How to Prepare for GMAT

Hi Rajan,

Since we've established your score goal (730+), it would also be helpful to define as many of the other "variables" as possible, so that you can plan out your studies accordingly.

1) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
2) What schools are you planning to apply to?
3) How much time do you think you can spend on your studies each week (on average)?

To help you set some personal expectations, you should know that most Test Takers spend 3 months (or more) on their studies; during that time, it's common to spend 10-15 hours/week (or more) working on GMAT-related activities. A 700+ score represents the 90th percentile, which means that 90% of Test Takers either CAN'T or WON'T do what it takes to score at that level.

Having enough time to succeed is important since the application process is made up of several "pieces" and the GMAT is just one of them (and you might need more time than you original budgeted for study). Considering that most GMATers also have jobs, lives, family, etc., and Business Schools have specific application deadlines, you have to be ready to plan out much of this process in advance (if possible).

As has been mentioned in some of the other posts, it's a good idea to take an initial practice CAT Test early on, so that you can establish a "baseline" score and get a sense of your strengths and weaknesses. You can download 2 practice CATs for free from www.mba.com. A FULL-length CAT takes about 4 hours to complete, so make sure that you've set aside enough time to do so in one sitting. Once you have your score results, you should post back here and we can put together a study plan.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich