GMAT Study Guide

Quantitative Section

The Quantitative Section tests how well you can analyze data using your reasoning skills to draw accurate conclusions. The mathematics curriculum for the section is the same as that taught in secondary school/high school.

Tests, Composition, and Pacing
Two types of multiple-choice questions: data sufficiency and problem-solving. 13-14 data sufficiency questions: Two statements follow one question. You must determine if the information in the statements — whether taken singly or together — is sufficient to answer the question. 23-24 problem-solving questions: Choose the best among the five solutions to a problem.

In totality, the Quantitative Section consists of 37 questions that must be solved in 75 minutes. That gives you an average of a little over two minutes per question. If you understand the questions and work off strong foundational knowledge, you’ll easily be able to solve each within two minutes.

Scoring
You can score between 0 and 60 points. See the table here.

Problem Solving

Core Competencies

Algebra is one of this section’s core competencies and involved in more than 50% of all problems. Geometry, number theory, probability, combinatorics, exponents and square roots, and variable operations are some other fundamentals you’ll be measured on. As indicated earlier, you’ll be tested on elementary mathematical concepts that most students have learned by 10th grade.

What business schools want to know is, given your math fundamentals, how you can reason quantitatively. In the real world, when dealing with a vast amount of information from case studies, you’ll need to make sense of it and use it to inform solutions to business challenges.

Other competencies are analysis, attention to the right details, pattern recognition, and translating statement problems into math (paraphrasing).

Question Format

• Solve the problems and choose the best answer.
• All figures lie in a plane except when noted. All numbers used are real numbers. Flat figures and a lack of imaginary numbers simplify analysis.

Note: Unless otherwise indicated, the figures accompanying questions have been drawn as accurately as possible and may be used as sources of information for answering the questions. This means you can use the figures for estimating measurements and size relationships. When diagrams are not drawn to scale, observing them closely does not make sense, and you’re better off working past them to get to the solution.

Basic Principles

You can use a simple four-step process to tackle all the problems in this section.
Analysis

• Identify the type of problem: algebra, permutation, standard deviation, overlapping sets, etc. This will tell you what formulas and/or rules to use.
• See if you can simplify the problem.
• Scan the answers to select the approach: if they’re numerical values, can you put them back into the question (backsolve), or if they’re widely spread, can you estimate?

Stating the task
A common trap is to find the right answer to the wrong question. So be clear about what you’re solving for.

Strategic approach
You should have a straightforward approach and avoid getting into complex calculations.

Confirmation
As you cannot return to an answer to re-check your work, it is best to reread the question as you’re selecting the answer, and should you spot a glitch, take a second stab at it. If not, you can move on to the next question.

Problem-solving strategies

Backsolving

In this method, you solve the problem backward by starting with the answer choices and putting them in the given equations to determine which one works.

Example 1 – A rectangular door is twice as long as it is wide. If its perimeter is 20 feet, what are the rectangle’s dimensions?

• A: 16/2 by 7/2
• B: 20/2 by 10/2
• C: 10/2 by 5/2
• D: 20/3 by 10/3
• E: 9 by 6

Answer – Perimeter = 2(L+W), so you need to see which answer can make the perimeter equal to 20 feet. Also note that L:W :: 2:1. You can eliminate ‘A’ because 16/2 is not twice 7/2. You can similarly rule out E because two times six is not nine. Move to B. 2[(20/2)] + 2[(10/2)] = 30, so wrong answer. Move to C. 2[(10/2)] + 2[(5/2)] = 15, so wrong answer. So the right answer has to be D. Confirm it. 2[(20/3)] + 2[(10/3)] = 60/3 = 20.

Picking numbers In this method, you select numbers that meet the conditions/requirements of the question, perform certain operations on them, and then compare them against the answer choices.

Example 2 – The revenue of a company increased 20 percent and then decreased 25 percent. What was the final change in revenue relative to the original revenue?

• A: 5% increase
• B: 5% decrease
• C: 10% decrease
• D: 10% increase
• E: No change

Answer – Given the percentage values, picking 100, i.e., assuming the original revenue to be $100, can aid quick calculations. A 20% increase brings the revenue to $120. A 25% decrease from $120 brings the revenue down to $90. At this amount, the net change in revenue is negative 10% [($90 – $100)/$100]

Estimation

GMAT questions are not designed for lengthy, complex calculations, which means you can estimate to arrive at the right answer.

Example 4 – What is 30% of the square root of 67?

• A : 19.2
• B : 54.9
• C : 0.30
• D : 17.8
• E : 2.4

Answer – Approximate 67 a little less to 64, whose square root is 8. So, let the square root of 67 be 8.2. So, now you have to calculate 30% of 8.2. Approximate 30% as 1/3 to now calculate 8.2/3, which is less than 3. As you know this number will be a little bigger than the actual answer, you have to look for an answer that’s a little smaller than this value. That makes the correct answer 2.4.

Double Matrix

This method is useful when the problem consists of two sets of data.
Example 5 – At Infotech Corporation, there are 350 employees. Of these, 90 are female and the rest are male. There are 140 managers in total and the rest of the employees are analysts. If there are totally 135 male analysts, how many female managers does the company have?

• A : 10
• B : 20
• C : 15
• D : 30
• E : 5

Answer – As every member is categorized in two different ways, the double matrix method can be used.

The matrix with the numbers filled in

Looking at the table above, G = 260, and the total number of associates = F = 210 (350 total – 140 managers)
The new matrix will look like

In the ‘analysts’ row, 135+E=210, meaning E=75.

Finding the number of female managers is now easy. In the ‘females’ column, B – 75 = 90, meaning B = 15. Therefore, the correct answer is C.

Common problem-solving mistakes

1. Over solving problems: Some problems are designed to trap you into unnecessary calculations. Don’t solve more than what is necessary, or you’ll only end up wasting time.
2. Rushing too fast: Don’t jump to conclusions. It’s okay to start a little slow to understand the problem correctly and avoid confusion.
3. Getting confused: This includes confusing units of measurement, a percent increase with an absolute percent (100 percent of 60 is not the same as a 100 percent increase from a base of 60), volume left versus volume removed, or distance traveled versus distance remaining.
4. Getting intimidated by the numbers: As you’re not allowed a calculator, the numbers given will be easy to work with. So focus on acing calculations without fear.
5. Not reading questions carefully: A classic mistake test takers make is answering the question they thought they read versus what it actually asked. What’s more, test writers tend to deliberately include answer choices that answer misinterpretations of the questions.

