GMAT Preparation: Things to Keep in Mind

If you have decided to attempt the GMAT, then the next step is to plan how to prepare for the exam. Since the GMAT is a difficult test, a lot goes into your preparation. From creating a study plan to getting all the study materials, registering for the exam to deciding which school to apply to and when. There is a lot that you need to take care of. In this article, we have discussed a few, so read on.

To attain your target GMAT score you must dedicate a lot of time and effort towards preparing for the exam in a disciplined manner. As mentioned briefly before, there are many crucial elements in GMAT preparation. This includes mapping out a smart and effective study plan, obtaining appropriate study materials from authentic sources, practicing sample questions, attempting mock exams periodically and more.

It is recommended that you have a 3-month study plan, which is ideal for you to get well versed with all the concepts and topics of the syllabus. So you need to come up with a good study plan to ensure that you don’t miss out on any important topics. The next part of your GMAT preparation journey will be to obtain high-quality study materials from reliable sources since there is an abundance of study materials available online. You could check the official website of GMAC (the creators of the GMAT exam) for study materials, official guides, and sample questions. Since these materials are from GMAC, it is possible that most of these questions may have previously appeared on the GMAT exam. You can also enrol yourself for GMAT coaching. On doing so you will have access to an abundance of free study materials and sample questions. Moreover, attempting mock exams or GMAT Practice tests periodically is an effective way to measure your performance.

Let us now look at the different sections and the type of questions you will be tested upon in these practice tests as well as the actual exam.

Topic	Duration	Types of Questions
Analytical Writing	30 minutes	Analysis of an argument
Verbal Reasoning	65 minutes	Critical Reasoning, Sentence Correction, and Reading comprehension.
Quantitative Reasoning	62 minutes	Data Sufficiency and Problem Solving
Integrated Reasoning	30 minutes	Graphics Interpretation, Two Part Analysis, Table Analysis, and Multi-source Reasoning.

Benefits of Attempting GMAT Practice Tests

They have innumerable benefits and we have listed them out for you below :

You will learn time management skills. It is vital that you complete each section of the exam within the stipulated time. The practice tests will assist you in this regard.
Assess your strengths and weaknesses. By attempting practice tests periodically, you will be able to find your strengths and weaknesses, which will in turn help you to boost your performance.
Familiarizes you with the adaptive testing method ( your performance in the previous section determines the level of difficulty of the next section) of the GMAT. This may be a new concept for you and attempting mock tests or practice tests will assist in getting acquainted with it.
GMAT practice tests help you understand the scoring pattern of the exam and you can accordingly work on your performance to reach your desired score.

So take as many practice tests while you are preparing for the GMAT and you will surely do well in the exam once.

Good Luck!