When is the best time to do my GMAT?

Question

Hi,

I finished my postgraduate studies (MSc) last September and was due to start my consulting role in June 2023. This has unfortunately been pushed back to May 2024 which has forced me to take a gap year.

I see this time as the perfect opportunity to sit my GMAT but I am aware that the score only lasts 5 years and the top MBA programs (I am looking at Harvard, Wharton, Stanford etc) recommend at least 5 years of professional work experience. What do you think I should do? When do you think I should take the GMAT?

I have got professional experience amounting to a year through internships etc which I did during my undergraduate which would then comfortably give me a year leeway (I’d like my GMAT to be valid for as long as possible so I can apply in consecutive years if need be) for when I apply but I don’t think that experience ‘counts’. I do hope to gain 6 months of professional experience from September 2023 but this still won't give me that year 'leeway'. I don't want to sit the GMAT just to have to resit it in 5 years if I don't manage to get an offer.

Thank you in advance,

MartyTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi amd7km.

Much of the knowledge and many of the skills necessary for scoring high on the GMAT you'd retain pretty well even over the course of a year, especially if you were to do some regular light review during that year. So, one option could be to do much of your GMAT preparation during this gap year and then review and take it a year after you start work.

On another note, how is best for you to proceed depends in part on how much preparation you'll need to do. You can get a sense of that by preparing for around 15 to 20 hours to familiarize yourself with the GMAT format and questions and then taking one of the official practice tests available on mba.com.

If your score on that test is close to your goal score, then you likely won't need to do a huge amount of preparation to achieve your GMAT goal, in which case, handling GMAT prep while working won't be a big deal.

MBADecoder · Answer

a few things here -
Many students matriculate with 4-5 years work experience, which means that you can start writing your apps with 3-3.5 years work experience. In that scenario it makes sense to take the GMAT now. In case you don't score too well and need to retake, you will have ample time.
One thing to note is that the GMAT is going through changes which will be implemented by 2024. You may want to wait for the new GMAT or take it before the changes.

If you want to save yourself the trouble of taking it now, IMO, that is also ok. It will be a good idea to take it one year before you apply so that you still have enough time on hand to retake if need be. Once the GMAT is out of the way, you can concentrate solely on the applications.

Frankly, there's been so much uncertainty over the past few years- GMAT went online with onset of Covid, many b-schools gave a waiver, this year with mass layoffs, many b-schools continued the waiver. Who knows what would the situation be five years down the line.

pintukr · Answer

A high GMAT score with an all-round profile with 4-5 years' work experience will enable to make the cut. All the Best.

GyanOne · Answer

While it's true that top MBA programs such as Harvard, Wharton, and Stanford recommend applicants to have strong professional work experience, the 5 year thing is not a strict requirement at all. Plenty of people apply at the 3-4 year mark and are quite competitive. We have seen candidates with fewer years of experience gain admission to these prestigious programs, particularly if they demonstrate strong leadership potential, professional achievements, and a clear sense of their career goals.

Regarding your GMAT, I recommend taking advantage of the gap year you have at hand and preparing for the exam now. There are a few reasons why this makes sense:

- You currently have more time to focus on your GMAT preparation, which can potentially result in a higher score.
- A high GMAT score can help offset your relatively limited work experience when you apply to MBA programs.
- The GMAT score is valid for 5 years, giving you ample time to apply to MBA programs even if you decide to wait a few years to gain more work experience.

In terms of your internships and planned professional experience, while they might not be considered equivalent to full-time work experience, they can still contribute positively to your application. You can emphasize the skills and knowledge you've gained through these experiences in your essays and demonstrate how they have shaped your career aspirations.

AdmitExpert · Answer

Hi amd7km , The preference for candidates with 5+ years of work experience at top MBA programs is not an absolute rule, but rather a consideration to be carefully evaluated. By analyzing all the evidence and considering alternative viewpoints, you can arrive at a well-supported conclusion and potentially unlock your path to a top MBA program. Sounds like GMAT critical reasoning right?

While it is true that many top MBA programs prefer candidates with at least 5 years of work experience, that doesn't mean it is impossible to get in with less. Many candidates with strong profiles are accepted with less than 5 years of work experience. We have helped candidates with just about 2 years of work experience get into schools like NYU Stern with full ride scholarships. Regarding the GMAT, you could take it now and try to achieve the highest score possible. While the score is only valid for 5 years, it is better to have a good score and retake it later if necessary than to delay taking it and miss out on an opportunity. It's not like you are going to forget the concepts you learned 2 years later. GMAT does not work that way. If you prepare diligently, you are going to be able to use the same knowledge later on if you need a retake. For a more detailed 1-1 strategy session, please write to contactus@admitexpert.com or fill the form at http://www.admitexpert.com Good luck!

ExpertsGlobal · Answer

Hello  amd7km ,

Ideally, you should take the GMAT a year or a year and a half before applying. That way your scores are not very old + you have a substantial amount of time to retake the test. if needed.

All the best!

GeneralEducation · Answer

Timeline 
Now, the time you want to give for your GMAT prep would depend significantly on the familiarity you have about the exam and the subjects it includes. However, even if you are well-versed with the test pattern and the topics, you would at least need eight weeks to prepare for GMAT properly.

In case this is the first time you are writing the exam, and you are new to the subjects, then it is best to take at least six months to prepare for the exam. Hence, you need to evaluate yourself and find the best preparation duration for yourself, which would range between eight weeks to six months.

Scheduling
 Once you have a timeline for your exam preparation, the next thing you do is to schedule your exam. Don’t wait until the last minute to schedule your exam. GMAT is a very in-demand examination, and slots are often booked months in advance. Hence, as soon as you have set your study timelines, it is recommended to schedule an exam. If you are unable to take the test at the desired time, it may also result in you missing an admission cycle of your choice. While scheduling the exam, you also need to consider the admission cycles of the colleges you have shortlisted.

Start With A Goal 
Before diving right into the prep, you need to set a target GMAT score. To can check the average GMAT score of your shortlisted colleges and set a goal, which is a bit higher than that. Setting a target will help you make an informed plan for your preparation.

Self-Evaluation 
GMAT has quantitative and verbal sections. Hence, it would help you in a big way to understand your strengths and weaknesses in this context. To understand your strengths and weaknesses better, you can take a sample test before you start your prep to know where exactly you stand. This will assist you in sketching out a plan where you focus on enhancing your strengths and working on your weaknesses.

All the above best practices would help you design an efficient preparation plan for GMAT. Irrespective of your personal style of preparation, every step mentioned above is crucial and if any of the steps is/are missed, you might see the effect of it on your final score.

Hence, make sure you are thorough with your planning and get ahead of your competition to achieve your desired  GMAT score  and admission to the desired B-school.

When is the best time to do my GMAT?

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