The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT ) is a computer adaptive test intended to assess analytical, writing, quantitative, verbal, and reading skills in written English for admission in graduate management program of top business schools and management institutes .
The GMAT is its own unique test, and online GMAT resources are often full of misinformation. The GMAT, has over the decades, spawned several myths enough to confuse or scare away prospective test takers. Let’s tackle some of the most common myths about the GMAT , which will allow aspirants to spend less time guessing and more time preparing.
-
GMAT as an Intelligence Test
The GMAT is nothing more than a test to test your ability to take the GMAT. While GMAT requires a certain amount of critical and analytical reasoning skills, it is in no way a final measurement of anyone’s intelligence.
The standard for GMAT quantitative and verbal skills is high, and candidate require a lot of time to prepare. GMAT score isn’t predetermined. Scores can and do improve significantly with an effective study plan, competent instruction, right test prep materials and resources.
-
GMAT is a Business Test
GMAT is not a test of business concepts. As a candidate, you are only expected to simplify the problems to the bare essentials and demonstrate common sense for which no business knowledge is needed.
In other words, it only assesses how much of attention you pay to the details while working through a series of riddles and brainteasers. This test calls for use of logic and reason rather than memorized content.
While the math is limited to the high-school level, quantitative problems are primarily about applying common-sense principles.
-
GMAT Needs Specific Correct Answers
While your aim should be try to answer as many questions as possible. You should also remember that the penalty for leaving questions unanswered is more than for wrong answers. So, a favorable strategy is to manage your time to make sure to complete all GMAT questions and sections.
Thus, time management is essential so that you are able to answer all questions, even if you have to guess some of the answers.
While difficult questions carry more weightage than easier ones, you may end up spending the time needed to solve three easy questions on just one difficult one. Be clear that ultimate objective is to score as high as you can. Thus speed is as important as accuracy.
-
One month Enough For GMAT preparations
There are no short-cuts. The more you delay studying at a consistent pace, the more likely it is to hurt you. GMAT needs full scale preparations for at least two to three months. Then only you could hope for substantial score improvements.
Being a skills test and since skill development take place over a period of time, just one month is not sufficient. Those who score 700 or more say they worked around 200 hours over a period of four to six months.
-
Focus Only on Hard Questions
Spending too much effort on the toughest questions might not be all that helpful, as this strategy can take time away from the less-challenging majority of GMAT questions.Yet another bad idea since the larger the number of questions you attempt, the better are your chances of improving the score.
READ ALSO: What Do Business Schools Seek From MBA Applicants?
The best preparation approach during practice sessions, to gradually step up the difficulty level slightly above your current capability while working on question. Figure out the areas where you are inconsistent and work on building those skills to improve.
-
Low GMAT Scores Affect Admission Chances Even you Achieve higher scores in Another Attempt
Not true as top business schools take into consideration only the applicant’s highest GMAT score, not the average. It is common for most of the applicants to take the test twice or thrice before getting the necessary scores.
Some top business schools might question your ambition if you only take the test once. If your application is accepted, your highest score will be incorporated into the class average. Your highest GMAT score reflects your true talent and abilities and view lower scoring test attempts as mere steps to that goal.
-
An Easy Question Means Previous Question Wrongly Answered
While the difficulty level of verbal and quantitative problems is determined by answers to the previous questions, you need not worry about it during the test. Instead, the focus should be answering the question in front of you correctly. Your answers to previous questions are irrelevant to that task. GMAT is sophisticated enough to reveal your true score level at the end.
Some experimental questions are for research purposes and may not follow this particular pattern. Also some of the questions that you find easy may be difficult for others. The concepts of ‘easy’ and ‘difficult’ are subjective and variable.
The GMAT does not measure business knowledge or skill, nor does it measure intelligence. According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), the GMAT assesses analytical writing and problem-solving abilities, while also addressing data sufficiency, logic, and critical reasoning skills.
Aspirants can be take GMAT up to five times a year. Each attempt must be at least 16 days apart.
