Five hacks to improve your GMAT score from 600 to 700+

We all know that is easier to progress from 80 to 90 but it is relatively difficult to go from 91 to 95. A few marks can make the difference of thousands of ranks and cost you a college or the degree itself.

In this blog, we will learn about GMAT, if you should appear for GMAT and five hacks to improve your GMAT score from 600 to 700.

GMAT: Introduction

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is the most widely accepted exam for MBA admissions globally.

Few facts to note

1. According to GMAC, worldwide 9 out of 10 MBA enrollments are made through the GMAT exam.
2. There are 2300 + management schools that accept GMAT Scores for giving admission.
3. 650 testing centres in 114 countries conduct the GMAT Exam.
4. The GMAT is developed and conducted by the test maker Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC).
5. It is offered in computer-adaptive (CAT) format only.
6. The total testing time is 3 hours and 7 minutes.
7. Management/Business school admission committees look at the GMAT score, work experience, life journey, academic record, and other documents like Statement of purpose (SoP), to assess a candidate for an MBA program.

What’s the takeaway? A high score on the GMAT will have a direct, positive impact on your business school application.

Should I go for GMAT?

Writing GMAT requires a certain level of commitment, preparation and financial leverage for bearing the cost of examination ($ 250)and further application process.

So, there is no harm in writing the GMAT. Even if you’re not serious about MBA, preparing and writing GMAT would make you sharper, more attentive, a better communicator and boost your quantitative aptitude as well.

And now that GMAC is giving the option to appear for the exam from the comfort of your home 24 hours, time and venue are also no barriers.

So unless extremely pressed for time, resources and have no interest in pursuing a career in corporate, appearing for GMAT is a good option.

Okay, so in case you have decided to appear let’s examine the different sections of the exam and then we will learn the hacks to improve the score.

Different sections of the exam

The GMAT tries to test the quantitative and qualitative analysis abilities that are needed for MBA coursework.

The content of the GMAT is broken down into four separately timed sections with two optional eight minutes breaks. The following table talks about each section, time limit etc.

Sections of GMAT

How to crack GMAT: The Smart way

GMAT tries to examine a candidate’s ability to analyze and evaluate quantitative and textual material, think critically, and solve problems. The GMAT is first and foremost a test of your critical thinking skills.

The ability to analyse, think critically, reason, and find solutions to novel problems is the key to a great GMAT score. And I would be honest enough to say that while GMAT is not that difficult an exam but some people do not have the aptitude for it and it would be extremely difficult for them to cultivate this aptitude. But hey, it’s not impossible.

So, how do I crack the GMAT exam? What GMAT score is good enough?

Deciphering the GMAT Score

Now let’s understand how much a GMAT score is a good score and how we can get it.

Few points to be noted

Overall scores range: 200–800 points, Increment: 10-point

Quant section scores: 6–51 points, Increment: 1-point

Verbal section scores: 6–51 points, Increment: 1-point

Analytical Writing Assessment scores range: 0–6 points, Increment: 0.5 point

Integrated Reasoning scores range: 1–8, Increment: 1-point

How much a GMAT score is good enough is a subjective question. It would depend on the following factors:

1. The MBA program you’re applying to (example: Harvard, Yale, Georgia, ISB, etc)
2. The group of applicants you belong to (American men, Indian men, Asian women, applicants from engineering backgrounds, etc)
3. The GMAT score of the applicants in that year

So, generally, Indians get a very high GMAT score, hence, you have to score equal or above average to consider it a good score.

Suppose Indians applying for the Yale MBA program have an average GMAT score of 740 then 750+ would be a good score but 720 won’t.

You need to assess the MBA programs you’re applying for and your background to find out this figure.

Five hacks to go from 600 to 700

Okay so before getting into this, you need to assess your journey of GMAT prep so far. You need to take a pen and paper and jot them down to the best of your abilities:

— — The time you have prepared for

— — Hours you have spent with dedication daily

— — Your scores in different sections of the GMAT through the prep

— — Time spent on each section during timed mocks

— — Number of timed mocks you have tried

This data is instrumental for finding out where you’re lacking in your prep and how you can polish those areas and improve your score. If you’re already getting 600 in your score then either you’re good at it or you’re preparing with discipline or both.

Before going for hacks, I am assuming you’re a serious candidate who is preparing with discipline and gives a certain amount of time to this daily.

1. Weekly timed mocks and their drill-down: Give a timed mock every week preferably during the time, you’re supposed to give your exam. Analyse the paper in great detail after it’s done. Check each question, try to understand how you approached it, and try to find faster and easier ways of approaching similar questions. Make sure, if any of these questions come again you just ace them in min possible time. Unless there is no point in giving timed mocks. A question that you have already attempted should be correct the next time in all possibilities. Find out the areas where you falter and need to work more.
2. Working the week areas: After doing a few timed mocks, you would see a pattern in your scores. You need to analyse that pattern and understand which are the areas you find difficult to score in the exam. Give those areas and questions extra time. If you’re good at quant then give extra time to verbal and vice versa.
3. Learn the wrong answers: Along with getting the right answers, it is also important to know the wrong answers. GMAC uses formulae to design wrong answers for the questions. Learn them and predict the wrong answers. It will dramatically reduce your silly mistakes and improve your score
4. Read and rephrase: Try to read complex literature, articles, papers and rewrite them in your own language. Try to write a simplified 100 word summary of all that you read. Read as much as you can.
5. Learn the most commonly tested grammar errors: It is not like the GMAT tests you on all possible grammar rules. They just test you on a few grammar rules. Find those rules and learn them by heart and make sure you don't make any grammatical errors from those.

Role of professional help through GMAT journey

Professional help can be very helpful in your GMAT journey till you take admissions in MBA. Taking guidance from professionals may be needed for

1. GMAT preparation: A candidate may require guidance for preparing for GMAT. A professional can help the student in improving the GMAT score
2. Application process: Professional guidance may also be required through the application process. Like picking the right colleges, writing SoPs etc.

Scholarbees is an online platform for personalised learning. You can book private sessions seeking any professional help related to GMAT preparation or the application process. It is India’s best tutor to help you in improving your verbal and quantitative aptitude.

The platform also offers professional counselling to help you through the application process of an MBA.

The platform offers you all this from the comfort of your home with flexible timings and affordable rates.

All the best.