GMAT Prep
How to Best Prepare for the GMAT
Being studious about GMAT test preparation will greatly benefit you at the time you take the test. There's no such thing as being overly prepared if you expect to do well on the exam. Once you find out your test date, plan at least 50 hours of prep time before taking the GMAT. Also, consider investing in GMAT preparation tutoring or courses to give you an advantage on test day.
Each section will contain a range of questions with many that are difficult to answer. When you take the exam, take a quick look and answer the easier questions first. Once you complete the easier questions, go back and answer any remaining questions. You should answer all questions even if they are best guess answers. The more you complete GMAT the more chance you'll have for a higher rating.
Nearly one third of the GMAT is comprised of experimental questions. The Graduate Management Admissions Council® places these into the exam to see if they would be used as future GMAT questions.
The GMAT CAT
The GMAT CAT is the computer-adaptive test version of the GMAT. It supposedly gives a better assessment of your skills. The best way to prepare for this test is to understand its format. It is quite different from the written version.
The computer version will give a question of average difficultly. If the test taker answers correctly, they will be given a slightly harder question. If they answer incorrectly, they will receive a slightly less-challenging question. The more difficult questions receive a higher percentage point so try to answer the first 5-7 questions as best as possible. This can make a big difference in your final score.
The test also placed questions randomly rather than grouping related questions together. It is important to note that once you move on the next question, you cannot go back. You can also not move on until you answer the question. Here, it is beneficial to always make the best guess if you are unsure.
Finish the test. There is a big penalty for not finishing any questions. Move quickly through the test but double check your answers because you cannot go back to previous questions. In the last 5 minutes of the test, guess. Leaving a question blank will lower your score dramatically.