Data Sufficiency

The Data Sufficiency section tests your ability to analyze a quantitative problem and recognize the information necessary to find the solution. There is no calculation or number-crunching involved.

Core Competencies

Critical thinking is a skill and an asset to nailing the data sufficiency section. Like problem-solving, attention to the right details is also important.

Question Format

In each of the problems, a question is followed by two statements containing certain data. You must determine whether the data provided by the statements is sufficient to answer the question. Choose the correct answer based on the statements’ data, your knowledge of mathematics, and your familiarity with everyday facts.

You Need To Indicate Whether:

• A: Statement (1) alone is sufficient, but statement (2) is not sufficient
• B: Statement (2) alone is sufficient, but statement (1) is not sufficient
• C: Both statements taken together are sufficient, but neither statement alone is sufficient
• D: Each statement alone is sufficient
• E: Statements (1) and (2) together are not sufficient

Basic Principles

Each data sufficiency question has three components:

1. The data given in the question
2. The question itself
3. The statements that give you data These may or may not allow you to answer the question

Example – If x is positive, is x a prime number?

• x is odd
• x < 8

Answer – Consider (1); it tells you that x is positive and odd. If so, it could be prime, say 3. However, it can also be a composite number, say 9. That makes statement (1) insufficient. Now, let’s consider (2) alone. You know that x is positive and less than 8. Does that make it prime? Not necessarily, as x can be 3 — which is prime — or 4 — which is composite. Additionally, we’re not sure if x is an integer, meaning it could also be 2.5. Therefore, statement (2) is insufficient.

With both statements insufficient on their own, you must consider them together. That tells you that x is odd, positive, and less than 8. The only possible values for x are 1, 3, 5, and 7. Further, 1 is not a prime number. Therefore, when taken together, the statements are still insufficient. The correct choice is ‘E.’

Data Sufficiency Strategies

Memorize the answer choices. The answer choices for data sufficiency questions never change, so memorizing them can save you time by giving you a good head-start. For instance, if Statement 1 is insufficient, you can instantly strike out choices A and D. Use elimination and guessing to your advantage. An advantage of data sufficiency questions is that you can rule out two or three answers at a time. But what if you have decided on one of the two statements, and you’re struggling to figure out the other one?

Here Are Four Tips:

1. If, on its own, Statement 1 is sufficient, and Statement 2 is confusing, strikeout B, C, and E. This will leave you with A and D.
2. If, on its own, Statement 1 is confusing, and Statement 2 is sufficient on its own, rule out A, C, and E. You’ll be left with B and D.
3. If, on its own, Statement 1 is not sufficient, and Statement 2 is confusing, eliminate A and D to choose between B, C, and E.
4. If Statement 1 is confusing, and Statement 2 is not sufficient on its own, rule out B and D. This will leave you with A, C, and E.

Prove insufficiency. Don’t stop at one or two, “no’s.” Seek out various possibilities to prove that the statement is sufficient in all the cases, or find one or more cases that make the statement insufficient. What really helps here is applying the few unique cases where a conclusion that appears likely is invalid.

Treat the obvious answer with caution. Data sufficiency questions are designed to test your ingenuity and critical thinking skills, so don’t expect to conclude in a matter of seconds. If an answer choice seems like an obvious winner within 15-20 seconds, you may just fall into a trap.

Don’t contradict yourself. The statements in a data sufficiency question will never contradict each other. That means, if your answers for Statement 1 and Statement 2 are different, you need to revisit your work.

Common Data Sufficiency Mistakes

1. Over-calculating: Data sufficiency is about determining whether an answer can be given and not what the answer is. When a question contains a bunch of fractions and operations with just one variable, you only need to figure out whether you have the data to find an answer to the problem.
2. Under-calculating: As discussed above, to prove insufficiency, you need to consider multiple cases, so you cannot afford to skip calculations.
3. Unnecessarily combining statements: One juvenile error is looking at both statements, thinking that you can find the answer, and deciding that together the statements are sufficient. But keep in mind that the answer choices also ask if either statement alone can answer the question.
4. Not analyzing each statement separately: It’s essential to determine if each answer by itself offers a satisfactory answer. When moving from one answer choice to another, set aside the data supplied in the previous statement and vice-versa.
5. Making assumptions: Assuming more than what’s explicitly stated in a question and foregoing, other possible options is dangerous and can easily lead you to the wrong conclusion.

A Rundown Of The Math Topics Covered In The Quantitative Section

Algebra on the GMAT

• Translating Words into Expressions and Equations
• Isolating a Variable
• Quadratic Equations
• Special Cases in Systems of Linear Equations
• Functions and Symbolism
• Answers and Explanations

Arithmetic on the GMAT

• Arithmetic Basics
• Fractions and Decimals
• Exponents
• Radicals
• Absolute Value
• Inequalities
• Answers and Explanations

Number Properties on the GMAT

• Integers and Non-integers
• Odds and Evens
• Positives and Negatives
• Factors and Multiples
• Remainders and Primes
• Sequences

Proportions on the GMAT

• Applying Fractions and Proportions
• Ratios Percents with Specified Values
• Mixtures

Statistics on the GMAT

• Median, Mode, Range, and Standard Deviation
• Sequences of Integers
• Combinations and Permutations
• Probability

Math Formulas on the GMAT

• Averages
• Rates and Speed – Converting Rates
• Rates and Speed – Multi-Part Journeys
• Combined Rates and Combined Work
• Interest Rates
• Overlapping Sets

Geometry on the GMAT

• Lines and Angles
• Triangles
• Polygons
• Circles
• Multiple Figures
• Solids
• Coordinate Geometry

GMAT Quantitative Section Resources:

• GmatClub.com Quant Articles
• UIS.edu GMAT Qant Handout

Analytical Writing Assessment

The Analytical Writing Assessment or AWA was added to GMAT after repeated requests from business schools. This section eliminates the possibility of international students hiring others to write their application essays, and it also weeds out students who lack good writing skills.

