Switching from CAT to GMAT, 1 month prep for 700+ (ISB)

Question

Hey everyone,
I just finished CAT and I’m now shifting to the  GMAT . I’ve got roughly  1 month  to prepare and I’m targeting  700+ , mainly for  ISB .
Looking for advice from people who’ve made this transition:
 
 What CAT skills transfer well to GMAT, and where does the mindset need to change? 
 With only  1 month , how should I split time between concepts, practice, and mocks? 
  Which resources  work best for CAT takers (Quant + Verbal)? 
  Which mock test series  is closest to the real GMAT and worth investing in? 
 Any common CAT → GMAT mistakes to avoid? 
 Also, how much does ISB weigh the  GMAT vs the overall profile ?  
Would really appreciate any suggestions, especially around  resources and test series .
Thanks in advance!

pintukr · Answer

Won't it be duplicating the efforts innecessarily ? IIMs admit through CAT may be less competitive.

Vidiptdua · Answer

CAT is significantly more competitive, GMAT provides access to a relatively limited number of colleges in India. However, GMAT colleges place considerable emphasis on a candidate’s overall profile as well.

pintukr

Won't it be duplicating the efforts innecessarily ? IIMs admit through CAT may be less competitive.

tellingres · Answer

I found Ria's strategies for boosting scores from 615 to 715 in just 15 days fascinating! The emphasis on speed versus accuracy is crucial. Have you tried implementing these techniques? I'm particularly intrigued by Julia's perfect 805 score debrief. It's inspiring to see such significant improvements.

AjiteshArun · Answer

Hi Vidiptdua,

I'm an IIM grad (CAT), and I've taken the GMAT 4 times. Broadly, preparing for any other ~similar test (like the GRE) should help when it comes to the GMAT.

1. Since you've prepped for the CAT, that should be even better, given that the CAT is significantly harder/more competitive.
2. I recommend that you start testing now. Get the free  official practice tests  and a couple of the paid ones as well. These tests are the most representative.
3. Are you targeting ISB R3 (Jan 25)? If you are, you may be cutting it very close. Make sure you take the test-centre GMAT (ISB doesn't accept GMAT Online scores).
4. You should focus primarily on official resources (practice questions/tests) at this stage.
5. The GMAT is probably ~25-30% of the decision for ISB.

All the best!

Ayushi765 · Answer

If you were good at the quant in CAT, that would translate well to GMAT quant as well. GMAT Verbal is a different ballgame though and it doesn't map well onto anything that Indian standardised tests test for. I scored a 755 (100th percentile) on the test with a V90 a while ago and have been tutoring for a bit. Feel free to DM if you'd be interested in 1-on-1 tutoring

EducationAisle · Answer

By the way, hope you are aware that you have time till Feb 22 (assuming you are targeting YL), to give GMAT.

So, that gives you almost 2 months for prep. Prepare well and see if you can score 685+, for a strong candidature.

You might want to start with a free official mock test (available at mba.com), to identify the areas that you should majorly focus on.

vv65 · Answer

If you haven't taken any GMAT practice test, start the GMAT journey by doing the first of the two free GMATPREP exams. This will tell you where you stand and give you some idea of how much work you need to put in.

Do you have any estimate of expected CAT percentile?

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Since you’re just beginning your GMAT prep, I suggest that you spend some time familiarizing yourself with the GMAT’s general structure and content, especially Data Sufficiency questions, which are unique to the GMAT. Then take an official practice test from mba.com to get your baseline score. Doing so will help you gauge the amount of work required to reach your target score.

In fact, this article will give you an idea about how many hours you’ll need to prepare:  How Many Hours Should I Study for the GMAT Focus?

Once you have a baseline score, adopt a prep strategy consisting of topical learning and practice. In other words, focus on just ONE topic at a time and practice that topic until you achieve mastery.

For instance, let's consider your study of Number Properties. First, immerse yourself in all aspects (formulas, properties, techniques and strategies) of this topic, and then, focus solely on Number Property questions. After each problem set, take the time to delve into your incorrect answers. This self-reflection is a powerful tool that allows you to understand your learning process and make significant improvements. For instance, if you made a mistake in a remainder question, ask yourself why. Was it a careless error? Did you not apply the remainder formula correctly? Was there a concept in the question that you didn't grasp?

By meticulously analyzing your mistakes, you will efficiently address your weaknesses and, consequently, enhance your GMAT quant skills. This process has been unequivocally proven to be effective. Number Properties is just one example; be sure to follow this process for all Quant, Verbal, and DI topics.

This article outlines the different phases of your prep:  The Phases of Preparing for the GMAT

Once you have mastered all of the content, you can begin taking official practice tests. With each test, carefully review your results to identify remaining gaps in your content knowledge and work on strengthening those areas until you fully understand them. Then (and only then) take another practice test. Repeat this process until you reach (or exceed!) your goal score.

Here’s an article on how to structure your prep:  GMAT Preparation Strategy

srishtichoudhary · Answer

hii where did you find these stretegies? can you ping me?

Vidiptdua · Answer

Can you send me the link to that? I couldn't find it.

Vidiptdua · Answer

Hi, 
Thanks a lot for the detailed response. Yes, I’m targeting ISB YLP R3 (Jan 2025), so I’m aware the timeline is tight. I’m planning to take the test-centre GMAT, keeping ISB’s requirements in mind.

I took an official GMAT mock without any prep and scored 585, so I’m hoping that with focused preparation over the next month, a 700+ is achievable. Quant seems pretty manageable. I need to work a lot on CR. Would you recommend any resources for that?

I've started the OG and the sectional guides. Would the 6 official tests be enough or should i get more?

From your experience, what would you consider a safe GMAT score range for ISB YLP R3, assuming a strong and slightly unconventional profile (I’m currently playing football professionally in India)?

AjiteshArun · Answer

Hi Vidiptdua,

Here are my thoughts:

1. The 25 Jan R3 deadline is for the PGP program.  The R2 (final) deadline for YL is  22 Feb , so you have some time.

2. A no-prep 585 is good. Try to get that up to at least a 645-655 before you take the test.

3. Don't finish all 6 official practice tests before your first GMAT. Instead, take (and retake once) 3-4 of those tests. This isn't ideal, but you should leave a couple of official practice tests just in case you need to retake the GMAT. You're aiming for a high score, so it'd be a good idea to plan for a possible second attempt.

4. You have a lot of choices for CR prep, including books, mass-market prep, live classes, and tutors. You could also use  my CR course on YouTube .

5. ISB is a very competitive school, and there may be no safe score as such. That said, the score you're targeting (700+) would look really good to the adcom. Also, since I'm not too familiar with YL, you may want to tag Ashish (EducationAisle), as he's an ISB grad.

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Switching from CAT to GMAT, 1 month prep for 700+ (ISB)

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