GMAT – Boon or Bane?

I work for one of the best GMAT centres in the world and I have come across many students who have given up on their MBA dreams due to the difficulties they face in attaining a competitive GMAT score. Of course, there are also some students who begin their preparation for GMAT but give up along the way and study instead for the GRE. And this is understandable as the GRE is now widely accepted amongst top business schools and it is easier to score well on the GRE than on the GMAT.

However, even the schools that accept both the GMAT and the GRE for the MBA and other management related programs prefer students who have taken the GMAT over those who have taken the GRE.

Just remember that if you have a good GMAT teacher or coach, or if you have enrolled at a good GMAT coaching centre, then rest assured that they will try and bring out the best in you and all you need to do is stick with the program.

GMAT for beginners

If you are just about beginning your GMAT preparation and you have no clue about the exam, you will be doing yourself a favour by going to a GMAT coaching centre near you and finding out how much ever you can from a GMAT expert.

It is important to know that it is not like other competitive tests and the usual method of learning and approaching exams will not work out in your favour.

The GMAT tests a wide range of attributes of whoever is attempting it. Right from mental agility and aptitude to clarity of thought and time management are amongst the skill sets that are tested on the GMAT.

Keep in mind that the syllabus is used merely as a medium to test these various attributes of a person and not to test your level of proficiency math or English.

Having trouble with the GMAT?

Are you having trouble with the GMAT? Have you found yourself asking if you should take the GRE instead or even worse, give up trying to apply for business school?

Well, first stop stressing out. You are not the only one in the world who has found themselves in such a situation. Besides, there is an easy fix to this.

Do a little research and find out the best GMAT centre in your city, even if it is not near to you. Go meet with the trainers and have a frank chat with them as to what about the GMAT is intimidating you so much.

You will be pleasantly surprised as to the amount of insight that a GMAT training expert will be able to provide you.

PTE –Exam Pattern

The PTE or Pearson Test of English is one of the three main language tests that you are expected to take if you are applying to either study abroad or immigrate to a primarily English-speaking country.

That being said, it implies that there are four fundamental aspects of communication – Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.

If you are not a native English speaker, it is advisable to sign up for PTE classes also for GMAT. This will help you acclimatize to what is tested on the exam and can get you prepared for what to expect.

However, if you are a native English speaker, the exam may not be too difficult to score well in, but it is still advisable to sign up for PTE classes so that you can maximize your PTE score.

GMAT – Data Sufficiency

Anyone who knows anything about the GMAT will tell you that the Data Sufficiency questions are the most annoying questions on the whole exam. They can be quite tricky and time consuming to get right if you don’t immediately spot the trick in the question.

Now, if you plan on studying on your own then you might find it hard to develop the necessary skills and the insights you will need to be efficient and accurate on the DS questions on the GMAT.

However, if you attend GMAT classes, you will be taught all the tricks and tips you need to knowto solve the DS questions without any hassle.

What you need to keep in mind is that you don’t need to solve the entire question, but rather be able to decide whether the information provided is adequate to solve it or not.

GRE Classes

First of all, your educational background and your work experience and/or your research papers or projects play an important role in what a good GRE score for you is. If you have published research papers in journals or if you have a very compelling project that has real world applications, then you can still get into a good university for your masters with a slightly lower GRE score.

A good GRE score is anything above 315 on 340. Now, the score that you need to get so that you can stand a shot to get into the Ivy leagues would be anything above 325. But if you have a good overall profile, your application will still be considered. But in case you are a fresher or you have not done any research or a worthwhile project in your undergraduate degree then you might want to aim for score at least above 320.

However, if you go attend any GRE classes, then they will coach you adequately and inform you about the score that you need to be aiming for.

GMAT – When should you take it?

The GMAT is the preferred exam when you are applying for best international business schools all over the world. It is a test of aptitude, time management and mental agility. And in its own way, it tests whether you can handle management related course work in the best business schools.

Now, the question of when to take the GMAT might be something that can be unclear. While the 

GMAT score is valid for five years, it is best to apply with a score that is less than two years old.

Your age does not matter when applying for business schools and by that effect, neither should it matter when you are going to write the GMAT.

However, the most suitable time to take the GMAT would be after two or three years of work experience if you are from a business or consulting background. But if you have an engineering or law degree, it is best to take the GMAT as soon as you graduate from college.

Your best bet would be to find a suitable GMAT coaching centre and train for a few months

What is a good GRE score?

There are a lot of GRE coaching centres that will try to tell you that 300+ is a decent score but that’s not in fact true. A decent score would be a 165+ in the quantitative section and a 155+ on the verbal section. However, there are some universities that have their own minimum requirement of score for each of the sections.

So in order to get an interview call from a well reputed university for an MS program, it is safe to say that a 315 is the least score that you need to get. Any score higher than this with a competitive profile including a well represented statement of purpose and some good recommendation letters will make for a good situation to get noticed by top tier universities.