In this segment, your critical analysis ability is evaluated, and so is your ability to express your ideas. An argument is presented to you, and you are required to analyze the reasoning behind it and critique it.

Essay Format and Structure
A single essay question, also called a prompt, is given here. You have 30 minutes to complete this section using the in-built word processor to compose your own essay in response to the prompt.

How is the AWA Scored?
You can score between 0 to 6 on the AWA section of the test. This section’s scoring is done by a college or university faculty member drawn from the English or Communications stream. Holistic grading is applied to your essay, with 6 representing an ‘outstanding essay’ and 0 representing no substantive response.

The presentation of the content, the organization of thoughts, command over the English language (syntax and word choice), and grammar all play key roles in your scoring. A computerized e-rater also scores your essay. If the e-rater’s score and the human reader’s score show a variance of only one point, the scores are averaged. Otherwise, the second human reader grades the essay, and the two scores from the human readers are averaged to give you the final score.

The Basic Principles of Analytical Writing

In the 30 minutes allocated, you must analyze the argument and then present a constructive critique. You can either agree with the argument or disagree; however, you must articulate your stance well and present supporting evidence and convincing and reasonable arguments. To score high in this section, you need to possess exemplary analytical and writing skills.

An analytical essay is divided into three sections: the opening paragraph, the main idea, and the conclusion. Your essay should adhere to this structure. Keep the language simple and ensure that your arguments are clear and precise. Ambiguity because of complex sentence structure or vague ideas can be detrimental to your score. Pay special attention to your arguments’ logical flow and ensure that there is no flaw or contradiction. Keep in mind that you are required to follow the rules of standard written English.

Breakdown: Analysis of an Argument

The first step is to read the prompt and understand the central opinion of the author. Your understanding of this can be your opening to the critique. Now, move on to the arguments presented in the prompt and assess them to see which ones seem faulty or weak. Make a note of why you feel these are flawed; you will need to explain this when you write your essay. The next step is to come up with arguments and evidence that support your stance. At this point, also consider points that may be raised against your conclusion so that you can preempt criticism and address it in your essay.

Practice Essays

Practice makes perfect when it comes to AWAs. Apart from sample AWA prompts that you can find online (such as here), you can also take up news articles from reputed papers, blogs, journals, and weeklies and build arguments in support of them or against them. Review your written arguments objectively and also get them reviewed by people who are fluent in English. Reading arguments, developing and writing your own counter-argument, and getting feedback on your written work are the most effective ways to practice for your AWA.

AWA Argument Essay Tips to Scoring High

• Review several sample AWA essays to understand how best to format your argument. You will find a few samples here.
• A review of past AWA essay topics will give you a good idea of what to expect and help you prepare yourself beforehand by reading up on subjects that may be pertinent.
• When you are taking the test, read the prompt thoroughly, and identify the main argument being made and the conclusion that is being drawn. This is the first step.
• Look out for flawed logic, baseless assumptions, and weak evidence used to support the conclusion.
• Do not remain focused on the length of your essay. A well-written, well-argued 400-word essay will get a better score than a poorly organized, weakly argued 600-word one.

Tips to Score High with the E-rater:

• Maintain a rigid, highly organized structure with your essay.
• Sections should be clearly demarcated.
• Use qualifiers carefully and judiciously.

Sample Structure of AWA Essay

Introduction Restate the argument in your own words to show how well you have comprehended it. Follow it up by stating whether you agree or disagree with the argument, and present your assessment of why the argument is flawed or correct.

Body Paragraphs

Write two to three body paragraphs to take up specific sections of the prompt, and break them down critically. Conclude with your point of view about the argument and the evidence that would have supported it.

Here is The General Structure to Follow for These Body Paragraphs:

• State the aspect of the argument that you want to address, and describe how it is either valid or invalid, starting your explanation with a transition.
• Next, share your reasons for holding your point of view.
• Make sure to present your main points and your evidence to back up your points here.
• State why the prompt does not really make a valid point.
• End the paragraph with a summation of how the argument could have been strengthened.

Conclusion

Reiterate your position. Summarize the complete essay, and address the original argument if your view is completely contrary to it.
What to Include in Your AWA Essay:

• Include examples to support your opinion. Make use of “for example,” “specifically,” “for instance,” “to illustrate,” or “because.”
• Include examples providing additional support to your evidence/opinion. Make use of “in addition,” “furthermore,” “moreover,” “similarly,” “also,” “just as,” or “as a result.”
• Add importance to your argument by making use of “surely,” “in fact,” “truly,” “clearly,” “most importantly,” or “undoubtedly.”
• Highlight contrasts by making use of “yet,” “rather,” “despite,” “instead,” “although,” “however,” or “while.”
• Help drive the decision against the prompt by making use of “it could be argued that,” “one cannot deny that,” “admittedly,” or “granted.”
• Encourage comparison by making use of “on the one hand” and “on the other hand.” Convince the reader of your conclusion by making use of “ultimately,” “in summary,” “therefore,” “hence,” “in conclusion,” “consequently,” or “in closing.”

Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) Resources:

• Economist.com Six Steps to Conquering the AWA
• Magoosh.com AWA Sample Essay

Integrated Reasoning

The Integrated Reasoning (IR) section requires you to analyze data presented in various forms, such as words, tables, and charts, and derive insights to answer questions about the data. The questions are varied, from asking you to interpret the reason for a particular trend in the data to determining whether a statement is true or false. There are a total of 12 questions and a 30-minute deadline.

Core Competencies
IR measures your higher-order reasoning skills. It was added to the GMAT to test an important skill that employers seek in new hires: the ability to assess information in various formats, synthesize it and draw conclusions that aid decision-making. As data drive modern business intelligence and decision support systems, this section tests how well you can manage in today’s data-driven workplace.

Scoring
You can score between 1 and 8 points. It is separate from the Verbal and Quantitative scores and won’t factor in your overall GMAT score. While the score won’t be included in the Unofficial Score Report that you get immediately after the GMAT, it will be provided to you within 20 days as part of the Official GMAT Score Report.

Question Formats
This section consists of four types of questions:

• Table Analysis: Here, you have to analyze a table of data and determine four or five statements’ accuracy. You can sort the table to pull out insights.
• Graphics Interpretation: You read and interpret a graph or other image and then answer response statements using drop-down menus.
• Multi-Source Reasoning: Here, you’re provided with a set of tabbed pages, all of them containing relevant information. You’re required to use all the sources to judge the accuracy of the given statements.
• Two-Part Analysis: You must figure out the two correct components of the answer to two-part analysis questions. The answer choices are presented in a table, and all options need to be considered.

