It is an unquestionable fact that how hard GMAT is to get admission for an MBA abroad. A GMAT score strengthens your candidature for a reputed international B-school. However, the concern remains common: Is GMAT tough? In this article, we try to answer the questions related to the toughness of the GMAT exam. We have also provided an overview of the GMAT preparation strategy.
The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) tests your abilities to join a graduate programme based on logical, analytical and critical thinking and problem-solving skills. These are tested in three sections: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights. Suppose you plan to show up at the exam centre without any preparation. In that case, you will have difficulty answering tough, twisted, analytical and quantitative questions. You may have been continuously in touch with your studies and course books for any programme, yet you must prepare for the exam with a different understanding. The exam certainly needs time to prepare, or it will not be easy to crack.
- How is GMAT Hard?
- Challenges of GMAT Focus Exam
- How Tough is GMAT Preparation
- Time Required to Prepare for GMAT
How is GMAT Hard?
To answer how is GMAT hard, applicants have to consider various aspects. There are three sections on the GMAT Focus Edition and there are a few reasons which makes GMAT tough. Here are a few reasons which show that GMAT is tough:
Reason 1: Complex Reasoning Questions
Is GMAT hard because of the reasoning questions? Yes, it is. The reason is that GMAT tests the applicant's problem-solving and analytical skills. The questions in the Quant and Verbal sections are tricky and complex. This is why GMAT is hard for applicants. Also, the GMAT tests high order reasoning skills because of which, it can get tricky for applicants.
Reason 2: GMAT is Adaptive Test - Difficulty Increases or Decreases
Since the GMAT Focus is a computer-adaptive exam, answering one question correctly increases the difficulty of the upcoming questions. Thus, this in turn makes the GMAT harder for applicants to crack. Irrespective of the GMAT syllabus and preparation, the exam gets tougher with each correct answer. While applicants will be given a certain difficult level of questions based on their answers, the upcoming questions' difficulty will be adjusted, either increased or decreased.
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Reason 3: Answering Time Per Question on GMAT is Low
Like other exams, GMAT is also a timed exam but, the average time per question on each section of the GMAT is quite low. While each section has a total time limit of 45 minutes, the per section question time is low. Here is how it can be assessed:
| GMAT Section | Total Questions | Time Per Question |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Reasoning | 21 questions | 2 minutes 8 seconds |
| Verbal Reasoning | 23 questions | 1 minute 57 seconds |
| Data Insights | 20 questions | 2 minutes 15 seconds |
Thus, applicants will have the lowest time to solve Data Insights questions, followed by Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning sections.
Reason 4: GMAT is Tough for Non-Math Students
Applicants who have not studied math at the higher secondary school level can also find GMAT tough. The Quant and Data Insights sections include many analytical questions from Math, which are essential to getting a good score on the exam. Thus, applicants with non-math backgrounds would need to put in a lot of effort to get a good score on GMAT.
Thus, these reasons make GMAT a tough exam. To succeed in the exam, it is also essential to understand the challenges that can make the exam more difficult.
Reason 5: GMAT's Difficulty Varies Per Section
Based on an applicant's strengths and weaknesses, GMAT's toughness will vary per section. For individuals with a non-mathematical background, the DI and QR sections may present a challenge. On the other hand, those who are not English language experts can face challenges in the VR section.
Challenges of GMAT Focus Exam
The exam is certainly not a piece of cake. On the contrary, all the exams are easy to prepare for. If you wish to figure out how well you can perform on the GMAT exam with preparation, it would be ideal to say that:
- For candidates with excellent quantitative skills, it would be easy to crack some questions in the exam. However, they may face difficulty in the remaining sections.
- On the other hand, candidates with average minds but strong analytical and verbal skills may find it challenging to excel in the verbal and quantitative sections of the GMAT Focus exam.
- For those with a package of all the skills, some time spent on preparation would serve as icing on the cake.
- Moreover, the questions have reported a higher difficulty in the Quant & Verbal sections. Thus, applicants must ace these two sections to increase their GMAT scores.
- Though GMAT is computer-adaptive, but the questions that are hard to answer will anyway lose marks if not answered correctly. The questions will, though, come easier as and when applicants proceed.
- Finally, GMAC penalises applicants for leaving questions unanswered on GMAT Focus. Thus, to avoid this, applicants must ensure they answer all the questions and do not leave any questions.
While understanding how is GMAT hard, applicants must also look at some of the key advantages of taking the GMAT exam as well. Though GMAT is hard, it is still one of the popular exams for MBA admissions abroad. Hence, these features make GMAT tough. Applicants who thoroughly prepare will likely pass the GMAT exam and achieve good scores.
