Now that you are here and reading this blog, then I assume that following questions must be tormenting you regarding GMAT and B-Schools:
How do I prepare for GMAT?
Shall I join any coaching?
How many marks are enough for ISB?
How many hours do I need to study for getting a 700+?
Isn't GMAT supposed to be only for foreign B-Schools? (yes i was asked this too)
How many years of work ex do I require for ISB? Just 2 yrs is enough?
Do I have it in me to make it?
If these questions are on your mind then go ahead and read this blog post. I will be covering what helped in GMAT prep in this post. For my ISB application and interview experience will write a post soon.
How to Prepare - I am going to share how I prepared for GMAT and this may not be the best approach but yes now since I am here at ISB, I can say with confidence that this can be one of the approaches.
1. The Free GMAT Prep Test - First of all download the GMAT Prep FREE software.They offer 2 free tests, go ahead and give one of them. Do not worry that you haven't prepared and this may not be your best performance. Give it to gauge where do you stand, this will be your baseline and use it to make your strategy for preparation. (Download link - http://www.mba.com/us/the-gmat-exam/prepare-for-the-gmat-exam/test-prep-materials/free-gmat-prep-software.aspx )
2. The OG ie The Official Guide - Although I did not focus much on it but since I got it from my coaching, so I did flip over the topics and did the Diagnostic Test. I rather focused more on doing questions online as the exam which you are going to give is online hence it helps prepare you for the exam environment. Still, if you are the one who needs a hard copy of a book in your hand to get the feel of studying, then go ahead, you also get access to online question bank of GMAT if you buy OG.
2. Coaching I got good enough marks in Quant in the first test of GMAT Prep so I went ahead and joined Princeton Review in Jaipur for Verbal and CR classes only, but due to long office hours I went to coaching only during weekends. Coaching helped me know what is the pattern of exam, it is important to understand this as GMAT is very different from CAT in terms of type of questions asked and level of those questions. This really helped me get a hold on verbal and I attended the class on same topic twice just to ensure that I am grasping the concepts well enough. Even if you do not want to join a coaching there are many ways you may prepare like a few I will describe further.
3. Forums - Join a few forums like GMATclub, BeatTheGMAT, Pagalguy so that you may interact with other candidates and you could find some pretty good reviews on preparation strategy, colleges, coachings etc. Being in touch with other candidates helped to be in touch with studies or else its easy to give up as you always have a job in hand and money is flowing in.
3. Prep4GMAT - One thing which helped me most during my preparation is this app - Prep4GMAT. It has fantastic, easy to use UI and tracks your score for individual sections and topics. They have put a few notes in flash cards form and after notes there are tests you can take. These tests have 5 questions from the topic covered and have a time limit of about 5 to 6 minutes. This makes it easy to give them anywhere when you have free time at your home, be it office or while commuting. I gave every test almost twice and ensured I got the logic right at the end. I Used it for CR and Verbal only.
(Android Link for downloading - https://play.google.com/store/apps/detailsid=com.LTGExamPracticePlatform.Prep4GMAT&hl=en )
3. Manhattan Tests They provide 1 free online mock test which I gave and found good , so I even went ahead and bought their test package. If you want to save some bucks then do not buy test directly, rather buy the kindle edition of any of their GMAT prep book and you will get the tests free. Yes Kindle edition is cheaper than the cost of just purchasing test, I do not know why have they priced it so, but it is so. The link fo Sentence Correction guide - https://www.amazon.in/Sentence-Correction-Manhattan-Strategy-Guides-ebook/dp/B017X1K89Q?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref_=s9_simh_gw_p351_d0_i1
4. Other Mock Test - The 1st test you give on GMAT Prep would be your benchmark for further preparation. Give the second one just around 7 to 15 days before exam. There are many other free tests available out there the link is here - http://gmatclub.com/forum/18-online-free-full-length-gmat-cat-practice-tests-link-collection-202780.html . Do not go after giving them all. I gave around 10 mock tests ( 2- GMAT Prep free Test, 6 - Manhattan Tests, 1 - Kaplan and 1- Veritas Test) to get a feel of all different type of tests available. Do note down the marks you are getting in all these 10 tests at a single place so that you can track your own progress.
5. Score - What score is good enough is something which is also a function of what else you have on your profile.
600 to 660 - Anything above 600 is considered in most of the B-Schools,just that you need to have a solid profile.
660 to 720 - Score in this range combined with a above average profile works.
720 to 800 - Marks will take care of your profile, if required, to an extent.
6. Hour of Study - I studied only on Sundays that too during 3 hours of coaching for 5 months( July to Nov) and around 6 hours a day 1 month prior to my exam on 25th Dec. Most of the time was spent on giving mocks and analyzing the result. I was constantly preparing on app whenever I got time during these 6 months.