IR Strategies

Manage Time Efficiently

Integrated Reasoning affords you more time per question than the Verbal or Quant sections. However, as the questions in this section are different from each other, you’ll need to time each test accordingly.

Multi-Source Reasoning

Reading the passages will take up a lot of your time. Allocate two minutes to get familiar with the passage and 90 seconds for each question.

Table Analysis

As the tables are big and complex, devote up to three minutes to each question to improve your chances of answering all three prompts for each question accurately.

Graphics Interpretation

Though you won’t have to deal with as much information as in the Table Analysis, synthesizing it can take up time. You’ll also need to look at multiple prompts per question. So it’s best to allocate three minutes per question.

Two-Part Analysis

A comparatively less challenging test, your critical reasoning experience will come in handy here, and the answer choices are also, as such, quite straightforward. Two minutes per question will suffice.

Understand how Executives Make Decisions

The good news is that you can apply some of the skills from the Quant and Verbal sections to IR, particularly the former. Besides the reading and data interpretation, Math is also a common feature across both sections. What makes IR different then? It boils down to the two key skills for this section: critical thinking and executive function.

Critical thinking is a disciplined process involving the skillful conceptualization, application, analysis, synthesis, and/or evaluation of information. In the GMAT context, accurate reasoning plays a major role, while in the real world, your evaluation and actions can be guided by observation, experience, and reflection. Executive function comprises mental skills that enable you to plan, organize, remember, reason, prioritize, multi-task, and execute problem-solving. These skills are essential for an executive to succeed in today’s dynamic business environment.

How can you develop critical thinking and executive functioning skills when you have little or no executive experience? By understanding how business leaders do it. Make it a habit to read business magazines and newspapers like Bloomberg Business Week, The Economist, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, Harvard Business Review, and The Wall Street Journal, to name some. If you have access to business executives in your social circles, attempt to learn more about their craft. Understand how they weigh risks, manage priorities, and make business decisions. Beyond the confines of test materials and practice papers, there’s a wealth of knowledge that can help you become a well-rounded GMAT test taker.

Approach Smartly

Have perspective; your preparation for the Verbal and Quant sections will, to a great extent, help you with IR. That doesn’t mean you can afford not to study for this section; rather, don’t prioritize it and save your energy for the other sections. Remember that the Integrated Reasoning section is half an hour long and not included in the 200-800 score.

The 10-question strategy is a good one to consider. Here, you focus on just ten questions and guess the other two.

The advantages of this strategy are:

• An extra 30 seconds to devote to a graph/table can be the difference between a right and wrong answer. By focusing completely on the 10 questions you’re attempting, you can increase your chances of getting a lot more of them right.
• Almost everyone guesses on some questions in this section. The important question is: will there be questions at the end of the section that you didn’t have time to assess, or are they the questions you’ve selected to guess on? The latter will put you in control of the test, while the former may leave you with regrets.
• Trying to answer each of the 12 questions within a 30-minute timeframe is stressful. With no prior plan to skip one or more questions, you’re left with less time per question. Just the knowledge that you have 10 questions before you to tackle and, therefore, a little more time can reduce stress and be good for overall confidence.

Learn the IR Question Types and Formats

A familiarity with how this section works and the different types of tests can efficiently manage time and effort. As the IR section comes before the Quant/Verbal section, you mustn’t panic and carry over these sections’ stress. When you know what you’re in for, your stress levels will stay in control!

Know When to Cut Your Losses

As you can’t get partial credit in IR and each question has multiple parts, it is best to focus on getting answers right than getting to all of them. Prioritize quality over quantity. For instance, say an IR question has three statements, and you need to pick the right choice for each. That means, to get any credit, you’ll have to choose the correct option for all three statements. In a situation where you have figured out the first two questions, it makes sense to attempt the third question. On the other hand, if the first two questions throw you off, it’s not worth wasting your energy on the third one. It’s better to cut your losses, skip the question, and move on to the next.

Focus on Getting Reading Comprehension Right.

The first critical step in IR is interpreting the question perfectly, allowing you to solve it correctly. The verbal and Math concepts tested in this section are not hard; the challenge comes from how they’re framed. Approach the questions as you would a Reading Comprehension passage, working out how different bits of information interact with each other and tie into the big picture.

Five Tips on Analyzing IR Questions

Find the relationship between the variables. When you see a graph, chart, or table, spot the relationships between the diagram variables. Does the data increase or decrease suddenly at one or more points? Is there is a direct or indirect correlation between the variables? This understanding will assist in interpreting multiple responses to a large extent.

Read All the Labels

Avoid skipping screens and going straight to the questions, or you may end up sacrificing accuracy. Read the writing near or on the data, including titles, captions, footnotes, etc., as they’re essential to how everything else comes together. Just scanning the data won’t work; you’ll first need to comprehend it to analyze and synthesize it fully.

The Data is There For You to See

Like an open-book test, the answers to IR questions are lurking in the graph, chart, table, and passage provided to you. You just need to know where to look, and this is possible only if you grasp and apply information from everything presented. Sometimes, you may have to use data from one screen and apply it to another. It helps if you can mentally categorize the screens to juggle the data as and when required.

Note Units Carefully

Besides noting the captions and other data located near diagrams, you also need to pay attention to units (sq ft, cub ft, m3, mph, etc.). Is the data in the chart represented in years or months? Do the calculations require you to convert from days to hours? You may have to perform simple conversions when moving between screens, or the units may change from chart to table. Absorb these details to think with greater clarity and minimize the risk of errors.

Identify Data Trends

Integrated reasoning is about spotting patterns and data trends. The illustrations and passages are trying to tell you something. The data may move from broad to specific or vice-versa. See if there is or isn’t room for generalization. Understand how trend lines and correlations work to analyze data with accuracy.

