Guest Blog – GMAT Prep – What’s Your Game Plan?

For all those just starting your journey to B-School this guest blog post from Vanessa the GMAT Doctor provides an instructive look at creating a coherent strategy for tackling the GMAT exam.

So, What’s Your Game Plan?

A game plan is essential when you begin any project whether it’s a research project or the start of a new enterprise. Preparation for a test is no exception. Spending equal time to study/practice everything in every subject area on the GMAT would not be the best use of your time. The best use of your GMAT test preparation time will include 3 major steps.

First, find out what will be tested on the GMAT (content, format of questions, etc.). This is the easiest step to accomplish; yet, it may be the one that sets you back the most (psychologically). Why? Because it seems like a lot of subject areas are covered on this exam. But, keep in mind that only some of the many concepts in these subject areas will be consistently tested and therefore, you can better focus your study on those areas! The GMAT covers questions that involve algebra, geometry, probability, permutations, combinations, functions, statistics, grammar, argument evaluation, writing and critical reading. You can get more details on what subjects will be covered on the GMAT by checking out the following web pages on www.mba.com :

Writing Section: http://www.mba.com/mba/TheGMAT/TestStructureAndOverview/AnalyticalWritingAssessmentSection/Default.htm
Math Section: http://www.mba.com/mba/TheGMAT/TestStructureAndOverview/QuantSection/default.htm
Verbal Section: http://www.mba.com/mba/TheGMAT/TestStructureAndOverview/VerbalSection/default.htm

Second, determine the knowledge gaps. How do you determine this? By taking a practice run of the test. As daunting as this step might seem, you must do it in order to determine where you stand, knowledge-wise, on this exam. Don’t worry about how well you do at this point, it is just practice Once you take a practice exam, analyze your results by asking yourself these questions:

1. Which subject areas do I feel most comfortable with? Which subject areas do I feel least comfortable with?

2. Did I complete each section in the time allocated?

3. How long did it take to complete each multiple-choice question?

Third and last, design a strategy for test preparation that tailors to the closure of those knowledge gaps. This strategy should minimize the use of your time and energy while maximizing your ability to improve competency on this exam. Here’s one brief example demonstrating how to devise a strategy for test preparation:

After taking a practice exam, a student found she had the following knowledge gaps in the math section of the exam:

Gap 1. Applied the incorrect formulas to geometric problems

Gap 2. Could complete basic probability problems but more advanced probability problems where they involve the application of more than one probability concept

Gap 3. Comfortable with algebra except for “word problems”. (Word problems usually do not involve explicit variables in a given problem.). Had difficulty setting up the problem properly and thus, kept getting incorrect answers.

Here’s part of this student’s possible game plan:

For every study session
a. Memorize at least 3 new geometric rules
b. Devise, test, perfect a basic method that will be used each time to complete a word problem*
c. List all probability concepts before completing each probability problem

* One proven method is described in a number of my GMAT Doctor Math workshops on BlogTalkRadio.

These 3 basic steps should get you started in the right direction to a game plan that will help greatly improve your score on the GMAT. I talk more about a game plan and other tips in my November 23, 2009 workshop on BlogTalkRadio.   For other great tips and techniques you can use to help you prepare for the GMAT, check out my other workshops at: www.blogtalkradio.com/gmatdoctor.

If you have any GMAT questions, send your e-mail to: gmatdoctor@gmail.com or fax at: (775) 637-8573