How to Score a Higher GMAT Score
The Graduate Management Admission Test is considered by more than 4,800 graduate programs as a part of their admissions process. The purpose of the GMAT is to assess your ability level in the subject areas of writing, reading and math. Having a good score from the GMAT is important for acceptance into prestigious graduate programs; to score high, the key is preparation.
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Instructions
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Enhance your ability to think critically and communicate those thoughts. According to the official GMAT website, the analytical writing assessment section is designed to test your ability in understanding the complexities of an issue of interest by taking an informed position based on provided information. This portion of the test is completed by essay and not multiple-choice selections.
Study resources like downloadable guides, test books and online classes are available for as much as $37, as of December 2010. For one-on-one help, a good idea would be to contact a former high school speech or English teacher. These individuals will more than likely be eager to help you sharpen your analytical skills and could offer to do so at little to no charge.
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Understand the basics of reading comprehension. The verbal section of the GMAT is multiple choice, providing you a series of various level questions based on your last answer. The goal of the verbal section is to measure your ability level in: understanding words and statements, your comprehension of specific points in a passage as it relates to an overall concept, and your knowledge of proper English sentence structure.
What's important about this part of the assessment is that there are no wrong or right answers; this means that each answer holds a certain weight in the total score. A good study aid for boosting your results in this area is to participate in a local reading club. These groups are often hosted by professors or English majors, with attendees being those who enjoy discussing different views based on one piece of reading material.
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Work on your mathematical skills. The quantitative section of the GMAT tests your problem-solving and data sufficiency skills by mathematic concepts found in arithmetic, elementary algebra and geometry. Math is generally a tough subject to grasp for most people, so finding a free online source that can guide and test you will be easy. Your local library is also a plentiful resource for touching up on your math skills; it has books ranging from elementary- to college-level math courses.
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Tips & Warnings
Start studying for the test nine months early, if possible, this will give you enough time to not only relearn some forgotten subjects, but to grow comfortable with their concepts.
Show up to the test site well rested. The total test time can be scheduled for four hours; having enough mental alertness to complete the test to the best of your ability is important.
Breaks between sections are optional, so come prepared. Make sure you eat a well-balanced meal before arriving, thinking about a snack is an unnecessary distraction that can impair your performance and concentration.
Don't count on the retake. The GMAT allows for you to retake the test once every 31 days and no more than five times in a 12-month period. It's important to note, however, that each test you take will be included in the GMAT exam results provided to the schools of your choice. Taking the test several times might be a good indication of your tenacity but could be more damaging in conveying your preparedness for the applying graduate program.
References
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