more questions about the GMAT.

https://youtu.be/oe7eZQ81ENk

What is the Test?

GMAT — Graduate Management Aptitude Test, is an adaptive test.
You must answer all the questions in a section. You cannot skip a question, hence you can only move forward once you’ve answered the question on the screen.

It is different from our general CAT/JEE examinations in the sense that there is no definite positive marking for a correct answer and no definite negative marking for a wrong answer.

The questions are broadly divided into three categories — Basic, Intermediate and Hard. Depending on whether the current answer was correct or wrong, the difficulty level of your next question will be decided. You will earn a higher score if you answer a higher number of questions, answer more of them correctly, and qualify for questions of a higher difficulty level.

It is a sectional test where each section is scored individually. The order of the sections is decided by the test taker just before starting the exam. The possible options are-

1. Analytical Writing Assessment + Integrated Reasoning, Break, Quantitative, Break, Verbal
2. Verbal, Break, Quantitative, Break, Integrated Reasoning + Analytical Writing Assessment
3. Quantitative, Break, Verbal, Break, Integrated Reasoning + Analytical Writing Assessment

There is a 10-minute break between each section. You cannot move to another section before answering all the questions of the previous one.

I chose option 3. I prefer to do the writing in the end. Giving the quant first allows me to get into the groove of the test and build my confidence before moving on to the tougher verbal section.

Test Structure and Scoring

Quantitative section

It measures the basic mathematical abilities. Advance topics like trigonometry and calculus are not asked, one only needs to be aware of basic school-level math concepts. There are two types of questions in the Quantitative Section — Problem Solving and Data Sufficiency. Both types of questions require some knowledge of arithmetic, elementary algebra, geometry. Scores are reported in intervals of 1, from 6–51.

Verbal section

The Verbal Reasoning section of the GMAT exam measures your ability to read and comprehend written material, reason and evaluate arguments, and correct material to express ideas in standard written English. There are three types of questions: Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, and Sentence Correction. Scores are reported in intervals of 1, from 6–51.

Integrated Reasoning

This section is meant to measure your ability to evaluate information presented in multiple formats, from multiple sources. It contains four question types for a total of 12 questions — most requiring multiple responses. Score is based on the number of questions you answered correctly and you must answer all parts correctly to receive credit for that question. Scores are reported in intervals of 1, from 1–8.

Analytical Writing Assessment

It consists of one 30-minute writing task — Analysis of an Argument. Each essay is scored at least twice, once by a human reader and once by a computer. The scores are averaged to provide one section score, reported in intervals of 0.5, from 0–6. (more details further)

Total Scores are reported in intervals of 10, from 200–800.

Getting Started

1. REGISTER- I suggest registering for the exam as soon as you start preparing for it. It gives you a definite deadline and it is only then that you prep properly. You can select any date as per your convenience and any test centre near you.
   Go to mba.com to register.
   Select your date, time and location of choosing (subject to availability).
   Pay a fee of $250, through various modes.
2. PLAN- Figure out a study plan by enlisting the syllabus and the amount of time you have. People often ask me how many hours do they need to give in a day. Anything between 3–6 hours per day is enough. (this excludes the time spent giving a mock test)

But before diving deeper, let’s dwell on the most asked question. Is coaching necessary?

I attended the TIME Institute for GMAT prep. I was already taking the CAT prep classes over there, and they sold me on a beautiful ‘package’. I wouldn’t say that it was completely useless. I’m listing a few pros and cons.

Pros:

They give very nice material (including the Official Guide), access to their collection of online tests (full length and sectional), and also some guidance with essays and interview prep while applying for B schools. Spending 15k rupees on coaching for a 20k test does not sound too bad.

Also, I attended the Jhandewala, Delhi centre which has the best faculty across India, hence I believe I got the best experience possible.
I don’t have much clue about Jamboree, but I’ve heard nice things.

Cons:

They conduct one 2 hour class each weekend. So travelling is a real pain and often feels like a waste of time, especially if you’re a working professional. It takes really long for them to complete their course this way, so if you have a short timeline, it is best to do it on your own.

Almost all of the study material is available online for free.
Their mock tests are decent but can be bought from other websites too, which are a better simulation of the real GMAT algorithm. Plus, you can always find a friend who has bought these and is willing to share.

Other guidance regarding B Schools and interviews can be found online and also through friends, seniors and relatives.

How to prepare?

Next, collect all the study material that will be required. I will mention what I believe is the best way to prepare for each topic. All of these books are available for free online.

While all the books mentioned are available in print, I suggest using the electronic form (E-books, slides, PDFs). It helps develop a habit of reading from the screen without the comfort of horizontal reading, highlighting and scribbling.

Quantitative

GMAT Original Guide — Must be done cover to cover. Especially important for Quant, since I’m not sure if there is any other material as good as this. I practised Data Sufficiency from the Veritas DS Guide (available on SlideShare). It is extremely insightful. The quant syllabus is given in the OG, which can be referred, and these topics can be prepared from other sources such as TIME material, online question banks etc.

Critical Reasoning

PowerScore: Critical Reasoning Bible is the best resource on CR. The theory should be read thoroughly, and examples should also be done. Practice questions from the OG and GMAT Verbal Guide. It is a fairly time-consuming question type (50–60 seconds each).
Hence is it important to be aware of each kind of CR question, and the tricks to tackle each one of them.

Sentence Correction

Manhattan Review — Sentence Correction Guide+ Veritas Sentence Correction : They are the best resources on SC. One does not need to learn “grammar” to do SC. The theory given in these books is amazing and should be thoroughly read and re-read.
SC questions once mastered, take very little time (30 seconds each). Practise is key to excellence in SC. I used to practice at least 50–60 questions each day from the OG, GMAT Verbal Guide and the books mentioned above.
IMP: there are Idioms lists available online. These need to be “learnt” to solve certain SC questions. They can be confusing and often the deciding factor.