How do I prepare for GMAT?
Shall I join any coaching?
How many marks are enough for ISB?
How many hours do I need to study for getting a 700+?
Isn't GMAT supposed to be only for foreign B-Schools? (yes i was asked this too)
How many years of work ex do I require for ISB? Just 2 yrs is enough?
Do I have it in me to make it?
If these questions are on your mind then go ahead and read this blog post. I will be covering what helped in GMAT prep in this post. For my ISB application and interview experience will write a post soon.
The GMAT Related Queries
How to Prepare - I am going to share how I prepared for GMAT and this may not be the best approach but yes now since I am here at ISB, I can say with confidence that this can be one of the approaches.
1. The Free GMAT Prep Test - First of all download the GMAT Prep FREE software.They offer 2 free tests, go ahead and give one of them. Do not worry that you haven't prepared and this may not be your best performance. Give it to gauge where do you stand, this will be your baseline and use it to make your strategy for preparation. (Download link - http://www.mba.com/us/the-gmat-exam/prepare-for-the-gmat-exam/test-prep-materials/free-gmat-prep-software.aspx )
2. The OG ie The Official Guide - Although I did not focus much on it but since I got it from my coaching, so I did flip over the topics and did the Diagnostic Test. I rather focused more on doing questions online as the exam which you are going to give is online hence it helps prepare you for the exam environment. Still, if you are the one who needs a hard copy of a book in your hand to get the feel of studying, then go ahead, you also get access to online question bank of GMAT if you buy OG.
2. Coaching I got good enough marks in Quant in the first test of GMAT Prep so I went ahead and joined Princeton Review in Jaipur for Verbal and CR classes only, but due to long office hours I went to coaching only during weekends. Coaching helped me know what is the pattern of exam, it is important to understand this as GMAT is very different from CAT in terms of type of questions asked and level of those questions. This really helped me get a hold on verbal and I attended the class on same topic twice just to ensure that I am grasping the concepts well enough. Even if you do not want to join a coaching there are many ways you may prepare like a few I will describe further.
3. Forums - Join a few forums like GMATclub, BeatTheGMAT, Pagalguy so that you may interact with other candidates and you could find some pretty good reviews on preparation strategy, colleges, coachings etc. Being in touch with other candidates helped to be in touch with studies or else its easy to give up as you always have a job in hand and money is flowing in.
3. Prep4GMAT - One thing which helped me most during my preparation is this app - Prep4GMAT. It has fantastic, easy to use UI and tracks your score for individual sections and topics. They have put a few notes in flash cards form and after notes there are tests you can take. These tests have 5 questions from the topic covered and have a time limit of about 5 to 6 minutes. This makes it easy to give them anywhere when you have free time at your home, be it office or while commuting. I gave every test almost twice and ensured I got the logic right at the end. I Used it for CR and Verbal only.
(Android Link for downloading - https://play.google.com/store/apps/detailsid=com.LTGExamPracticePlatform.Prep4GMAT&hl=en )
3. Manhattan Tests They provide 1 free online mock test which I gave and found good , so I even went ahead and bought their test package. If you want to save some bucks then do not buy test directly, rather buy the kindle edition of any of their GMAT prep book and you will get the tests free. Yes Kindle edition is cheaper than the cost of just purchasing test, I do not know why have they priced it so, but it is so. The link fo Sentence Correction guide - https://www.amazon.in/Sentence-Correction-Manhattan-Strategy-Guides-ebook/dp/B017X1K89Q?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref_=s9_simh_gw_p351_d0_i1
4. Other Mock Test - The 1st test you give on GMAT Prep would be your benchmark for further preparation. Give the second one just around 7 to 15 days before exam. There are many other free tests available out there the link is here - http://gmatclub.com/forum/18-online-free-full-length-gmat-cat-practice-tests-link-collection-202780.html . Do not go after giving them all. I gave around 10 mock tests ( 2- GMAT Prep free Test, 6 - Manhattan Tests, 1 - Kaplan and 1- Veritas Test) to get a feel of all different type of tests available. Do note down the marks you are getting in all these 10 tests at a single place so that you can track your own progress.
5. Score - What score is good enough is something which is also a function of what else you have on your profile.
600 to 660 - Anything above 600 is considered in most of the B-Schools,just that you need to have a solid profile.
660 to 720 - Score in this range combined with a above average profile works.
720 to 800 - Marks will take care of your profile, if required, to an extent.
6. Hour of Study - I studied only on Sundays that too during 3 hours of coaching for 5 months( July to Nov) and around 6 hours a day 1 month prior to my exam on 25th Dec. Most of the time was spent on giving mocks and analyzing the result. I was constantly preparing on app whenever I got time during these 6 months.
