How To Prepare For The GMAT Exam In 3 Months

March 30, 2024

How to Prepare for the GMAT Exam in 3 Months | 6 Steps

GMAT or Graded Management Admission Test is a computer adaptive test that aims to test certain analytical, writing, quantitative, verbal, and reading skills in written English for admission in various courses such as the Master of Business Administration Program. Most Business schools give admission based on marks in the GMAT.

GMAT is one of the exams that focuses on depth as well as scope of knowledge. Now the question is ‘Is it possible to prepare for GMAT in 3 months’?

The simple answer is Yes! But not without qualifications. Yes, you can prepare for the GMAT in 3 months but with the right strategy and implementation. 3 months is enough for preparing for the exam but not enough for trial and error. Hence, it would help if you were precise with how you want to move forward. To make this easier, we present a step-by-step guide to help you with your GMAT preparation.

Also Read GRE vs. GMAT: Choosing the Right Exam for Your Future

How to Prepare for GMAT in 3 Months

STEP 1 – KNOW THE SYLLABUS

A basic step before you start with anything is to know what you are about to deal with. Check the official syllabus and skim through all the topics you must prepare. If you encounter topics alien to you, don’t worry because you still have 3-month time to prepare.

STEP 2- HAVE A LOOK AT THE PAST YEAR QUESTIONS

There are plenty of websites where you can access the PYQs. A look at the PYQs will give you an idea of the difficulty level, pattern, amount of time it takes, etc. of the paper. It will also give you an idea of what to expect or whether even to expect anything at all.

STEP 3 – ATTEMPT A MOCK TEST

A full-length test is available for free at the official website of GMAT. Attempt the full-length test but make sure that you do not take it lightly. Attempt the test as if that is your final exam. Once you are done with the exam you will achieve two things. Firstly, You are now aware of how it feels while writing the exam. Secondly, You know how fast you can complete the exam, what topics were easy for you, etc.

STEP 4- GATHER THE RESOURCES

Selecting resources that work for you is probably one of the most crucial parts of this journey. Since you do not have enough time to try sources, you can get help from someone. It may be a friend, cousin, relative, or whoever knows well about the exam. It is advisable to join one of the crash courses that you like because they have a structured plan and all the information about the exam. This eases your journey. If you do not want to join any classes, don’t worry because you still have a lot of free resources.

STEP 5 – START LEARNING THE CORE TOPICS

After step 4, you will be ready to enter the real arena. Now to start with the real preparation it is important to learn the core concepts. For example, the core concepts of analytical reasoning may include direction tests, puzzles, etc. Similarly, you should learn the core mathematics concepts such as Percentages, Ratios and Proportions, Averages, etc. Remember that the GMAT asks for high school mathematics. Hence, it is not that difficult.

Take enough time to prepare these topics since they are what you need to score well.

STEP 6 – PRACTICE THE CONCEPTS THROUGH SECTIONAL TESTS AND FULL-LENGTH MOCK TESTS

Once you are almost halfway through learning core concepts, start practicing through sectional mock tests. Your goal at this step is to increase your speed and accuracy. Be sure of all the steps you will take while you attempt the questions. Once you gain confidence in attempting sectional mock tests, you can move to attempting full-length mock tests. You can also attempt questions in practice sessions at various YouTube channels.

A very important step is to analyze the tests you attempt. Have of your problems will be solved through analysis. Focus on where you are making mistakes, what questions look difficult, and other such problems. Use the mock tests efficiently to know where you can do better.

Apart from these tips, there a many miscellaneous tips that you must keep in mind.

Tips for GMAT Preparation:

Have a consistent routine for studying.
Do not take the exam lightly or think that it is too easy because it may prove otherwise.
Have a timetable where at least your study hours should remain fixed.
Take time to review your preparation. It is very important to track your progress during your journey. It will help you to know whether you are going the right way or not.
Make goals. Making goals for each day week and even months can make the review process easier.
Take time to revise whatever you studied during the week. You can also do this daily where you go through all the things you studied during the day.
Do not compare yourself to others. You never know what will happen on the exam day. So do not feel let down if someone claims to have done more than you.
Do not be dejected by how you are scoring in the mock tests. Make all mistakes during mock tests so that you do not make any mistakes during the real exam. Mock tests are an excellent source of analyzing how much you are learning.
Do not give up at any point of time during the process. Remember the fact that you are attempting the exam and are desperate enough to perform well and that is why you are reading this article makes it important for you. Do not slack or feel demotivated.
THE DAY BEFORE EXAM. There is no fixed schedule for the day before the exam. Prepare yourself mentally to attempt the exam. You might do a light study session if you want to but DO NOT STUDY ANYTHING NEW to add to your stress. Indulge in calming activities and prepare all your documents.
THE EXAM DAY. Have a light breakfast and dress comfortably. Carry all the belongings that you need. Have complete faith in yourself.

Scoring well in the GMAT is not that difficult if you have prepared well for three months. It is humans for whom the exam is made and it is just humans who clear the exam. You can be that human. All the best for your journey!