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Are you applying to business school in the upcoming admissions cycle? Then now is the ideal time to nail down your test prep strategy. The GMAT test and the GRE require <\/span>a lot<\/span><\/em>\u00a0of study hours. Getting a running head start in the spring will leave ample time to work on your essays and other application components over the summer and early fall.<\/span><\/p>\n In addition to MBA admissions consulting, Stacy Blackman offers test prep services helmed by expert tutor Anthony Ritz<\/a>. SBC\u2019s director of test prep has worked as a GMAT and GRE instructor for more than two decades. Lucky for us, Anthony dropped by the <\/span>B-Schooled<\/span><\/em><\/a> podcast to share his extensive insider test prep tips, tricks, and advice for MBA hopefuls.<\/span><\/p>\n Candidacy evaluation by the MBA admissions committee is a holistic process. Yet GRE and GMAT test scores play a significant role in assessing readiness. \u201cThe scores provide important information to schools about whether you\u2019re prepared to handle both the intellectual rigor and the significant coursework of business school,\u201d Anthony explains.<\/span><\/p>\n During the pandemic, several programs\u2014including those at top business schools\u2014went test-optional when testing centers closed. Many schools have since reinstated their test score application requirement now that the world has opened again. But Anthony still advises applicants eying \u201ctest optional\u201d MBA programs to consider submitting their scores anyway.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe statistics so far show that students applying to test optional schools who submit scores are accepted far more often than students who don\u2019t,\u201d he reveals. \u201cNot submitting just really tells the schools, you know, if you saw my score, you wouldn\u2019t like it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n As we alluded to above, the GRE and GMAT tests require a ton of preparation. \u201cIf applying to b-school is on your radar, the sooner you start, the better,\u201d Anthony says. \u201cBecause this is a major commitment, two to three months minimum for two to three hours a day on average.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Ideally, anyone considering an MBA in the future should take the GMAT in their senior year of college. Your math skills are only going to get less fresh as time goes on.<\/span><\/p>\n If there\u2019s any chance you might go to business school next five years, get the GMAT\/GRE out of the way now and know that you can keep it in your back pocket until you need it. \u2014Anthony Ritz, SBC\u2019s Director of Test Prep<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Going back to senior year would likely require a time machine for most readers. So, the next best time to start is now. If you wait until the last minute, when you also need to focus on other aspects of the application, it can be virtually impossible\u2014even with good tutoring\u2014to get the progress you need.<\/span><\/p>\n Another reason to quit procrastinating: there\u2019s a high chance you\u2019ll need to take it more than once. \u201cThe reality is these tests are really hard,\u201d Anthony acknowledges. \u201cYou don\u2019t entirely know what you\u2019re getting into until you\u2019ve tried the real thing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Even the official practice test isn\u2019t a perfect barometer; it\u2019s never the same regarding stress levels and environment. That\u2019s why most students take the GRE or GMAT test two or three times\u2014and that\u2019s fine, Anthony says.<\/span><\/p>\n Schools will take your highest score, and you can even cancel a bad GMAT score<\/a> without a trace if you want total reassurance that it won\u2019t count against you.<\/span><\/p>\n Your first course of action, no matter your chosen path, is to take a practice test. Remember to check out the average scores reported by the schools that interest you to find your target range. See what you\u2019re good at, what you\u2019re struggling with, and what gaps you\u2019ll need to fill to get your desired score.<\/span><\/p>\n If money is tight, you have time, and see a clear path to your goals, then there\u2019s nothing wrong with self-studying\u2014at least as a first attempt. You can supplement that with books, pre-recorded videos, and online courses from reputable companies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Now, if you have a bit more money and feel you would benefit from more structure and guidance, and can fit a live course into your schedule, then some of those same companies offer solid options for group classes.<\/span><\/p>\n Those are helpful if you\u2019re in the middle of the curve or just a bit above in terms of how you\u2019re scoring, Anthony explains. They can provide beneficial structure and they\u2019re at an intermediate price point. The downside is that it\u2019s not as tailored. You don\u2019t get as much personal attention as you would with individual tutoring.<\/span><\/p>\n One-on-one tutoring is the most expensive study option of the three. \u201cBut it\u2019s also the best possible yield on average,\u201d Anthony says. \u201cAnd given the dollars that we\u2019re talking about for actually attending business school, the financial aid money that may be in play, the added salary down the road, I think there\u2019s a lot of bases to make that investment.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSo, if your timeline doesn\u2019t allow for taking a course first and doesn\u2019t leave you the space to reassess and reevaluate, and if self-studying doesn\u2019t work out, I would consider going straight to tutoring,\u201d he advises.<\/span><\/p>\n The SBC test prep style is customized and tailored. We will meet you wherever you are at and create a personalized plan that fits your needs. Students start by signing up for SBC\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>two-hour trial test review package<\/span><\/a>. By the end of that session, we give them a thorough picture of how we can address their needs and help them reach their target score in a way that fits their application timeline and score goals.<\/span><\/p>\n Except in rare cases, we want to start this way no matter where you are in your process, Anthony notes. \u201cI find that students often struggle to self-assess effectively,\u201d he adds. \u201cIt\u2019s irresponsible for the tutor to jump into reviewing specific topics without first getting a clear picture of everything.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Subsequent sessions, most commonly one two-hour weekly session, target specific areas to help the student improve in various ways. This will typically include homework to ensure the student continues to progress between lessons as well.