From 2016 to 2020, more than 1.1 million GMAT exams were held globally and in 2020, 173,176 GMAT exams were taken. However, 2020 was an exception; in the preceding years, more than 225,000 GMAT tests were conducted each year.
When it comes to GMAT preparation, students must note that GMAT evaluates their critical thinking skills in two subjects: GMAT Quantitative section and GMAT Verbal Reasoning section. The other two sections; namely, Integrated Reasoning and Analytical Writing Assessment scores are not added to the GMAT score that you get out of 800. Students are not required to prepare management theories and accounting basics.
This article will provide information about GMAT preparation online, GMAT online courses, and some important FAQs.
- GMAT Preparation Online
- GMAT Preparation Tips
- GMAT Preparation Online: Conclusion
- GMAT Preparation Online FAQs
GMAT Preparation Online
The biggest impact of COVID-19 on the education sector was an increase in online courses. Universities, Colleges, coaching centres, etc. all accommodated online teaching in their operations. GMAT was no different. Even though GMAT already had sufficient online resources for preparation, these have increased in number in recent years. Let us cover some necessary GMAT online courses and resources.
- GMAT Official Study Material: Every student is expected to start his/her preparation with the official GMAT study material. The official study material must form the base of your preparation. Students need to choose wisely from the given set of course offerings as per their needs. It is sincerely advised that the students complete their GMAT OG (Official Guide) at least twice during the course of their preparation. The official GMAT study material has the following courses:
- GMAT Official Starter Kit Practice Exams 1 & 2 (Free)
- GMAT Official Guide: ebook & Online Question Bank ($47.99)
- GMAT Official Guide Bundle: ebook & Online Question Bank ($81.99)
- GMAT Official Guide Quant Review 2022: ebook & Online Question Bank ($20.99)
- GMAT Official Quantitative Practice ($39.99)
- GMAT Official Guide Verbal Review 2022: ebook & Online Question Bank ($20.99)
- GMAT Official Advanced Questions: eBook Online Question Bank ($29.99)
- GMAT Official Practice Exams 3 & 4 ($59.99)
- GMAT Official Practice Exams 5 & 6 ($59.99)
- GMAT Official Practice Questions 1 ($29.99)
- GMAT Official Practice Questions 2 ($29.99)
- Premium GMAT Study Collection ($344.99)
- GMAT Official IR Practice ($19.99)
- Manhattan Prep: Manhattan Prep provides high-quality GMAT study material that includes their GMAT guides, foundation books, and advanced books. Moreover, they also provide various options for GMAT online classes. Once a student has completed his/her official study material, he/she can refer to Manhattan Prep resources for holistic preparation.
- Magoosh: Magoosh also offers online courses for GMAT preparation. Students have various options to choose from; these include self-study options and guided study options.
- The Princeton Review: The Princeton Review provides various GMAT online courses, which include private tutoring options as well.
- Others: There are GMAT online coaching options available at various other coachings such as Veritas Prep, The Economist, PrepScholar, Jamboree Education, etc.
- Important Online Resources for GMAT: Besides the GMAT Official Guide and Manhattan Prep books and e-material, there are various other GMAT online resources that a student must refer to. These include:
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- GMAT Club: It is a forum that is built around GMAT and MBA. Students can practice questions, learn from successful candidates, read reviews, etc.
- Beat The GMAT: It is similar to the GMAT Club forum and offers quality study material, honest reviews, advice, etc.
- Thursdays with Ron: You must definitely go through all the videos in this series. It is a great playlist that covers multiple aspects of the GMAT exam.
GMAT Preparation Tips
Here are a few GMAT preparation tips:
- Do not refer to too many resources. If you keep on adding books to your bookshelf, you will be confused while studying. Stick to a limited number of resources and focus on multiple revisions.
- Prepare short notes as you are studying. It will help you complete your revisions in a timely manner.
- Always stick to the official GMAT study material in case of any confusion. It must be your reference point for everything.
- Make sure that you attempt GMAT mock tests right from Day 1. Do not ignore mock tests at any cost. These are great ways to help you check your progress and increase your speed.
