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 🙂
Fantastic goods from you, man. I have take into account your stuff prior to and you’re simply extremely fantastic.
I really like what you have received right here, really like what you are
stating and the best way during which you say it. You’re making it enjoyable and you still take care of to keep it
wise. I can’t wait to learn far more from you. This is actually a tremendous web
site.
That is very fascinating, You are an excessively professional blogger.
I have joined your feed and look forward to in quest of more of your fantastic post.
Additionally, I’ve shared your website in my social networks
It’s very effortless to find out any topic on net as compared to books,
as I found this article at this site.
Saved as a favorite, I really like your website!
I’d like to find out more? I’d want to find out more details.
Asking questions are really nice thing if you are not
understanding something totally, however this piece of writing offers pleasant understanding even.
Excellent post however I was wondering if you could write a litte more on this topic?
I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit more.
Many thanks!
What’s up, everything is going fine here and ofcourse
every one is sharing data, that’s in fact excellent,
keep up writing.
An outstanding share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a co-worker who had been conducting a little homework on this.
And he actually bought me lunch because I found
it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!!
But yeah, thanx for spending the time to discuss this subject here on your internet site.
Have you ever considered about including a little bit more than just your articles?
I mean, what you say is important and everything.
Nevertheless imagine if you added some great
pictures or videos to give your posts more,
“pop”! Your content is excellent but with images and videos, this website could definitely be one of the greatest in its field.
Very good blog!
We absolutely love your blog and find nearly all of your post’s to be just what I’m looking for.
Do you offer guest writers to write content for you personally?
I wouldn’t mind writing a post or elaborating on some
of the subjects you write concerning here. Again, awesome weblog!
Since the admin of this web page is working, no
question very quickly it will be famous, due to its quality contents.
Hmm it seems like your blog ate my first comment (it was super
long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I had written and say,
I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I too am an aspiring blog writer
but I’m still new to the whole thing. Do you have any recommendations for newbie blog writers?
I’d certainly appreciate it.
It’s hard to come by well-informed people for this topic, but you seem like you know what you’re talking about!
Thanks
Hello I am so happy I found your site, I really found you by mistake, while I was browsing on Digg for something else,
Regardless I am here now and would just like to say kudos
for a fantastic post and a all round interesting
blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read it all at
the moment but I have bookmarked it and also added in your RSS feeds, so
when I have time I will be back to read a great deal more, Please do keep up
the fantastic b.
This piece of writing presents clear idea in favor of the new visitors of blogging, that really how to do running a blog.
I needed to thank you for this excellent read!! I absolutely enjoyed every bit of
it. I have got you bookmarked to check out new things
you post…
Heya i am for the first time here. I came across 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 aided me.
Hi, this weekend is fastidious in favor of me, as this point in time i am
reading this fantastic informative piece of writing here
at my residence.
A motivating discussion is worth comment. I do think that you ought to write more on this subject, it might not be a taboo matter
but typically people don’t talk about such issues. To the next!
Best wishes!!
We’re a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community.
Your site offered us with valuable info to work on. You have done an impressive job and our entire community
will be grateful to you.
Nice post. I used to be checking constantly this blog and I am impressed!
Extremely useful information specifically the final phase 🙂 I deal with such information much.
I was looking for this particular info for a long time.
Thanks and best of luck.
Nice post. I learn something new and challenging on sites I stumbleupon everyday.
It’s always interesting to read articles from
other writers and practice something from their sites.
Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your web
site and in accession capital to assert that I acquire in fact enjoyed account
your blog posts. Anyway I will be subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access consistently rapidly.
Hi fantastic blog! Does running a blog such as this require a massive amount
work? I have very little understanding of programming but I had been hoping to start
my own blog soon. Anyways, if you have any recommendations or tips for new blog owners please share.
I know this is off topic however I simply needed to ask.
Cheers!
I’ll right away grasp your rss as I can not in finding your e-mail subscription link
or e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Please let me realize in order that I could
subscribe. Thanks.
I visit each day a few websites and blogs to
read articles, except this website provides feature based articles.
I read this paragraph fully on the topic of the comparison of most recent and preceding technologies, it’s remarkable article.
Oh my goodness! Impressive article dude! Thank you, However I am having troubles with your RSS.
I don’t know why I can’t subscribe to it. Is there anyone else having the same RSS issues?
Anyone who knows the solution can you kindly respond?
Thanx!!
These are really wonderful ideas in regarding blogging.
You have touched some good things here. Any way keep up wrinting.
An impressive share! I have just forwarded this onto a friend who had been doing
a little homework on this. And he in fact ordered me lunch simply because I found it for
him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!!
But yeah, thanks for spending some time to talk about this topic here on your internet site.
you’re really a good webmaster. The site loading speed is amazing.
It sort of feels that you are doing any unique trick. Also, The contents are masterwork.
you have done a fantastic activity on this matter!
I’m not sure exactly why but this weblog is loading extremely slow for me.
Is anyone else having this issue or is it a issue on my end?
I’ll check back later on and see if the problem
still exists.
Your mode of explaining everything in this article
is in fact pleasant, all be able to easily know it, Thanks a lot.
I am really grateful to the owner of this web site who has shared this impressive
piece of writing at at this time.
Generally I don’t read post on blogs, but I wish to say that this write-up very forced me to try and
do it! Your writing taste has been surprised me.
Thank you, very great article.
What’s Happening i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I
have discovered It positively helpful and it has helped me out loads.
I hope to give a contribution & assist other customers like its helped me.
Great job.
hi!,I like your writing very a lot! percentage we communicate more about your post on AOL?
I require an expert on this house to unravel my problem.
Maybe that is you! Looking ahead to see you.
I have been browsing online more than 4 hours today, yet I never found any interesting
article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me.
Personally, if all web owners and bloggers
made good content as you did, the web will be a lot more useful than ever before.
Good post. I learn something new and challenging on blogs I stumbleupon every day.
It will always be exciting to read content from other authors and practice something from other web sites.
Howdy! I know this is kinda off topic but I’d figured I’d ask.
Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest authoring a
blog post or vice-versa? My website addresses a lot of the same subjects as yours and I feel we could greatly benefit from each other.
If you’re interested feel free to shoot me an email. I look
forward to hearing from you! Excellent blog by the way!
Spot on with this write-up, I absolutely believe this site needs much more attention. I’ll probably
be returning to read more, thanks for the information!
I think this is among the most vital info for me. And
i am glad reading your article. But should remark on some
general things, The site style is ideal, the articles is really excellent : D.
Good job, cheers
If you are going for best contents like myself, simply go
to see this site all the time because it offers feature contents, thanks
Thank you for sharing your info. I truly appreciate your
efforts and I am waiting for your further post thank you once again.
I simply couldn’t leave your website before suggesting that I actually loved the usual information a person provide to your visitors?
Is gonna be again often to check out new posts
We are a bunch of volunteers and starting a brand
new scheme in our community. Your website offered us with
helpful info to work on. You have performed a formidable
process and our entire group shall be thankful to you.
Awesome! Its in fact remarkable post, I have got much clear
idea on the topic of from this paragraph.
Yes! Finally someone writes about https://marvelcomics.faith/wiki/8_Ridiculous_Rules_About_Minecraft_Server.
Hi there, this weekend is fastidious in favor of me,
because this point in time i am reading this enormous informative piece of writing here
at my home.