GMAT 2023 Preparation Tips: How to Prepare for GMAT Exam?

Make sure to understand the GMAT pattern and the GMAT syllabus. Once you have understood how the exam works, you need to refer to authentic GMAT study material and prepare a study plan. Those who are going to give the GMAT exam in 2023 can go through these top 10 GMAT preparation tips.

1. Learn about the GMAT sections

Before making a study plan you should be well-versed in the structure of the GMAT exam.

The GMAT includes four sections:

• Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA section): it measures your ability to think critically and communicate your ideas.
• Integrated Reasoning (IR section): evaluates the test-taker's ability to analyze data and interpret information displayed in different formats.
• Quantitative Reasoning (Quant section): evaluates the test-taker's ability to solve quantitative problems, reason mathematically, and interpret graphic data.
• Verbal Reasoning (Verbal section): it measures your editing abilities, reading comprehension skills, and whether you can make sense of written arguments.

GMAT is scored in the 200-800 range. This score includes only the Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning sections. Integrated Reasoning is scored out of 8, whereas, AWA is scored out of 6.

2. Make a study plan before starting the preparation

Having a GMAT study plan early will help you chalk out a clear path for the GMAT preparation. Mostly, students prepare a 12-week study plan that helps them in knowing the tips and tricks needed to achieve their business school goals. Typically, students spend around 3-6 months for the GMAT preparation. Here is a tip: before you decide how much time is required for the GMAT preparation, appear for a GMAT mock test. Depending on the score that you get in that mock test, you can decide the time you need to prepare for the GMAT.

3. Select GMAT prep material

Gather GMAT prep material online and offline. There are a lot of online GMAT prep materials that you can use to prepare for the GMAT test. You can also look at the GMAT official prep material. Select the material that has a similar scoring algorithm as the GMAT. Also, solve questions from past exams. Here is an overview of the GMAT preparation books:

• GMAT official study material
• Manhattan GMAT Guides
• Other resources from Veritas, Magoosh, Kaplan, etc.
• GMAT Club and Beat the GMAT forums
• Thursdays with Ron videos

4. Work on your weaknesses

First, identify your weak areas and then focus on overcoming them with regular practice. Out of the four sections, our sub-sections within them check out the areas where you need improvement and give all your attention to strengthening your skills.

5. Don't stick to one question

There will be a penalty if you don't complete each section of the exam. Also, unanswered questions will decrease your score. Don't spend too much time on solving a single tricky question and rather give limited time to each question. Do not spend more than two and a half minutes on one question.

6. Focus on the time limit while preparing for the GMAT

With limited time, developing your speed is of utmost importance. Focus more on the area which is taking too much of your time. Like if you are taking too much time on the Quantitative section then work on improving your quants skills. Solve the GMAT practice exam every day and develop your speed.

7. Use an elimination strategy

Don't spend too much time on a particular question that you cannot solve. Do not get obsessed with giving the right answers. Whenever stuck with a tricky question just mark the one which is nearest to the correct answer and move on to the next question.

8. Improve visual literacy while preparing for the GMAT

Learn to read charts, symbols, tables, and graphs to increase your efficiency. GMAT exams have visual data questions, so, learning this skill will help you in better time management as well. This will help you in solving the GMAT Quant section.

9. Develop the right kind of skills

As it is a limited-time test, develop skills that will come in handy while giving the test. Find your weak area and work on it, so, it will not affect your performance on the entire exam.

10. Practice as much as you can

Practice more and more! As they say, practice makes a man perfect, you need to apply this while preparing for the exam and once you are complete with your preparation go for the free GMAT sample papers. It will help you in finding how well you are prepared for the test.

