When To Take the GMAT And Why Earlier Is Usually Better
When is the GMAT?
There is no set date (like there is for the SAT) that you must take the GMAT. So you have the liberty of scheduling a date and time for your testing at the nearest testing administration site.
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 sit for 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! Thousands of 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.
How do I do a practice exam in exam-like conditions?
I mean instead of just going through questions on a practice exam a little here and a little there, you should schedule an entire morning or afternoon to take the exam with a timer. Especially with the Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) format of the exam, you should take these practice exams AS IF it were the real thing, at least several days before your real exam and preferably earlier.
Is there anything else I should consider?
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.
Should I study first and then schedule the exam or schedule the exam and then study?
It really depends on you. I would say you should register for the exam at least a few months in advance of when you intend to take it. Go ahead and pay the fees for the GMAT (it's not cheap!it's pretty expensive!) so that you get emotionally invested in the exam process. That'll kickstart you into taking action for the exam. Then research your GMAT prep options to see which study method is best for you.
This article was guest-written by , Zeke Lee. Zeke is the founder of The GMAT Pill Study Method and has aided 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 special strategies to the general public.