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBeyond that, it can really vary a lot in terms of topics covered, hours of tutoring, needed pace, time spent on homework review versus new material in lessons and everything else,\u201d Anthony explains. \u201cAll of that varies based on the student\u2019s background and past experience with the test and what we saw in that initial session.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n For procrastinators who haven\u2019t left much time for studying before the deadline, Anthony suggests they take a practice test ASAP and speak with a tutor immediately. That way, they can craft a plan that addresses their specific circumstances and maximizes the value of the time they have left.<\/span><\/p>\n Unfortunately, it takes some students multiple failures to realize they\u2019re not studying right.\u00a0 \u201cYou need to do something different because continuing to bang your head against the wall in the same way isn\u2019t going to get you a different result,\u201d Anthony says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Anthony warns that if you go until you get it right one time and move on, you won\u2019t be able to get those results under the pressure of testing. \u201cWe can give you an honest, critical assessment of your learning and tell you if you\u2019re not getting it well enough for the test,\u201d he explains.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cA lot of people make the mistake of studying until they get the problem right. But they should be studying until they can\u2019t do the problem wrong\u2014until it feels so automatic that it\u2019s totally inconceivable that you\u2019d ever not nail it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Or maybe it\u2019s a lack of understanding of how the GRE or GMAT test works and what they’re after. \u201cI hear many students say they get down to two answers on verbal questions but always fail to pick the \u2018best\u2019 one,\u201d Anthony says. There are no shades of gray with those questions, he confirms. There\u2019s only ever one correct answer and four defective, wrong answers.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSo, if you have that sort of confusion, it can really hold you back,\u201d he adds. \u201cWe can help you identify and correct those misunderstandings.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n For other students, the issue is time management. If your approach only works when you have unlimited time but can\u2019t solve problems within a two-minute average, you won\u2019t do well with the timer running.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re too stubborn and can\u2019t let go of problems you\u2019re unable to solve,\u201d Anthony says, \u201cyou\u2019ll torpedo your pacing and ruin your score.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Whether you study alone or engage a tutor, anyone can take advantage of Anthony\u2019s systematic approach to problem-solving. He advises students to spend a long time studying explanations rather than rushing to the next question. Also, they should try to articulate meaningful takeaways each time and identify when to use them in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIf you miss a question, or if you get it right but you had to guess, or if you just struggled and took way too long, then you need to really read the explanation, take your time and truly understand it,\u201d Anthony advises.<\/span><\/p>\n His final tip for anyone studying for the GRE or GMAT test is to keep an error log. This is a big spreadsheet where you record each question you struggled with and its topic or sub-topic. Note how long you spent on it, what answer you picked, why you missed it, and what you learned. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou want to data mine your errors to root out patterns of thinking that you can improve,\u201d Anthony says.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Once you have mastered a question in your error log, return to it a week later and try again. You\u2019ll do fine the second time if you\u2019ve truly learned it. But if you miss it again or struggle, it\u2019s back to the whole review and error log process.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a long, tedious, pain of a process,\u201d he admits. \u201cBut if you really want to see better results, this is the sort of purposeful practice it takes to do it right.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Before you leave, don’t sleep on this test prep resource, Anthony’s GMAT Math Cheat Sheet<\/a>, which is a must-have for any GMAT test taker. This comprehensive 10-page compendium is the only cheat sheet that includes absolutely every rule and strategy you need to know on topics such as Geometry, Data Sufficiency, Algebra, Word Problems, Statistics, and more.<\/p>\n ***<\/span><\/p>\n Request a free MBA advising session<\/a>\u00a0with\u00a0Stacy Blackman Consulting\u00a0to learn how we can help with your complete MBA applications. Here\u2019s a snapshot of the caliber of expertise on\u00a0our SBC team<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The post The GMAT Test: Expert Tips, Tricks & Advice<\/a> appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Are you applying to business school in the upcoming admissions cycle? Then now is the ideal time to nail down your test prep strategy. The GMAT test and the GRE…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":122,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"1","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,749,775,243],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-57416","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mba","category-stacy-blackman","category-admission-consultants","category-blog","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\t\t\nPartner with Stacy Blackman\u2019s best-in-class GMAT and GRE experts and increase your score significantly. Check out our\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/strong>test prep services here<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/a>. Request a free game plan chat with SBC\u2019s lead test prep coach by emailing\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/strong>testprep@stacyblackman.com<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/a>.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\nWhen to Start Prepping for the GMAT Test<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Self-Study vs. Classes vs. Private Tutor<\/span><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nThe Tutoring Experience With SBC<\/span><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nCommon Test-Taking Pitfalls<\/span><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nTake a Data-Driven Approach<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Get our Cheat Sheet!<\/h4>\n
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