Get the GMAT Out of the Way
When is the GMAT?
Unlike the SAT, there is no specific date for registering for the GMAT. You can schedule 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.
OK, nice. Given that I have the freedom to choose when to take the exam, what would you recommend as the ideal time to register for the GMAT?
Perhaps the best time to take your GMAT is while you are still in college, 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.
I’m several years out of college. Is it too late to take the GMAT?
Don’t worry. You didn’t miss the boat! A lotof people are in your shoes. You might not be used to the pressures of test taking so will need to pay extra attention to doing several practice exams mimicking exam-like conditions.
What do you mean by 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. In addition to 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?
Since you have a busy life with work, extracurriculars, and socializing you want to get the GMAT out of the way ASAP before you start applying to business school. Why? Because later on you’re going to be even more busy. You’ll need to dedicate time to your job, but also any community groups you are a part of. Member of an organization that holds ambitious yearly events? Put in the effort and participate on the board in a leadership position. Trying to get a salary raise so you can mention it on your Bschool application? Do what you need to do to get there. And of course when you apply, you’re going to need to budget time to research each school you apply to and get a sense of which ones are right for you. The list of things to do will get really hectic once you start applying, so take my advice. Take the GMAT now and get it out of the way before you start your business school applications.
Which one should I do first? Study for the exam? Or schedule 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.
This article was authored by GMAT tutor and expert, Zeke Lee. Zeke is the creator 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 privileged students who could pay $200/hour a few years ago, Zeke has now opened the door to his unique strategies to the general public. Best Online GMAT Preparation