How Long to Study for the GMAT: 6-Step Guide

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If you’re getting ready to apply to business school, you’re probably asking yourself: “How long should I study for the GMAT?” Can I prepare in a month? What about two? Should I just go ahead and block off six months for intense studying?

The answer to this question depends a lot on the student. Some people take the GMAT with little-to-no preparation, while others spend months preparing. It’s important to make a plan that works best for you and your goals. That way, you can maximize your score, while making sure that your study plan fits your schedule and needs, so you don’t waste time over-studying.

This guide will help you figure out how long to study for the GMAT based on what kind of score increase you’re hoping to make. From there, I’ll explain how many hours you need to study, when you should start to study, and how to create a study plan.

Continue reading “How Long to Study for the GMAT: 6-Step Guide”

How Does GMAT Scoring Work?

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If we had to define our relationship with GMAT scoring on Facebook, we’d have to go with “It’s complicated.” Everyone’s test looks a little different, and the GMAT uses adaptive testing and equating to assign comparable scores across various versions of the test. So how is the GMAT scored, exactly?

This guide will tell you everything you need to know about GMAT scoring. To start, let’s go over the score ranges for section and total scores. Continue reading “How Does GMAT Scoring Work?”

What Is the GMAT? 8 Key Questions, Answered

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If you’re an aspiring MBA student, you’ll have to leap the hurdle of the GMAT to get into business school. Prospective students spend months training for the challenge. What is the GMAT test, exactly?

This guide will go over everything you need to know about the GMAT, its use in business school admissions, and how to register. To get you acquainted with the exam, let’s start by going over the purpose of the GMAT. Continue reading “What Is the GMAT? 8 Key Questions, Answered”

Best GMAT Syllabus 2018: What’s On the Test and How to Prepare

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When it comes to taking the GMAT, preparation is key. On average, students who scored a 700 or above prepared for an impressive 121 hours before taking the exam.

This full GMAT syllabus will help you join that group of well-prepared high scorers. You’ll learn everything you need to know about the GMAT, plus get some key tips on how to design an effective study plan.

Let’s start with a general introduction to the GMAT. Continue reading “Best GMAT Syllabus 2018: What’s On the Test and How to Prepare”

GMAT Score Range: Where Do You Rank?

Feeling lost when it comes to your GMAT score report? We're here to help.

What is the possible GMAT score range? How do you interpret your own GMAT scores? How do your scores fit in with your fellow test-takers’? To set realistic goals for your test preparation, you’ll have to be informed.

Let’s sift through some of the rumors and delve into what’s really important: understanding your personal goals for your GMAT score and how it fits into your overall MBA application. I’ll go over the fundamentals of the GMAT score range, how average scores have changed in recent years, and average GMAT scores at a range of B-schools. Continue reading “GMAT Score Range: Where Do You Rank?”

9 Tips for Making It Through the Full GMAT Length

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While you might spend months preparing for and obsessing over the GMAT, how much time will you actually spend taking it? This guide will discuss total GMAT length, as well as how much time you can expect to spend in the testing center.

We’ll also take a look at how many minutes you have per question, a key piece of intel since you’ll be responsible for getting to all of the questions in each section. Read on to learn everything you need to know about GMAT time, plus some tips on how to prep for this long exam. Continue reading “9 Tips for Making It Through the Full GMAT Length”

Expert Guide to GMAT Percentiles & What Your Score Means

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Just as getting into business school is competitive, so is excelling on the GMAT. Not only will you get section and total scores, but you’ll also see percentiles that compare your performance to that of everyone else. With average total and math scores on the rise, percentile rankings are more competitive than ever.

This guide will tell you everything you need to know to understand GMAT percentiles, along with some guidelines for what percentiles you need to get into various business schools.

Let’s start with the basics. What exactly are GMAT score percentiles? Continue reading “Expert Guide to GMAT Percentiles & What Your Score Means”

What Does GMAT Stand For? The Fascinating History

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YOLO, IMO, tl;dr — these acronyms have nothing on GMAT, which has been in use for over 40 years. You may have heard this acronym for the business school test, but what does GMAT stand for? How did the exam start and how has it changed over the past half century?

This guide will you in on everything GMAT. If you ever find yourself at a GMAT-themed trivia night, you’ll be the star of the show. Continue reading “What Does GMAT Stand For? The Fascinating History”

The Best GMAT Scoring Grid to Calculate Your Score

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Are you hoping to achieve a specific GMAT total score? Wondering how your verbal and quantitative scores contribute to your GMAT total score?

If so, you’re not alone. Almost every test-taker who takes the GMAT is looking to achieve a certain goal score, and many don’t fully understand how GMAT scores are calculated. To be fair, calculating GMAT scores can be really confusing!

In this guide, I’ll help clarify how GMAT scoring works and provide a sample GMAT score matrix that shows you how your scaled quantitative and scaled verbal scores combine to create your total score. First, I’ll explain how to calculate a GMAT score. Next, I’ll walk you through our GMAT scoring grid. Finally, I’ll talk about how you can use this GMAT score grid to inform your GMAT prep.

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What You Need for Stanford MBA: GMAT Scores

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The mission of the Stanford Graduate School of Business is “Change Lives, Change Organizations, Change the World,” and the school aims to live up to that each year by offering an exceptional academic, professional, and personal experience to its students.

Stanford is recognized around the world as an exceptional business school and consistently ranks in the top three of business schools worldwide across multiple ranking systems. However, Stanford’s popularity has its drawbacks: barely six percent of students were accepted to Stanford in 2016 and the school boasted the highest average GMAT score of any business school in the world for its admitted applicants.

So, with that being said, how do you get into Stanford GSB? One way to increase your likelihood of admission is to have a stellar GMAT score.

In this article, I’ll talk about what’s a good Stanford GMAT score and whether there’s a GMAT Stanford score requirement. I’ll also explain what Stanford is known for and how competitive it is for MBA students. Finally, I’ll give you tips on how to improve your GMAT score to increase your chance of acceptance.

Continue reading “What You Need for Stanford MBA: GMAT Scores”

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