- As you are giving mock tests, prepare a strategy for your main exam. You can test these strategies during your subsequent GMAT mocks.
GMAT Preparation Online: Conclusion
Students need to know that there is no such thing as the best GMAT online coaching. Scoring well on the GMAT depends entirely on a student’s efforts and practice. There is the availability of sufficient online GMAT resources and online GMAT coaching. However, it depends on an individual as to how he/she utilizes the available resources. However, it is advised that the students must start their preparation with the official GMAT material. Along with the official GMAT study material, they can refer to Manhattan Prep books. Moreover, students are sincerely advised to attempt as many online GMAT mock tests as possible.
Also Read:
| GMAT Eligibility | GMAT Registration |
| GMAT Dates | GMAT Pattern |
GMAT Preparation Online FAQs
Q. Can I prepare for the GMAT exam online?
A. Yes. Preparation for the GMAT exam can done online and it is not compulsory for students to attend the physical GMAT coaching. The biggest benefit of preparing for the GMAT exam in online mode is that your time for commuting to GMAT coaching centres is saved and that you can prepare from the comfort of your home. However, a big drawback of online GMAT preparation is that you tend to lose out on a study group. Irrespective of your mode of GMAT exam preparation, it is important for you to follow certain points. These include familiarity with the GMAT exam syllabus and pattern, choice of right GMAT books, preparation of short notes, and appearing for multiple mock tests.
Q. What are the GMAT online preparation resources?
A. While preparing for the GMAT exam (whether online or at a coaching centre), here are some important points to consider:
- Start with the GMAT exam syllabus and the GMAT exam pattern. Understand the exam pattern thoroughly before you even pick up the GMAT books.
- GMAT Books & Resources: Choose limited resources. These include the official GMAT study material, Manhattan guides, Veritas study material, any coaching study material where you have enrolled, GMAT Club, Beat the GMAT, and Thursdays with Ron.
- Short Notes: As you prepare, it is vital to make short notes and revise them from time to time.
- GMAT Mock Tests: It is critical for students to appear for GMAT mock tests every week. Moreover, it is vital to analyse the performance of these mocks to gain clarity about the progress.
Q. How much time is required to prepare for the GMAT exam?
A. Depending on a variety of variables, such as the student's starting point, study habits, and resources available, the amount of time needed to prepare for the GMAT exam can vary significantly. However, the majority of students devote at least 2-3 months to prepare for the exam, putting in roughly 100–120 hours. Some students can require three to six months of dedicated study time to pass the GMAT. In the end, the time needed can vary greatly based on personal progress and preparation method.
Q. What is the pattern of the online GMAT exam?
A. The following points provide an overview of the online GMAT exam pattern:
- Analytical Writing Assessment: It consists of 1 question to be answered in 30 minutes.
- Integrated Reasoning: It consists of 12 questions to be answered in 30 minutes. Question types include multi-source reasoning, graphics interpretation, two-part analysis, and table analysis.
- Quantitative Reasoning: It consists of 31 questions to be answered in 62 minutes. Question types include problem-solving and data sufficiency.
- Verbal Reasoning: It consists of 36 questions to be answered in 65 minutes. Question types include reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence correction.
Q. Is 650 GMAT a good score?
A. A GMAT score of 650 and above is generally regarded as a good GMAT score for the majority of the MBA programmes. However, most of the top MBA colleges have a GMAT cut-off of more than 700. 650 on the GMAT will get through most of the MBA colleges in the US. However, it is worth noting that a good GMAT score is not the only criterion that determines your selection to a good MBA college. Other factors such as work experience, a statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, an updated resume, admission essays, etc. are equally important.
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As such there is no particular preference for choosing the best month to appear for GMAT exam. It is up to the applicants to choose a relevant GMAT exam date based on their admission intakes abroad and regster accordingly. Those who wish to submit GMAT scores for Fall intake should register for July-August months. While those applying for Spring intakes can appear for the exam in September-December months. It is completely up to the students because they need time to prepare and select an apt GMAT exam date.