If you take the route of self-study to prepare for GMAT, there are the best books for GMAT 2023 preparation along with study materials and GMAT study plans available to help you. GMAC has its own official study guide and free software. Refer to the following GMAT 2023 books and resources to help create a study plan:

• The Official Guide for GMAT Review, 2022 – This exam guide includes more than 900 questions from past GMAT exams, a diagnostic section to help you assess where to focus your efforts, and invaluable test-taking tips and strategies to help you get the score you want. 
• Free GMATPrep Software – This software includes ninety free questions – 30 Quantitative, 45 Verbal, and 15 Integrated Reasoning – with answers and explanations, tools to create your own practice question set, two full-length practice tests with answers, etc.
• Manhattan GMAT Strategy Guides - This set includes: GMAT Roadmap; Fractions, Decimals, and percents; Algebra; Word Problems; Geometry; Number Properties; Critical Reasoning; Reading Comprehension; Sentence Correction; Integrated Reasoning & Essay.
• Kaplan GMAT 800: Advanced Prep for Advanced Students - Tips for test-taking, proven strategies for getting a perfect score of 800, and focused guidelines for tackling each question type all combine for the ideal preparation tool for the most ambitious student.
• Other Resources from Veritas, Magoosh, etc.
• GMAT Club and Beat the GMAT forums.
• Thursdays with Ron videos.

Learn how to prepare for the GMAT and go through the GMAT exam preparation tips section-wise. Learn about the GMAT exam pattern and syllabus and plan your routine strategically covering topic by topic. Making slow progress but continuous efforts will help you achieve a GMAT score of 700 or above.

GMAT Preparation Tips: Integrated Reasoning Section

• This section includes 12 questions with a time of 30 minutes. Ideally, a test taker should complete the section in 25 minutes and keep the last 5 minutes for revising and also keep an eye on unsolved questions if any.
• Make sure to cover every topic whether, graphics interpretation or table analysis, so, you can attempt the GMAT test confidently.
• Go through the books and study material to prepare for the test.

Read: GMAT preparation tips: Integrated Reasoning section

GMAT Preparation Tips: Quantitative Section

• This section includes 31 questions and a time limit of 62 minutes.
• Cover questions related to Data Sufficiency and Problem-solving while practising.
• Memorizing the mathematical formulas used in these topics will help in increasing the speed.
• Practice both easy and tricky questions to cover the entire GMAT syllabus.

Read: GMAT Preparation Tips: Quantitative Section

GMAT Preparation Tips: Verbal Section

• A total of 65 minutes are allotted for the Verbal Section of the GMAT test during which you need to solve 36 questions
• This section tests your English language skills and usage. For the Verbal section enhance your grammar with grammar books and read newspaper editorials.
• The section will have questions from various topics like reading passages, critical reasoning and idioms, synonyms-antonyms, sentence correction, and subject-verb agreement.
• Cover all these topics while preparing and using different guide books as this section will also test your reasoning and analytical skills.

Read: GMAT preparation tips: Verbal section

GMAT Preparation Tips: Analytical Writing Assessment

• A total of 30 minutes are allotted to the Analytical Writing Section
• Try to wrap up the writing assignment in 25 minutes and spare the last 5 minutes for revising the written content
• Develop the habit of reading and try to read topics from different areas
• Read newspapers that will be of great help to prepare for the Writing section
• Read articles that argue on relevant topics and also highlight examples
• Try to remember important points in a topic and practice continuously, so, you can use them while writing
• Practice writing on different topics and highlight argumentative points
• Try to increase your speed, so, manage time efficiently

Read: GMAT preparation tips: Analytical Writing Assessment

These preparation tips will help you understand how to improve your GMAT scores to get into better colleges. Getting a great score on the GMAT exam isn't a difficult task, and just requires proper planning and preparation.

Now that you have looked at the section-wise strategy of the GMAT 2023 exam preparation, it is time you understand, in brief, about the 3-month GMAT 2023 study plan. Students can always tweak this plan as per their requirements.

Here are some student success stories and tips to help you understand how to get a high score on GMAT:

GMAC has launched the GMAT Focus Edition. The current version of the GMAT 2023 exam will be available until at least early 2024. Hence, candidates will have the option to register for both the GMAT exam formats from 29 August 2023 onwards.

Important: For a complete analysis of the GMAT Focus Edition, students must visit our GMAT Focus Edition article.

Now that you have understood GMAT 2023 exam preparation strategies, it is vital that you implement them and follow them with dedication. For answers to more queries, you may read our GMAT 2023 Preparation FAQs.