Reading Comprehension

The most important thing is to practice (OG and Verbal Guide). I, however, used the Veritas RC Guide (available on SlideShare). It has some amazing tricks and insights which have helped me with RC questions for all tests, including GMAT.

Integrated Reasoning

These questions can be prepared through the quant prep itself. The concepts remain the same, only the kind of question changes. They become a little more data-oriented. Practising while giving mocks was enough for me.

The Analytical Writing Assessment section consists of one 30-minute writing task — Analysis of an Argument. The arguments on the test include topics of general interest related to business, or a variety of other subjects. Specific knowledge of the essay topic is not necessary; only your capacity to write analytically is assessed.
There are several blogs online that teach how to ace AWA. I had a particularly very low score — probably due to my tendency to make horrible spelling mistakes.

Always revisit wrong answers and see their solutions. Some people believe in keeping an “error log” where they collect all their wrong answers and re-take them after some time. It is extremely important to not repeat the same mistakes.

Time Management

All sections are timed, and candidates must answer all questions within that time. Failure to do so results in a very heavy penalty, and a much lesser score.

During prep — While solving questions, it is extremely important to time oneself. It is necessary to practice answering within a time constraint.

During the test — If you get a question that you cannot crack, make a wild guess and move on. Don’t waste time on it.

Divide your section (quant/verbal) into 4 parts with 9 questions each. Make sure you don’t give more than 15 minutes to each section. Individually timing the questions is tough. This is much easier.

I failed to answer my last question in the quant section. Had I answered it wrongly, I would have faced a lesser penalty (score could have been 740 instead of 720).

Mock Tests

These are the most important part of your GMAT prep. To score a 700+, one must give over 10 mock tests.

Sources -

1. Once you register for the exam, you get two free mock tests at mba.com. These are a very close simulation of the original test, and hence must be used wisely. You can buy 4 more of these for $25 each.
2. Many websites allow 1 free mock test (Veritas, Manhattan, Kaplan, Gmatclub etc).
3. You can buy additional mock tests from these websites. I suggest Manhattan ($50 for 5 tests) or Veritas ($20 for 7 tests).
4. TIME and Jamboree have their own online mock tests too. (borrow from a friend?)

So with the free tests available, and after buying at least one mock test series, you have over 10 tests. Give at least 2 mocks each week, and then more frequently (alternate days) as you approach the final date of the test. The Official Mock Test 1 can be given any time, while Test 2 must be given 2 days before the test. This helps a get a realistically expected score and can help in selecting B Schools.

One test must be given right at the beginning of the preparation. It is called the “Diagnostic Test” and is used to judge the aptitude, the weak areas and a general starting point. I suggest doing this before registering for the main test. This will allow you to gauge how much time you require to reach your desired score.

Give time to evaluating your performance in the mock tests. Identify your weak areas and work extra hard on them. Figure out the kind of mistakes you’ve been making. The key is to remain unperturbed and focus on developing a habit of giving a 3.5-hour long test.

Online mock tests are not an exact simulation of the original test, hence the score acquired can sometimes be an inaccurate description of your preparation.

In addition to giving full-length mock tests, aspirants must also give sectional tests. These are extremely helpful in acing time management. These tests can be found on gmatclub.com and the TIME online support.

Day before exam:

1. I suggest, do not study one day before the exam (can mug up the idioms though).
2. Figure out the logistics of giving the exam ie how to reach the centre/ how much time will it take/ what time should you leave. Plan to arrive at the test center at least 30 minutes prior to your appointment time, in order to allow plenty of time for the check-in + biometric process.
3. Bring a valid photo ID. Carry only your passport and no other document.
4. If you have a morning slot, start waking up early as the exam day approaches. Adjust your body cycle so that you are not sluggish on the day of the exam.
5. You’ll be given a locker to keep your stuff, and will have access to it during your breaks (under supervision). You can store water and some food items in that locker. I suggest carrying foods like chocolates, dry fruits and energy bars. Phones can be deposited with the examiner, although it is better to not carry it. Review the items you can and cannot bring into the test centre.
6. You’ll have the option to send your GMAT score to 5 Universities for free. You need to select these universities (along with the program) on the day of the exam, right before it starts. You’ll have 5 minutes to select.
   Candidates must go prepared with the list of their preferred 5 programs. This service is covered by your registration fee. Choose your score recipients wisely, because once you have made your selections they cannot be changed. A fee is required to send an Additional Score Reports following the selections you made on test day.

After the test:

Once the test is over, you get a raw score out of 800 and your score breakdown. You now have an option to accept or cancel the score. If you cancel the score, it will not be counted as an attempt (kind of like you never gave the exam). Choose wisely. Learn more about the cancellation policy.
You will get your final score, which includes the AWA and IR score via email after 10 working days.

You may also decide to retake the test. You may retake the GMAT exam:

• Once every 16 calendar days
• No more than five times in a rolling 12-month period
• No more than eight times total

With this blog, I’ve listed the things that worked for me, or I believe could’ve worked for me had I done them. I have collected this insight from personal experience, by talking to expert mentors at my coaching, and some seniors who have given the exam. I’m not claiming to have all the answers, but I believe this will definitely give you somewhere to start.
Do your own research. Figure out what works for you.

Most importantly, don’t be afraid of the exam. If prepped properly it is not very difficult to ace. The prep itself is pretty fun! RC prep helped me in my CAT exam, CR prep genuinely honed my thinking abilities, and SC prep has turned me into a Grammar-Nazi who can’t let go any improper sentence structure anymore!

Happy learning!