How to Self-Study for the GMAT

Planning on attending Business School? First you must conquer the Gmat! Here is what to expect before you arrive on test day, and how to best prepare yourself.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Study Guide, ie Princeton Review
• Computer
• Car
• Alarm to wake you up on test day
• ID
• Snack (optional)

1. Plan 3 Months in advance
   You must sit down for about 5 hours a week or so and read through a Study Guide book, like the Princeton Review. You will want to get familiar with the question types and how to eliminate stupid answers. Try as many practice problems as you can, and then check your answers.

2. Imitate the atmosphere of the Testing Center
   This is very important to get used to the testing environment (so you don't have to on test day). This means no noise AT ALL. You can even wear ear plugs if you want). Turn phone off. Study preferably at the times you are planning to take the test (ie, If it is 8am, try to be at the library around that time and imagine you are taking the real test). This also means timing yourself with a stopwatch on your desk. This also means practicing on the computer and using a dry erase board for scratch work. If you practice on paper, it may be difficult to get used to on test day.

3. 
    
   Break out the geometry!

   Download the GMAT practice tests from gmat.com site
   This is what the actual test looks like, format and everything. It even gives you your score afterward so you can see where to improve. Take both practice tests as if you are taking the real thing, one in the beginning of your study quest and one a couple weeks before test day. Hone up on the parts you were the weakest on during the practice test.

4. Have about 5 schools picked out for test day, as they will sent your scores to up to 5. This is done all one one screen before testing begins.

5. Week before test day,
   Brush up on everything you learned and don't learn new material at this point. Just review. Visit the test center once, to see the best route to get there and get a feel for the location so there are no other surprises on test day. I would have been so lost if I did not do this step!

6. Test Day!
   Arrive about 45-30 min early. Review a former problem or two. Bring only your keys, and driver's license. Don't bother bringing a purse or a phone, you won't really have access to it anyway. Maybe a water bottle and snack. Wear something comfortable and casual (sweats, shorts, etc). Check in consists of reading instructions, taking a palm test and photo, and stashing items in a locker. Breaks are 8 minutes long, use them wisely and you must raise your hand each time. Be prepared to have your palm test taken each time you enter and exit. Relax and only concentrate on your test.

7. Remember that the first few questions set your score, so concentrate hard on those. Manage your time well but don't be distracted by the clock. Relax because after this, the hardest part of your application will be over! And you can resume your social life again!

Tips & Warnings

• Don't even bring your phone or any study notes into the test center
• You can never be too prepared
• RELAX on test day
• STUDY ON THE COMPUTER (as this is a COMPUTERIZED test)
• Study where it is quiet and time yourself!
• Arrive early (45 min) or else you may have to forfeit your exam fee/ time.
• Don't put anything in your pockets, you'll be asked to turn them inside out.

[meeke]

on 8/4/2009 Good article.

You also find mine interesting:

http://www.ehow.com/how_5195857_score-gmat-proven-method.html