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”

  1. Spot on with this write-up, I actually feel this site needs a lot more attention. I’ll probably be back again to read more, thanks for
    the advice!

  3. You made some decent points there. I looked on the net for more information about the
    issue and found most individuals will go along with your views on this
    website.

  5. Wow, incredible blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
    you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your website is wonderful, let alone the content!

  6. I’m now not positive where you are getting your information,
    but good topic. I needs to spend a while studying
    much more or working out more. Thank you for wonderful information I used to be looking for this info for my
    mission.

  7. Good day very nice site!! Man .. Excellent .. Wonderful ..
    I will bookmark your site and take the feeds also?
    I am satisfied to seek out numerous helpful info here within the submit, we’d like
    work out extra techniques on this regard, thanks for sharing.
    . . . . .

  8. I got this web site from my buddy who shared with me about this
    site and at the moment this time I am browsing this site and reading very informative articles at this
    time.

  9. You really make it appear really easy together with your presentation but I in finding this matter
    to be actually something which I believe I’d by no means understand.
    It sort of feels too complicated and very vast for me.
    I’m having a look ahead on your next put up, I’ll try to get the
    hold of it!

  10. I have been surfing online more than 2 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours.
    It is pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all
    site owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be
    a lot more useful than ever before.

  11. Hello, I desire to subscribe for this web site to obtain most up-to-date
    updates, so where can i do it please help.

  13. Hello my friend! I want to say that this article is awesome, nice written and come with approximately all vital infos.
    I’d like to peer extra posts like this .

  14. Hi! Someone in my Facebook group shared this site with us so I came to check it out.

    I’m definitely loving the information. I’m bookmarking and
    will be tweeting this to my followers! Excellent blog and outstanding style and design.

  18. A person necessarily help to make critically
    articles I would state. That is the very first time I frequented
    your web page and so far? I amazed with the analysis you made to make this
    actual put up extraordinary. Excellent activity!

  20. Hello it’s me, I am also visiting this site regularly, this
    website is really nice and the users are actually sharing nice thoughts.

  21. Just wish to say your article is as astounding. The clearness in your
    post is simply great and i could assume you are an expert on this subject.
    Well with your permission allow me to grab your RSS feed to keep up
    to date with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please
    continue the rewarding work.

  22. Please let me know if you’re looking for a author for your blog.
    You have some really good posts and I believe I would be
    a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d really
    like to write some articles for your blog in exchange for a link back
    to mine. Please shoot me an e-mail if interested.
    Cheers!

  23. Thanks for your marvelous posting! I definitely enjoyed reading it, you are a great
    author. I will ensure that I bookmark your blog and will
    often come back sometime soon. I want to encourage you
    to continue your great posts, have a nice morning!

  24. An interesting discussion is definitely worth comment. I do believe that you ought to publish more
    on this subject, it might not be a taboo matter but usually people don’t discuss these issues.
    To the next! All the best!!

  25. Hi there, i read your blog from time to time and i own a similar
    one and i was just wondering if you get a lot of spam feedback?
    If so how do you prevent it, any plugin or anything you can recommend?
    I get so much lately it’s driving me mad so
    any assistance is very much appreciated.

  26. Hello i am kavin, its my first occasion to commenting anyplace, when i read this paragraph i thought i could also create
    comment due to this good piece of writing.

  27. I think this is among the such a lot vital information for
    me. And i am happy reading your article. But want to remark
    on few general things, The site style is perfect, the articles is really great
    : D. Good task, cheers

  28. Hello, i think that i saw you visited my website so i
    came to return the want?.I’m trying to in finding things to improve my site!I suppose
    its adequate to use some of your ideas!!

  29. Someone essentially help to make severely articles I might state.
    That is the first time I frequented your website page and thus far?

    I surprised with the analysis you made to make this
    particular post extraordinary. Excellent process!

  30. Today, I went to the beach with my kids. I found a
    sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She placed the shell
    to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched
    her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is completely off topic but I
    had to tell someone!

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

    nonetheless, you command get got an edginess over that you
    wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come further formerly
    again since exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this hike.

  33. Thanks for every other great article. The place else may anybody get that kind of info in such an ideal method of writing?

    I’ve a presentation subsequent week, and I’m on the look for such info.

  34. What’s Happening i am new to this, I stumbled upon this
    I’ve discovered It positively helpful and it has helped
    me out loads. I’m hoping to give a contribution & assist other customers like its helped
    me. Good job.

  40. I have read so many content on the topic of the blogger lovers however this paragraph is
    truly a pleasant article, keep it up.

  41. Ahaa, its good dialogue on the topic of this paragraph at this place at this webpage,
    I have read all that, so now me also commenting at this place.

  42. naturally like your website however you have to take a look at the spelling on quite a few of your posts.
    Several of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very troublesome to inform the
    truth on the other hand I’ll surely come back again.

  43. whoah this weblog is magnificent i love reading your posts.

    Keep up the good work! You understand, many people are searching around
    for this information, you could help them greatly.

  44. This design is wicked! You most certainly
    know how to keep a reader entertained. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost
    moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Wonderful job.
    I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it.
    Too cool!

  45. Great goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you are just extremely magnificent.

    I really like what you have acquired here, really like what you are saying and the way
    in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it smart.

    I can’t wait to read far more from you. This is actually
    a great site.

  46. Hello, this weekend is pleasant in favor of me,
    for the reason that this occasion i am reading this wonderful
    informative piece of writing here at my home.

  49. Link exchange is nothing else but it is only placing the other
    person’s website link on your page at appropriate place and
    other person will also do similar in support of you.

  50. It’s appropriate time to make some plans
    for the future and it is time to be happy. I’ve read this post
    and if I could I want to suggest you some interesting things or advice.
    Maybe you can write next articles referring to this article.
    I want to read even more things about it!

Comments are closed.