Some More Pointers

• Start practicing for the Integrated Reasoning section early on. Include IR practice sections as part of your entire practice test, and try to attempt extra questions, as well.
• If you feel comfortable tackling all 12 multiple questions within the half-hour timeframe, go the full mile on test day. If not, focus on the type of questions you’re good at and those you want to guess on.
• On test day, take a few seconds to assess your least favorite questions instead of just guessing them. If you’re confident about getting them right, attempt them or else quickly guess and move on.

GMAT Integrated Reasoning (IR) Study Resources:

• MBA.com Integrated Reasoning
• BeatTheGMAT.com GMAT Integrated Reasoning

Exam Day Tips

Advanced prepping and smart strategizing apart, a winning attitude can be the morale booster you need to ace the GMAT. Here are some tips on doing your best on exam day.

Create a Schedule
Set a study schedule based on your current situation (are you devoting your full time to studies, are you employed, manage a business, etc.), your study habits, and your strengths and weaknesses based on the skills necessary for this exam. Choose the hours for GMAT preparation wisely; this is when you should have both the free time and energy to devote yourself to the task at hand completely.

Don’t Judge
It’s not the end of the world if you cannot solve a GMAT problem involving ninth grade math. Don’t let what you don’t know to get in the way of what you can learn and achieve. Set aside any feelings of shame or dejection, and stay motivated to correct your mistakes and pick up smarter, better ways of navigating this exam.

Visualize Success
A visualization is a powerful tool that can alter your environment, changing the way your mind and body react to your surroundings. When attempting practice tests, imagine that it’s D-Day and prepare yourself for what’s ahead. Visualize peak performance on the big day. Spend time every day, imagining the various details of each test. This mental preparation will carry over to the actual test day and help you tackle questions with precision and clarity.

Meditation and quiet time can work wonders in calming your nerves and relaxing your mind. If you often get anxious about taking the GMAT, you can try two very effective and simple yoga breathing exercises: pranayama and nadi shodhana.

Make Time for Hobbies and Socialization.
Cramming for the GMAT and staying all day indoors on weekends can take a toll on your mental and physical health. Make some time for hobbies and socializing to clear your mind, think optimistically, and benefit from the encouraging words of support from family and friends.

Last but not least, take good care of yourself. Eat a nutritious diet and get the physical activity your body needs to build stamina. Don’t sacrifice sleep, and maintain a sense of humor about the GMAT.

Best GMAT Prep Apps for Studying

It was only a matter of time before mobile apps for test preparation hit the market to assist online MBA and Graduate Business students in refining their test-taking skills. And if the question test is the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), which requires extensive preparation and is considered challenging even by advanced students, mobile learning can deliver the extra boost to crack the test.

It is near impossible to pass the GMAT with flying colors by studying only one or two weeks. It is critical to allow adequate time to grasp concepts and gain an easy familiarity with the different sections and questions. Even those who sign up for private tutoring agree that self-practice is necessary to apply and reinforce concepts. Research suggests that test-takers who scored the highest also studied the most. The average test taker spends a little over a month studying for the GMAT.

GMAT apps give students yet another way to access and practice test papers. An advantage of M-learning is that it allows you to bring test prep material with you wherever you go. You can quickly access and practice GMAT worksheets any time you have a few minutes to spare, whether on your bus/subway commute or waiting in a long line at a Black Friday sale. The extra minutes of studying can mean the difference between getting an average and a competitive score. Mobile-based learning is another approach to prepare for the GMAT.

Besides making lessons accessible anywhere, including public places, m-learning through a GMAT preparation app can:

• Enable you to learn more flexibly and at your own pace. You don’t have to cram too much into a limited time window at your study table or before your desktop.
• Change the ‘mood’ of learning from academic and muted to an engaging and dynamic mobile learning environment.
• Create the opportunity for a blended style of learning for an interesting overall learning experience.

1. Prep4GMAT

This is an app that helps your prepare for the Graduate Management Admission Test with the help of some 1,000 practice questions and 100 flash cards that cover all the sections of the test. It also has analytics that tell you in which sections of the test you need to improve and also whether or not you need to work on your speed.

Cost: Free
Platforms: iOS and Android
Links:

• Website
• Itunes
• Android

App Pros:
The app is pretty much up-to-date, with it last having been updated in September 2015. This is an advantage because the questions that have appeared on recent tests and/or their variations could have found their way into the app. You can customize quizzes to work on any section or multiple sections of the test, saving you a ton of time when you don’t need to work on all the four sections of the Graduate Management Admission Test. The app can also be synced across several mobile devices, which is great if you prefer to learn with, say, a larger screen at home while still using your phone for test practice while on the go.

App Cons:
Several typographical errors/spelling mistakes are present. Sometimes, the right answers are marked wrong. This is a more serious issue when you understand at which level you stand regarding the test. Technical problems include the app getting stuck suddenly, and Discover Business also discovered that there are difficulties involved when users swipe between questions.

Recommended For:
The app is recommended to those who have limited time to prepare for the test. If you are learning on your own, you also get access to an expert tutor with this app. There are bite-sized lessons that help you improve your performance. The analytics break down your performance on sample tests to tell you what specific question types within the same section you need improvement and how much – the data also reveals how much time you take on these difficult questions. This gives you an incentive to work on them, and overall it is a solid package that has been rated among the top by thousands of users.

2. GMAT Math Flashcards from Magoosh

This is an app containing 425 flash cards replete with Math formulas and concepts, and is intended to help you score better on the Quantitative section of the GMAT. The content on the cards has been devised by Magoosh’s expert tutors, who have years of experience coaching aspiring test-takers.

Cost: Free
Platforms: iOS and Android
Links:

• Website
• Itunes
• Android

App Pros:
The flashcards cover all difficulty levels, and there is a separate ‘deck’ for each Math subject. You can track your progress, and it comes with an in-built algorithm that optimizes your test practice. The user interface is simple and not harsh on the eyes, either. It is relatively up-to-date, with it last having seen an update towards the end of March 2015, it can be expected to feature some of the questions (or their variations) that have appeared on the actual test until then. Hundreds of users have rated it at the highest level.

App Cons:
The formulas don’t show up when the app is used offline. This can be a bother, as users tend to lose Wi-Fi connectivity while on the go, such as while taking the subway, a bus, or train. The flashcards sometimes repeat themselves, and Discover Business finds that the app also freezes up occasionally. Every card associated with a word has two options for the user, ‘I knew this card’ and ‘I didn’t know this card.’ Those who select the former find those words not being flashed again at all, which can be a disadvantage, since irrespective of whether they have mastered it only recently or in the past, it deprives them of an opportunity to renew their familiarity with the content on the card.

