Posted on by Phil

How I Studied for the GMAT

Every 6-10 weeks someone asks me how I studied for the GMAT and any advice I have.  Well, here’s my story!

Unfortunately, in college I was friends with a bunch of over achievers who thought it’d be a good idea to take the GMAT during senior year after they’d secured full time jobs.  So, due to peer pressure and insecurity, I too signed up to take the test.

I took the ManhattanGMAT class which was ~7 weeks long.  Each week consisted of 2 hours in a classroom, and 2 hours or so of homework.  I’d say I did around 1/2 of the recommended homework each week.  After taking the prep course, I immediately signed up for a date to take the actual exam which was about 2 weeks out.  The date was during my finals week at NYU, but I wanted to take it before I headed out for a post-graduation trip to Asia with friends (the same ones who’d peer pressured me into taking this exam!!).

Before the prep course, I took a practice test and scored ~610 (my memory is slightly hazy, but it was in that ballpark).  My goal was to get to a 700 by the time I took the test, and I was around a 680 by the time I finished the prep course.

The number one piece of advice for anyone taking this test is to create and use flashcards to internalize the information you need to answer the most difficult questions.  This was a strategy I stole directly from my Dad who used it to become a doctor (much harder than getting into bschool – so it seemed battle tested).

With that in mind, I went through the 7-8 books that the test prep course had provided, and made a flashcard for any piece of info that I thought would help me answer questions.  I made them for the types of triangles, grammar rules, and for the toughest types of questions (two trains going towards each other, the ones that require factorials, etc).

I had 200-300 flashcards, and would look at them when I had 5 mins on the subway, or while waiting for a friend.  When I’d correctly answered a given card in three consecutive cycles (I put the card on the bottom of the deck after I’d tried to answer it), I discarded it.

The week before the test, I studied for 3-4 hours/day (mostly the flashcards plus some practice problems).  The day before, I didn’t do anything but workout, eat some good food, and watch a movie.  It’s important to rest your brain and de-stress!  Now, I’d probably also do an extra long mediation session but I wasn’t into that back then.

I don’t remember exactly the slope of the curve, but there was a huge increase in my scores in the week before the test.  I started off maybe at the 700 mark for a practice test, and then got a 720, and a 750 before my studying ended (don’t take too many practice tests.  They are good to gauge where you’re at, but take a lot of time and aren’t very instructive in helping you improve).  I’m pretty confident if I’d pushed the test back another week I could have continued to improve…but the commonly accepted rule says increasing your score above a 700 doesn’t help too much in getting you into school.  Btw, I share these numbers only so you can see my progress from the original 610 to when I took the exam and what I did to get there – not to brag!!!

The day of the test of course I was a bit nervous.  The worst part of the GMAT is that they ask you “do you want to accept this score” after you take the test.  Basically, you can say “no” – and it’s like it never happened.  But, if you “accept the score” it goes on your record.  My advice: just accept the score unless you had a monumental meltdown for some reason.  Because of the way the test works, you get harder questions if you answer questions correctly.  So, if you’re getting hard questions, even if you can’t answer them, you’re doing well!

In the end, I scored a 740.  I remember not being completely happy with the score when I got it, and the person working the front desk who’d given me the score basically said “I don’t get it – if I got that score, I’d be jumping up and down!”

My advice is to not put that much pressure on yourself.  And, if you score above the range you need to get into your dream school, go celebrate!  Luckily, I came to my senses about 10 mins after leaving the test center and couldn’t wipe the smile off my face for a few days.

Good luck, don’t stress, and look forward to two of the best years of your life 🙂

14,712 Replies to “How I Studied for the GMAT”

  2. I have been browsing on-line greater than 3
    hours these days, yet I never discovered any interesting article like
    yours. It’s lovely worth enough for me. Personally, if all site owners and bloggers made just right content as you probably did, the web shall be a lot more useful than ever before.

  3. Hello, I think your blog might be having browser compatibility issues.
    When I look at your blog in Opera, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has
    some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up!
    Other then that, excellent blog!

  4. I simply couldn’t depart your website prior to suggesting
    that I actually enjoyed the standard info an individual supply to
    your visitors? Is going to be back often in order to check
    out new posts

  5. Heya i’m for the first time here. I found this board and I find It really useful
    & it helped me out a lot. I hope to give something back
    and help others like you helped me.

  6. It’s appropriate time to make some plans for the future and
    it’s time to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I wish
    to suggest you few interesting things or tips. Perhaps you could
    write next articles referring to this article. I wish to read more things about it!

  7. Considering a betting togel on the web player? See the news
    inside the site to start with to get the most up to date information. You
    will see correct quotes and how to take up.

