How to Prepare for the GMAT

After completing an undergraduate degree, many people go on to graduate school. The first step in preparing for certain graduate study programs such as business administration is to prepare for and take the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test). The test consists of a verbal section, a quantitative section and an analytical writing assessment section. There are several things a test-taker should do to prepare for the test.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer
• GMAT study guide

1. Schedule an appointment either online or at a local testing center to take the GMAT. Most university campuses offer testing services.

2. Learn about the format of the test. This can be accomplished by reading about the test at eHow.com, buying a specialized GMAT study guide, taking a specialized GMAT preparation course or receiving specialized GMAT tutoring. Free test-preparation software is also offered at websites such as mba.com.

3. Find out about the typical types of questions found on the GMAT. Information about different types of questions can be found at the resources mentioned in the previous step.

4. Practice writing essays. A list of sample topics can be found at mba.com.

5. Review the basic rules of grammar and basic math skills. If it has been a while since you studied mathematics or English, you may need to spend more time on this step.

6. Study for at least 4 weeks before taking the GMAT and get at least 8 hours of sleep the night before the test.

7. Bring all the required materials with you on test day, including a photo ID and your test appointment confirmation letter.