Recommended For:
This is a good app for those who want to practice on the go. It is good for those who have been out of touch with their Math for a while. One such user who took help from this app doubled his score on the test’s Quantitative section. As the name suggests, it is restricted to the Quantitative section of the Graduate Management Admission Test and does not help the other test sections.

3. The Official Guide for GMAT Review 2016 App

This app comes from the Graduate Management Admission Council or GMAC), which created the Graduate Management Admission Test. There are plenty of tips to help you ace the test and the content itself is comprehensive, covering all four sections – Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative and Verbal.

Cost: $4.99 – $29.99
Platforms: iOS and Android
Links:

• Website
• Itunes

App Pros:
You can time practice tests to gauge your speed, or you can choose an untimed version to focus on your accuracy. One of the biggest advantages is that the questions are identical to those found in the Official Guide book. The app bridges the digital divide by bringing the questions to your mobile screen. Detailed explanations accompany the answers, and the app itself is fairly up-to-date, with the last major update having come about in October 2015. The user interface is pleasant and looks highly professional in its design.

App Cons:
The Starter Pack suffers from a lack of enough questions. There are only 50 such questions, which doesn’t yield a high number per section when divided across the four sections of the Graduate Management Admission Test. One needs to upgrade to the Pro Pack to access some 800 Quantitative and Verbal questions, plus another 50 questions that have to do with Integrated Reasoning. Those who have rated it do not think highly of it. There is no progress tracking feature, and the questions tend to be of low to medium difficulty, while the GMAT does contain highly difficult questions. There are also no test-taking strategies included in the app.

Recommended For:
Those who need to have a feel of the actual test. This app provides you with real questions that have appeared on the test. It can be used offline, so it is great for those trying to practice while traveling – in such situations, Wi-Fi may be patchy or not present at all. The app is available in 90 countries worldwide. You can also program in your test date – the number of days left to the test is displayed prominently at the bottom, which serves as a frequent reminder of the urgency and necessity of practice.

4. Magoosh GMAT Idiom Flashcard App

This is an app that contains 160 idioms to help boost your score in the Verbal section of the Graduate Management Admission Test. These idioms are flashed using ‘cards’ to the users, as it has been scientifically proven that flash cards aid in the learning process.

Cost: Free
Platforms: iOS and Android
Links:

• Website
• Itunes
• Android

App Pros:
The user interface is pleasant, and the app was last updated in March 2015, which means that idioms that appeared on the GMAT until then could have been included. Plenty of users have given it five stars out of five.

App Cons:
Some idioms tend to repeat themselves. Every card associated with an idiom has two options for the user, ‘I knew this idiom’ and ‘I didn’t know this idiom.’ Those who select the former find those words not being flashed again at all, which can be a disadvantage, since irrespective of whether they have mastered it only recently or in the past, it deprives them of an opportunity to renew their familiarity with the idiom. There are also no tests or quizzes to check what you have learned.

Recommended For:
Those who intend to take the GMAT. It also helps those who need assistance with sentence corrections. It is great to practice on the go. An aspiring test-taker who used it terms it ‘brilliant,’ rating it better than study material from Kaplan, Barron’s, and Princeton Review.

5. Magoosh GMAT Prep App

This app focuses on video tutorials. It covers all the four sections of the Graduate Management Admission Test, which scores test-takers from 200-800, and it is understood by Discover Business that those who use this app can expect to increase their score by around 50.

Cost: Free
Platforms: iOS, Android and Blackberry
Links:

• Website
• Itunes
• Android

App Pros:
There are more than 200 animated videos, which run into some 22 hours in total. In the videos, you can see tutors solve problems, which is as good as them demonstrating in person. You can track your progress, and the app is up-to-date, with it last having seen an update in March 2015. This ensures that the content is in tune with what has appeared on the tests until then, a huge plus, instead of working without dated material. The app is fairly comprehensive, covering every section and every concept that appeared on the test.

App Cons:
There are only video lessons and no practice questions to assess what you have learned. The large collection of videos also makes it difficult to locate a particular video that may be listed towards the middle. Users complain of the video playback freezing up while the sound continues to play. The categorization of videos also helps some term their experiences with the app ‘frustrating,’ and this unfavorable opinion is only two categories: Math and Verbal.

Recommended For:
Those who want a visual learning tool. Such people learn concepts more easily this way than by reading about them, so they stand to benefit the most. Others also stand to gain as the instructors in the videos explain concepts more lucidly than text ever could hope to achieve. The videos are also short and up to a point. There are also plenty of study tips that come bundled with the app, and the user interface makes it easy to navigate your way around.

6. Complete GMAT Video Course App by Veritas Prep

This is a video-based GMAT preparation app that has been made available by Veritas Prep, which has earned quite a name for itself as the publisher of study material for competitive exams such the Graduate Management Admission Test.

Cost: Free
Platforms: iOS
Links:

• Website
• Itunes

App Pros:
The user interface is professional-looking, ensuring that you take the lessons seriously instead of regarding it as a ‘fun’ app. It is also easy on the eyes with its usage of simple colors, meaning you are unlikely to get tired of it. This helps in retaining your attention on the content for longer. There are 12 video lessons by Brian Galvin, one of the Veritas Prep GMAT module co-creators, and these span all four sections of the Graduate Management Admission Test. You can also track your learning progress with this app.

App Cons:
This is a video-only app and has no practice questions to check if you have mastered a concept explained in the video or not. This is a huge disadvantage, as this implies you would have to use other resources to get a feel of the actual test or work on your speed/accuracy. The videos take quite long to download, and if you close the app while a video is downloading, you have to start all over again when you re-launch the app and not from where the download got disrupted. Users also say the app doesn’t work on newer models of smartphones.

Recommended For:
Those looking for quality instruction in a visual format and not a text-based one. There are some 20 hours of video in total. All the videos are in High Definition, and you can rewind, pause, or fast-forward to any section on a video. It is also technologically advanced, syncing data across multiple devices, and this enables you to use a smartphone while on the go, and a larger screen at home or work, should you feel that way.