  9. Have you ever considered about adding a little bit more than just your articles?
    I mean, what you say is important and everything. Nevertheless think
    about if you added some great pictures or video clips
    to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with pics and video clips,
    this blog could certainly be one of the most beneficial in its field.
    Amazing blog!

  10. Hi my friend! I want to say that this post is awesome, great written and include almost
    all significant infos. I would like to look extra posts like this .

  11. Hey there! Someone in my Facebook group shared this site with us so I came to look it over.I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers!Fantastic blog and brilliant style and design.

  12. Everything is very open with a clear description of the issues.
    It was definitely informative. Your website is extremely helpful.
    Many thanks for sharing!

  13. Hey there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my
    myspace group? There’s a lot of folks that I think would really enjoy your content.

    Please let me know. Cheers

  14. Howdy outstanding website! Does running a blog like
    this require a lot of work? I’ve absolutely no expertise in programming however I was hoping to
    start my own blog in the near future. Anyway, if you have any recommendations or techniques for new blog owners please share.
    I understand this is off subject nevertheless I simply wanted to ask.
    Many thanks!

  15. It is in reality a great and helpful piece of info. I am glad
    that you simply shared this helpful information with us.
    Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.

  16. Thanks for your marvelous posting! I definitely enjoyed
    reading it, you could be a great author. I will be sure
    to bookmark your blog and will come back later on. I want to
    encourage you to ultimately continue your great writing, have a nice evening!

  17. What i don’t understood is in reality how you’re now not really a lot more smartly-favored than you may be
    right now. You’re very intelligent. You already know therefore significantly in the case
    of this topic, made me personally believe it from a lot of numerous angles.

    Its like men and women don’t seem to be interested except it is one thing to
    do with Woman gaga! Your own stuffs great. Always take care of it up!

  18. My spouse and I stumbled over here by a different web address and thought I might check things out.
    I like what I see so now i am following you. Look forward to finding out
    about your web page for a second time.

  19. Hi there this is kind of of off topic but I was wanting to know if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code
    with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding experience so I
    wanted to get guidance from someone with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated!

  22. Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it.
    Look advanced to more added agreeable from you! By the way, how could we
    communicate?

  25. Hey There. I found your blog the use of msn. This is a very neatly written article.
    I will be sure to bookmark it and return to learn more of your helpful
    info. Thank you for the post. I will definitely return.

  30. Thanks , I have recently been looking for info
    about this subject for a long time and yours is the best I’ve came
    upon so far. But, what in regards to the bottom line?
    Are you sure concerning the source?

  32. I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here.
    The sketch is tasteful, your authored subject matter stylish.

    nonetheless, you command get bought an nervousness over that you
    wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come more formerly again as exactly the same nearly a
    lot often inside case you shield this increase.

  33. Just desire to say your article is as amazing. The
    clearness in your post is just great and i could suppose you are an expert on this subject.
    Well together with your permission let me to grab your
    feed to stay updated with impending post. Thanks 1,000,000 and please carry on the rewarding work.

  34. Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article.
    I will make sure to bookmark it and return to read more
    of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I will certainly comeback.

  36. I was wondering if you ever considered changing the layout of your
    website? Its very well written; I love what youve got
    to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could
    connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only
    having 1 or two pictures. Maybe you could
    space it out better?

  39. Someone essentially lend a hand to make severely articles
    I would state. This is the first time I frequented your website page and up to now?
    I surprised with the research you made to create this particular put
    up extraordinary. Excellent job!

  41. I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you?
    Plz reply as I’m looking to construct my own blog and would like to find out where u got this from.
    many thanks

  42. Exceptional post however I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more on this subject?

    I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit more.

    Thanks!

  43. You really make it appear so easy together with your presentation however
    I to find this topic to be actually something that I believe I might by
    no means understand. It sort of feels too complicated and very vast for me.
    I’m having a look forward in your next put up, I will attempt to get the hang of it!

  45. Howdy! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering which
    blog platform are you using for this website? I’m getting sick
    and tired of WordPress because I’ve had problems with hackers and I’m looking at options
    for another platform. I would be awesome if you
    could point me in the direction of a good platform.

  46. After looking at a number of the blog posts on your
    web page, I seriously like your way of writing a blog.
    I book-marked it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back soon.
    Take a look at my website as well and let me know your opinion.

  49. Great beat ! I wish to apprentice at the same time as
    you amend your web site, how could i subscribe for a weblog website?
    The account aided me a applicable deal. I have been tiny
    bit familiar of this your broadcast provided vibrant transparent concept

  50. I don’t even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great.
    I don’t know who you are but certainly you are going to a famous blogger
    if you are not already 😉 Cheers!

Comments are closed.