3 Ways to Improve Your GMAT Score

The GMAT is one of the most critical components of an MBA application—especially if you hope to attend a top B-school.

“Studying for and taking the [GMAT] exam can show the admissions committee one’s commitment to the competitive business school application process and how you may approach academic challenges as a student,” Rodrigo Malta, managing director of MBA recruiting and admissions at McCombs School of Business in Texas, tells mba.com.

Caroline Diarte Edwards, founder of Fortuna Admissions and the Former Director of MBA Admissions & Financial Aid at INSEAD, recently offered a few tips on how to maximize your GMAT prep and increase your score.

UNDERSTAND THE FORMAT

The Graduate Management Admission Council recently announced new changes for the GMAT in 2023, including reduced testing times and the elimination of the essay portion of the exam.

“Given the changes in length and focus of the test and the shift to online tests taken at home or a testing center, it’s important to know exactly what you’re in for—and this is the right test for you,” Edwards says. “Most MBA programs also accept the GRE and other exams and allow you the freedom to choose. Make sure you understand the differences in the tests and pick the one that’s best for you.”

FOCUS ON QUALITY PREP TIME

When it comes to test prep, cramming usually yield minimal improvements. Edwards stresses the importance of breaking out your study sessions and giving yourself enough time to fully master the exam.

“Imagine it this way: You can’t credibly train for the marathon by only running 20 miles on Saturdays,” Edwards says. “Likewise, you can’t power through one marathon cram-session on the weekend and expect to gain mastery. Instead, create a study schedule and invest your time in bite-size sessions to build the mental muscle that’s needed to go the distance at exam time.”

SET TARGETED GOALS

Having specific, targeted goals is essential to creating a strong testing strategy. Edwards recommends setting a learning objective each time you sit down to study.

“For example, aim to decrease the amount of time from 2 minutes to 1.45 for answering easy data sufficiency questions, refreshing sentence structure, or reviewing exponent rules you can apply to problem solving,” Edwards says. “Having a very clear learning objective will go a long way in terms of helping to create structure and focus as well as opportunities to measure your progress. It’s also gratifying to look back at the end of the week and see how many things you checked off the list.”

Sources: Fortuna Admissions, mba.com

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