7. GMATvApp ToolKit 2 from GMAT Club

This is an app that includes GMAT test prep material from sources like Princeton Review, Kaplan, Knewton and Manhattan Review, in effect making it the app to have instead of using multiple apps to gain exposure to a wide range of questions. There are also flashcards present and the user interface provides for a very engaging experience while learning.

Cost: Free with paid option $25.99
Platforms: iOS and Android
Links:

• Website
• Itunes

App Pros:
There are some 20 questions from Princeton Review, 63 from Kaplan, 103 from Knewton study material, 236 from Manhattan Review, another 77 challenge questions from Manhattan GMAT, 311 extra hard questions, and more than 700 quantitative questions, all of which add to a credible figure and make it perhaps the most comprehensive app so far on the market. You needn’t be hampered by lack of a pen/pencil and paper if you need to make notes, do some mathematical calculations or figure out the answer to a question – there is also a drawing tool that lets you do this screen. The app was last updated in July 2015, so you can expect the content to be up-to-date, featuring the Graduate Management Admission Test’s latest questions.

App Cons:
There are no disadvantages apparent, except that all these features come at a price.

Recommended For:
Those want to practice on the go. Making notes solidly lends itself to this part to practice while traveling on the subway, a bus, or a train. You can tailor quizzes to work on the areas where you need to improve, and data syncing across mobile devices is also possible so that you never lose track of your progress when you shift to a larger screen or another device at home/work. Games make the learning experience more fun, and there is an RSS reader that provides you with the latest news that corresponds to the Graduate Management Admission Test or GMAT. The creators of the app proudly claim it to have the most sophisticated timer of all.

8. GMAT Question Bank App by Veritas Prep

This is an app that has several realistic GMAT questions, all prepared by Veritas Prep experts to help you in the areas of Problem Solving, Data Sufficiency, Sentence Correction, Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning. This is the most mentioned app in this category to assist you in practicing for the test while on the move.

Cost: Free
Platforms: iOS
Links:

• Website
• Itunes

App Pros:
The user interface is simple and uncomplicated, and all the answers come with detailed explanations. You can tailor your own quizzes by the number and types of questions. This app has all the five different types of questions found on the test’s adaptive sections, including Integrated Reasoning. You can compare your own performance against that of other test-takers. Once you answer a question, the app sees to it that it does not show up again. All the questions have been devised by instructors to evaluate high-level thinking skills the same way the actual test questions do.

App Cons:
It is difficult to see the questions on a mobile screen, and the quiz is not adaptive like the test. The GMAT’s Computer Adaptive Test first estimates your level as average. Whether you get the answers to the questions right or wrong, easier or more difficult questions are served. The score also considers the difficulty level of the questions presented. A lack of all these in the app doesn’t quite provide a feel of the actual test, rendering it a serious disadvantage while preparing for the test. There is a timer, but the lack of adaptivity tends to ensure that this is not an advantage, as you would undoubtedly spend more time on each question as it becomes more difficult in the actual test.

Recommended For:
Those wanting to practice with multiple questions of the same type ahead of the test. According to Discover Business research, the scores obtained on the app’s sample tests tend to reflect what you could obtain in the actual test, with an error of 5%. Because Veritas Prep is one of the leaders in the field when it comes to GMAT preparation, the app is fairly reliable, and it was last updated in May 2015, making it up-to-date.

9. Economist GMAT Tutor App

This app has been made available by The Economist magazine with the aim of saving time (a Discover Business survey shows that most test-takers spend only a month on preparing for the test) by concentrating on what users need to learn. The other reason why this app was created in the first place also has to do with getting the most out of your limited time – to assist you in practicing on the go.

Cost: Free
Platforms: iOS, Android and Blackberry
Links:

• Website
• Itunes
• Android

App Pros:
The user interface is simple yet looks highly professional. No garish colors have been used in the app’s design, and everything is highly readable a major advantage. There is an Ask-a-tutor feature, which puts you in touch with one of The Economist’s accredited GMAT tutors if you face any difficulty. It is also adaptive, which gives you a feel of the actual test. Discover Business finds it to be quite user-friendly and of extremely high quality. It has been consistently awarded four stars and above on a scale of five stars, with the latest version of the app being rated more highly than its predecessors.

App Cons:
The practice questions may not always be in tune with the latest tests in real life, as the app was last updated in June 2014. Another obvious disadvantage is that it does not let you customize what you want to learn; you may need to polish your Verbal skills and find yourself hindered by practicing all test sections. It is not really an independent learning tool by itself. Still, it complements The Economist’s online GMAT learning course – only the desktop version provides personalized coaching and progress tracking with the help of a dashboard.

Recommended For:
Those who would like to maximize their scores on the test. It is also helpful for those who are non-native speakers of English. An international student retook the Graduate Management Admission Test and spent the same amount of time on preparation as earlier (2-3 hours per day), but this time with the app’s help, he saw his score shoot up by 150 points. Another user, who had tried out several learning approaches in his preparation for the test, finally settled on this app and scored 720 on the GMAT.

GMAT vs GRE

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is not the only way you can get admission to an accredited MBA degree online or campus graduate program. Almost all business degree programs now accept Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores in place of GMAT scores. The choice is yours: GMAT or GRE. This article compares and contrasts the two qualifying exams to help you make a suitable choice. Let’s start with an overview of the two exams; please see the tabulated data below.

The Facts – GMAT Exam vs GRE Exam

Is the GMAT or GRE Tougher to Crack? Here’s an Objective Assessment

One: Both the GMAT and GRE test you on arithmetic, algebra, geometry, data interpretation, and word problems. The GRE tends to be partial to geometry concepts while the GMAT is more oriented towards numbers, derivatives, and equations.

The GMAT’s data sufficiency section is more complex than the quantitative comparisons and numeric entry questions on the GRE. GMAT quantitative questions are presented creatively, testing your analytical and pattern recognition skills. While preparing for this section, you’ll have to spend some time figuring out the logic behind different questions and finding the core concept of every problem you attempt.

Two: The design of questions relates to the type of person who takes the GMAT. GMAT test-takers tend to be engineers and other working professionals with a quantitative background. The GRE, on the other hand, enjoys more popularity among students across various streams of education. Do you have solid math skills and relish crunching numbers in your head? You’re bound to find GMAT a more enjoyable challenge.

