Shall I have to take GMAT before I start working on it?

Question

I am planning to achieve >700 within 18 months from now. So I would like to ask if it is necessary to take it so I can see what I need to improve.

diegocml · Answer

Take a test under exam conditions and see where you stand. 18 months should give you plenty of time to study for the GMAT.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi gzsakuraz,

With an 18-month timeframe, you have plenty of time to study for the GMAT, which is good (and you likely will not need that much time). Once you plan to begin your studies, then it would be a good idea to take a FULL-LENGTH practice CAT Test; you can download 2 for free from www.mba.com (and they come with some additional practice materials). If you want to do a little studying first, so that you can familiarize yourself with the basic content and question types, then that's okay - but you shouldn't wait too long to take that initial CAT. That score will give us a good sense of your natural strengths and weaknesses and will help provide a basis for comparison as you continue to study. A FULL CAT takes about 4 hours to complete, so make sure that you've set aside enough time to take it in one sitting. Once you have those scores, you should report back here and we can come up with a study plan.

I'd like to know a bit more about your timeline and goals:
1) When do you plan to start studying?
2) How many hours a week do you think you can commit to your studies?

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

GMATPILLBILL · Answer

Hey gzsakuraz,

With 18 months to study, you have plenty of time. Here is a customized 2-3 month study plan you can look over: https://www.gmatpill.com/gmat-practice-t ... study-plan

Use this as a guideline. You don’t have to follow it exactly but the structure of the study plan should be the same structure that you take in your approach. This helps to optimize your retention and learning.

As you study, we recommend that you focus on one particular subsection for multiple consecutive days before moving onto the next. You can see this in our study plan where we recommend 5 days on nothing but SC -- before moving onto CR and then RC.

Here is a sample SC video to help you start your journey: https://www.gmatpill.com/sentencecorrect ... ythons.mp4

Best of luck - we are here to help.

CJWORK · Answer

Hello, I have 18 months but I am still in the fourth year of my engineering degree. Is it still enough?
I am not a native anyway.

I may start in the next month, but I wont be concentrate that much. I think I could make 10 hours per week.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi gzsakuraz,

GMAT Scores are good for 5 years, so you could 'lock up' a strong GMAT score in the near future, then apply to Business School later. Many Business Schools expect applicants to have several years of quality Work Experience before they apply, so that is something that you should factor in to your long-term plans.

If you could consistently study 10 hours each week for the GMAT, then a 3-month Study Plan might be enough for you to hit your score goal (although you might need more time than that, based on your individual strengths and weaknesses). Taking that first FULL CAT Test will help to define what you need to work on and how much time you would probably need to study.

1) When do you finish your engineering program (when do you graduate?)?

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

CJWORK · Answer

I am graduating in the next summer(June 2017).
Actually, I have a plan to gain 2-3 years of working experience. I just think I would not have time to study on the test seriously while working.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

I suggest that you first  get acquainted with the GMAT  so you have an idea of the various sections on the exam as well as the question formats. Once you understand what the test encompasses, you should take a  GMAT practice exam from MBA.com . The results of that exam will give you a good idea of what to expect on the GMAT and provide you with a baseline GMAT score. I also welcome you to take my free  37 question quant diagnostic  that will provide some more data about your current quant skills.

However, I want to stress that the results of one practice exam are not nearly robust enough to give you a detailed idea of your strengths and weaknesses. For instance, if you get an average rate question correct on your practice exam, that result does not necessarily indicate whether you can accurately solve all rate questions: e.g. converging rates, catch-up rates, roundtrip, catch up and pass, etc.
 
So after taking your practice test, make sure to find a study resource that allows for linear, targeted learning accompanied by rigorous practice. In other words, you want to master one topic before you move to the next. If you do not know which GMAT study resource to use, you can check out the course reviews on GMAT Club or  Beat The GMAT , both of which have thousands of verified reviews of different GMAT prep resources.
 
Feel free to reach out with any further questions and good luck!!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi gzsakuraz,

Many Test Takers have full-time jobs, lives, etc. while they study for the GMAT, so you could potentially hit your goals even under those conditions. However, the option to study for (and take) the GMAT before you enter into a full-time job gives you the opportunity to focus more on your studies - which could really help your performance overall. You can certainly begin your studies slowly, but at some point you're going to have to commit to a consistent, structured study plan (and investing in a GMAT Course of some type would probably help).

If you have any additional questions, then you can feel free to contact me directly.

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

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