When is the GMAT?
Unlike the SAT, there is no set date for registering for the GMAT. You can book a date and time for your test with your nearest test center at your convenience. Almost any weekday will be possible. Of course, you need to register in advance.
Sounds good. Since I can choose when to take the exam, when is the best time to do so?
Perhaps the best time to sit for your GMAT is while you are still in school, or shortly afterwards. Remember, as you gain more real world experience, you lose the test-taking intuition that you used to have when you were in school. Taking an intensive test like the GMAT 5 years after your last rigorous exam can be quite challenging. Test-taking intricacies like operating in a time pressured environment, reading through answer choices, marking answers, and dealing with psychological issues are second nature to you when you are in school, but they become quite unfamiliar the longer you wait after college. You want to minimize this risk by taking the exam during the summer after graduation or the summer between your junior and senior year-this is the ideal time. Remember, the GMAT exam is valid for 5 years. If you have any intention of applying for business school sometime in the next 5 years, you should take it at your earliest convenience.
Well, what if I've been away from college for many years--did I miss the boat? What should I do?
Don't worry. You didn't miss the boat! A lotof people are in your shoes. You might not be familiar with the pressures of test taking so will need to pay extra attention to doing several practice exams mimicking exam-like conditions.
How do I do a practice exam in exam-like conditions?
The best way to simulate an exam is to set aside an entire morning or afternoon to take a practice exam using the GMAT Prep software from www.mba.com. Since the exam is computerized, you want to practice using a computer adaptive test in order to simulate the conditions. Besides simulating the environmental conditions of your practice exam, you should also simulate the psychological aspects as well. Go through your normal test routine the day before your scheduled practice exam--like going to bed extra early to get a really good night's sleep and wake up early. Make sure you go to the bathroom before the practice exam because you don't want to have a break during your exam.
What else should I take into account?
If you are considering the GMAT, chances are you have a busy life. When applying to business school, you will need to dedicate time not only to your job, but also any extracurricular activities or initiatives you are pursuing. Part of an organization that holds ambitious yearly events? Put some time and effort and participate on the board in a leadership position. Itching for a promotion at your job so you can put it in your Bschool application? You'll need to put in the time and effort. You'll also need to budget time for researching/visiting schools and writing those dreaded essays. And of course, you want a social life and time with your family. The GMAT is the LAST thing you want to worry about when juggling all these things. That's why it is best to get it out of the way.
Which one should I do first? Study for the exam? Or register for the exam?
This is a personal preference. I would recommend you to schedule the exam a few months in advance when you intend to take it. Pay the $250 (yes, not cheap) it costs to take the exam so that you are invested into the exam-forcing you to study. Otherwise, if you casually study for the exam, you may never progress anywhere. - 31521
Unlike the SAT, there is no set date for registering for the GMAT. You can book a date and time for your test with your nearest test center at your convenience. Almost any weekday will be possible. Of course, you need to register in advance.
Sounds good. Since I can choose when to take the exam, when is the best time to do so?
Perhaps the best time to sit for your GMAT is while you are still in school, or shortly afterwards. Remember, as you gain more real world experience, you lose the test-taking intuition that you used to have when you were in school. Taking an intensive test like the GMAT 5 years after your last rigorous exam can be quite challenging. Test-taking intricacies like operating in a time pressured environment, reading through answer choices, marking answers, and dealing with psychological issues are second nature to you when you are in school, but they become quite unfamiliar the longer you wait after college. You want to minimize this risk by taking the exam during the summer after graduation or the summer between your junior and senior year-this is the ideal time. Remember, the GMAT exam is valid for 5 years. If you have any intention of applying for business school sometime in the next 5 years, you should take it at your earliest convenience.
Well, what if I've been away from college for many years--did I miss the boat? What should I do?
Don't worry. You didn't miss the boat! A lotof people are in your shoes. You might not be familiar with the pressures of test taking so will need to pay extra attention to doing several practice exams mimicking exam-like conditions.
How do I do a practice exam in exam-like conditions?
The best way to simulate an exam is to set aside an entire morning or afternoon to take a practice exam using the GMAT Prep software from www.mba.com. Since the exam is computerized, you want to practice using a computer adaptive test in order to simulate the conditions. Besides simulating the environmental conditions of your practice exam, you should also simulate the psychological aspects as well. Go through your normal test routine the day before your scheduled practice exam--like going to bed extra early to get a really good night's sleep and wake up early. Make sure you go to the bathroom before the practice exam because you don't want to have a break during your exam.
What else should I take into account?
If you are considering the GMAT, chances are you have a busy life. When applying to business school, you will need to dedicate time not only to your job, but also any extracurricular activities or initiatives you are pursuing. Part of an organization that holds ambitious yearly events? Put some time and effort and participate on the board in a leadership position. Itching for a promotion at your job so you can put it in your Bschool application? You'll need to put in the time and effort. You'll also need to budget time for researching/visiting schools and writing those dreaded essays. And of course, you want a social life and time with your family. The GMAT is the LAST thing you want to worry about when juggling all these things. That's why it is best to get it out of the way.
Which one should I do first? Study for the exam? Or register for the exam?
This is a personal preference. I would recommend you to schedule the exam a few months in advance when you intend to take it. Pay the $250 (yes, not cheap) it costs to take the exam so that you are invested into the exam-forcing you to study. Otherwise, if you casually study for the exam, you may never progress anywhere. - 31521
About the Author:
This article was authored by GMAT tutor and guru, Zeke Lee. Zeke is the founder of The GMAT Pill Study Method and has helped numerous students ace the GMAT exam in as little time as possible. Although his secret techniques were limited to wealthy students who could afford $200/hour a few years ago, Zeke has now opened the door to his unique strategies to the general public. Best Online GMAT Preparation
