5 IMPORTANT STUDY PHASES WHEN PREPARING FOR THE GMAT

The GMAT is an admission test which is feared by many. Some horror stories even tell that it is impossible to reach your desired score in one try. But nothing is less true. If you study in the right way and put in a lot of effort it is possible to obtain a sufficient score. On this page, we will give you a summary of 5 important study phases when preparing for your GMAT. In this way, you will have a clear insight into how you should prepare for the GMAT.

STUDY PHASE 1: GMAT PREPARATION

During this phase, you need to get familiar with the GMAT. What does the test look like? Well, for starters there are for sections, and your score (200-800) will be defined by two of them. Next, you need to know which requirements the university of your choice has. You should figure out which score do you need to obtain, and when the admission deadline passes. After that, you will do research about which basic knowledge you need to master. Finally, you will make a study plan. When you do so, count backward from the date on which you need to hand in your official score.

STUDY PHASE 2: STUDYING

After you have made a study plan, it is essential that you stick to it. During this phase, you will have to put in a lot of effort. Firstly, you start by mastering the basic knowledge. Use books, preparation courses, or other resources. After you have done this, it is time to do a free practice exam on mba.com. Your score on this test is a good indicator of your current level. It also provides you with insight into how much you improve later on. After that, you will need to practice more with GMAT questions so you will get familiar with them. 

STUDY PHASE 3: GMAT STRATEGY

During the third phase, you will formulate a strategy, which helps you answer most questions correctly. Firstly take a practice exam. In this way, you know how much progress you have made. Because the GMAT is computer adaptive, it is of great importance that you adopt a time management strategy. Because you do not have extensive experience in solving GMAT problems, it is hard to formulate such a strategy of your own. Therefore, it is wise to follow a Bootcamp. During these courses, an experienced tutor will help to pace you and adopt a time management strategy, amongst many other things.

STUDY PHASE 4: THE ACTUAL GMAT EXAM

After you have been studying for around two months, the day is finally here: you will take the GMAT exam. Keep in mind following things:

• You can take the exam in four locations in the Netherlands.
• You are not allowed to use any tools or devices.
• You will be handed a notepad.
• The exam takes three and a half hours.
• You will have two breaks of eight minutes.

STUDY PHASE 5: STUDYING FOR A GMAT RESIT

Hopefully, you will reach your desired in one try. If not, you have to resit the GMAT. If this is the case, it is wise to study your Official score report extensively. In this report, you can find all the information you need to know about how well you performed on the GMAT. After you have done this, you need to consider your next steps. Are there just a few subjects that you need to improve then you can opt for 1-on-1 tutoring. If you need to improve your knowledge on a larger variety of subject, we recommend you to consider following the Bootcamp.

If you need advice with making a studyplan, feel free to contact GMAT Amsterdam. You can do so by clicking on this link. We gladly give you advice on how to prepare for the GMAT.