Take it from Katja Smuk, one of our alumni with a top GMAT score at INSEAD. How did this 25-year-old ace the ever-challenging GMAT, which has had so many people spend hours studying for? Here are five tips from Katja on how she conquered the GMAT and achieved a good score.
Tip #1: Practise, practise, practise.
This is definitely the most important factor. Most likely you already know everything you need to do well on the GMAT. But it’s understanding the format and type of questions, and getting some experience in solving them, that will make the difference between good and great. Practising will make you efficient and calm as you go into the real test, and allow your real skills to shine through.
Tip #2: Audit your mistakes.
Be sure to make the most out of the practice and really ensure that you understand the basic concepts underlying the questions. Understanding your errors will help you avoid them going forward.
Tip #3: Time yourself.
You’ll get two simulation exams with the software pack, but even before you do those, make sure to invest some thought into time management. Misallocating time is an easy trap to fall into when you’re stressed and trying to get the answers right. Making an educated guess on a couple of questions might garner a better result.
Tip #4: Keep your cool.
It’s just a test. Worst comes to worst, you can always re-take it. It is also a test that only measures a subset of your skills. Take some of the pressure off yourself to get into a certain percentile. If you go into the exam seeing it as a challenging game rather than a cornerstone of your future, you’ll relax and do much better!
Tip #5: Arm yourself with snacks.
It’s a long exam and you’ll want to feed your brain some sugar during the breaks. Treat yourself; you deserve it. You are writing the GMAT after all!
