GMAT & GRE Prep – Practice Test Marathon

Training for a marathon is a serious task. Failing to train puts your body at risk of injury and also the possibility of not completing the race; but with proper instruction and disciple running can be a very enjoyable and rewarding experience. Even though one is largely physical and the other mental, there are many similarities between getting ready for a marathon and preparing for the GMAT and GRE’s.

Before training for a marathon runners need to focus on, stamina, speed, race preparation, and tapering.

Stamina
Fundamental math and grammar skills are essential before tackling the GMAT/GRE. Spend some time developing a consistent study plan, discipline yourself to devoting a set amount of hours a day to studying and get a friend to keep you accountable. You can’t run a marathon if you aren’t physically able to put in the miles, and you can’t expect a good score on the GMAT/GRE if you don’t have solid fundamental skills.

Speed
After gaining familiarity with the test and you have a consistent and disciplined study plan, it’s time to put the pedal to the metal! It’s one thing to know how to dissect a difficult critical reasoning problem, but a bigger challenge is to answer those questions in two minutes or less. Your goal in a race isn’t just to finish but to finish in the allotted amount of time.

Race/Test Preparation
When getting ready for a marathon running on a treadmill or putting hours in the gym will not accurately prepare you. You need to hit the roads and simulate a couple times what an actual marathon will feel like. As the test date approaches, be sure to have completed a couple practice tests. This will give you an accurate idea if all the studying is paying off and what other items you need to work on before the test.

Taper
This step is one of the most crucial and often overlooked by runners and test takers alike. If your marathon is in the next couple of days, it does the body no good to cram in more runs up until the race. The same principal applies to test taking. If you have been preparing for several months, don’t bother cramming! There is no benefit to stressing your body and loosing sleep over a couple hours of cramming before the test. You have diligently been studying and preparing for this day, your hard work will pay off!