In all the cases, a little to moderate preparation would help. For this, applicants can check out How to Study for GMAT in 3 Months?
How Tough is GMAT Preparation
GMAT preparation toughness depends on the individual's level. The best way to prepare for the exam would be to figure out your strengths from the four sections of the exam and accordingly divide your time. You need to allow time for all these sections to polish your existing skills and strengthen the remaining areas. In case you are planning to study on your own and your exam date is around the corner with less time and resources to prepare.
Can an average student crack GMAT? An average student can easily crack the GMAT exam by following certain basic GMAT preparation tips. Consider the following points for your GMAT exam:
- Starting Point: The starting point of your GMAT exam preparation should be the GMAT exam syllabus and the GMAT exam pattern. Without these two, you will never know in which direction you are heading during your GMAT exam prep.
- GMAT Books: Start your GMAT exam preparation with the official GMAT material. Take brief notes and review them repeatedly. You can then move on to other guides, such as Manhattan GMAT guides, Veritas, and others. Utilise online resources like YouTube, Thursdays with Ron, the GMAT Club forum, and Beat the GMAT forum.
- GMAT Mocks: Appear for the GMAT mock tests at the end of every week and analyse your performance. Make the necessary corrections wherever required.
You might want to refer to the GMAT Preparation Tips for preparing section-wise and Best Books and Resources for GMAT. Also, read How to Plan Your Test Day for the GMAT Exam.
Time Required to Prepare for GMAT
On average, the aspirants need almost 100 to 170 hours of studying for the exam. This can also be identified as 2 to 3 months to prepare all the modules. A surprising fact about the top scorers of this exam is that most candidates were reported to have spent more than 200 hours or over 6 months preparing for the best results.
When you book your slot for the GMAT Exam, you generally have to register 2-3 months before the exam date. The later you choose a date or a centre for the exam, the lesser the chances you have of getting your preferred GMAT exam centre or date. Hence, especially during the peak months, from September to December, when most candidates take their tests, it is recommended that you book your date and centre 3-4 months in advance. This gives you ample time to prepare for your GMAT exam. As extra information related to the GMAT slot booking, students must pay the GMAT exam fees of $275 for the GMAT exam delivered at a test centre and $300 for the GMAT exam delivered online.
If you are a procrastinator and are thinking of attempting the GMAT exam after your preparation is done, it is recommended that you book a slot and test centre first. This would be the first step towards the exam, forcing you to start studying. To be double sure about your exam preparation, you may join a GMAT Coaching Centre in your region. Paying for your coaching centre would make you want to start studying as soon as possible. If you are about to book a slot for your GMAT Exam, check out the list of GMAT Test Centres in India and GMAT Important Dates.
Let us consider the average GMAT score as a benchmark to compare the average and above-average scores and a good score. The Average GMAT Score would be the calculated mean of the total GMAT score by all the exam takers. As a GMAT taker, you would be relieved that the average GMAT score is 655 out of 805, 91st percentile. Now, referring to it as an average score, you can say that scoring 72% on the GMAT exam would not be hard with moderate preparation.
Nevertheless, you would want to achieve more than this to remain above average. The above-average score is over 650. However, the exam takers still aim to score above 645, which is considered a Good GMAT Score for Indian applications.
To enhance your GMAT Score, you certainly need to push yourself harder. You would need more time and better resources compared to the last time. However, your exam would help you identify your areas of improvement, making you aware of what needs to be worked on. You must be more focused and determined this time, preparing you to perform better in business and management.
Yes, a GMAT score of 755 can help applicants get admission to MBA at Harvard. Usually the cutoff ranges between 655-745, and a score of 755 is a good score to get through the process. But the supporting documents should also be at par in order to get a sure shot win for the MBA admission at Harvard.
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.
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This totally depends on the candidate. Coachings definitely ease your journey. However, if you decide not to take any coaching, we strictly recommend that you should take some test series. Without test series, you will not be able to judge your progress. While formal coaching or professional assistance may be beneficial for some test takers, many people have successfully prepared for and passed the GMAT exam on their own. Study aids, online courses, textbooks, and practice exams are just a few of the materials that might help in GMAT preparation. Self-study and practice can significantly boost one's GMAT performance. It is crucial to keep in mind that the precise strategy for GMAT preparation will rely on each student's unique demands, talents, and limitations. In some circumstances, expert advice may be helpful.