There is a significant difference between the verbal sections of the GMAT and GRE. The GRE emphasizes vocabulary and tests you on your knowledge of uncommon words. The GMAT focuses more on grammar and lesson vocabulary. Questions on sentence correction go beyond commas, clauses, and parallelism. The questions test you on grammar rules you learned in high school, but they are designed to trick or mislead you into focusing on the wrong thing.

If you’re planning to give the GRE a shot, you will need to build up your vocabulary, which may increase your preparation time for the verbal section. This may be a relatively easy endeavor for some and challenging for others. Depending on your existing vocabulary power and grammar skills, you can make an appropriate decision on the complexity and personal scoring potential.

Three: We can make two reasonable conclusions from points 1 and 2 above. The first is that the GMAT requires a bit more logical analysis compared to the GRE. Second, factoring in the verbal section’s vocabulary emphasis, the GRE may require more preparation in general. These aren’t drastic differences, though, so it is ultimately up to you to decide which route you want to take.

Consider GMAT for the Following Reasons

1. Cache- The GMAT is the gold standard of testing for online MBA programs and traditional campus programs specifically directed at admission. The GRE can be transferred to many other educational programs, so it can cast some doubt on your commitment to doing an MBA. If you’re 100% serious about pursuing an MBA, taking the GMAT sends a positive signal about your focused goals and commitment.

2. You have strong core math skills- If you’re a management consultant, investment banker, or even an engineer with a quantitative background, the GRE would be an unconventional choice. You may stand out for the wrong reasons, and unless you’re exceptionally poor at diagnostics, you should stick to the GMAT. If you have strong math skills and an excellent grasp of grammar concepts, the GMAT will work in your favor.

3. A question of perception- The conventional candidate for GRE is an individual with little or no professional business experience, maybe a sociology or philosophy major, or someone who hasn’t taken a single finance or economics class in college. While business schools may say that they don’t differentiate between either of the two tests, they may want to know why you have opted to take the GRE over the standard GMAT, especially if you’re a working professional with a few years of experience under your belt.

4. Integrated reasoning- Integrated reasoning, which measures higher-order thinking, was added as a section to the GMAT in 2012. Initially, MBA programs did not place much importance on this section, despite the importance of these skills in today’s data-driven world. Some companies, such as investment banks and consulting firms, have started looking closely at IR scores during executive searches. Leading management consulting firm Bain and Co. uses scores on the IR section for screening applicants seeking consulting opportunities. With MBA employers looking at new ways to screen and filter applicants, the IR section has gained quite a bit of clout.

Think Twice About GMAT for the Following Reasons

1. Quantitative background- As discussed previously, there’s a strong logic element to GMAT math, and it requires you to take a systematic approach to crack problem-solving and data sufficiency questions. Business schools also weigh in on your quantitative background, which can be an issue if you have a weak quantitative background and cannot demonstrate these skills. In such a case, you will have to rely on the GMAT or GRE to showcase whatever quantitative skills you possess. If you have strong math abilities and you’re a good test-taker, then the GMAT can help you appeal to B-Schools and recruiters. If you’re pursuing a dual degree such as an MBA/MA, MBA/Master of Public Health, or MBA/Master of Public Policy, it makes sense to take the GRE.

2. Cost- Factor in the cost of taking the GMAT – $250 – against the less expensive GRE at $190. While $60 is not a big markup, the price difference can lighten your wallet if you need to retake the GMAT.

Consider the GRE for the Following Reasons

1. If you’re a dual-degree applicant – GRE is known and recognized as a test for graduate and Ph.D. programs. It can get you into schools outside the business field and present you with many more options as a student. The GRE can also help you pursue a dual degree. But do keep in mind that while there is no bias towards dual-degree programs, MBA panels will closely determine whether you’re merely tacking on an extra degree or passionate about it.

2. The advantage of revisiting questions- If you want to skip a question within a section and return to it later, the GRE will let you. In a paper version of the GRE, you can easily skip questions and revisit them as needed. The GMAT doesn’t allow this flexibility. If you find a question particularly tough, you can either guess it or skip it entirely to move on to the next.

3. No integrated reasoning- We don’t mean to make IR out to be a complex beast, but many students have a hard time with it. If you’re one of them and reasonably believe that it can bring your score down, it makes sense to focus on getting an impressive GRE score.

4. Math is easier- As indicated previously; the GRE won’t throw you off with tricky logic-based questions in the quantitative section. While you need some understanding of the GRE’s logical arguments, it certainly won’t be the same extent as the GMAT.

5. Administered at more places- More locations offer the GRE than the GMAT. Depending on your current location, you may need to travel a long distance to take a GMAT test. With the GRE, you’re bound to find at least one test location relatively close by.

Think Twice About the GRE for These Two Reasons

1. Emphasis on vocabulary – Do you know the meaning of “arrant,” “foment,” “quibble,” and “lucubrate?” Words like these love to show up in the GRE’s verbal reasoning section. If vocabulary isn’t your strong suit, studying for this test can be a frustrating experience. Don’t let this scare you, though. Let it serve as a motive to take your vocabulary to the next level through flashcards and other tactics.

2. Two essays- Are you likely to buckle under the pressure of writing two timed essays? If you’re a non-native test-taker, an additional essay over the GMAT might be a little rough. It’s worth determining how much writing you can manage and make your decision.

In conclusion,

• Do consider all the points discussed in this article
• Make a list of target programs and B-Schools
• Check which tests are accepted for the programs
• Take a practice test to understand your strengths and weaknesses

References:

Lisa Zimmer Hatch, Scott Hatch. GMAT For Dummies. Wiley Press, 2013. ISBN:978-1-118-27383-8
GMAC. The Official Guide for GMAT Review 13th Edition. Wiley Press, 2012. ISBN-13:978-1118109793
LTG Exam Prep. Hacking the GMAT: Sentence Correction: The essential guide for mastering SC grammar. Kindle Publishing, 2015.
Brandon Wu. 30 Day GMAT Success, Edition 3: How I Scored 780 on the GMAT in 30 Days and How You Can Too!. Thirty Day Success Press 2014. ISBN-13:978-0983170167
https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/gmat
https://gmatclub.com/
https://magoosh.com/gmat/
http://www.MBA.com

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