Overcome a Low GMAT Score
When a GMAT score is lower than expected, it can diminish confidence, but obsessing over the number isn’t going to make it better.
“Business school hopefuls can be incredibly hard on themselves when they make mistakes on the GMAT, but each error is a learning opportunity and a chance to improve,” U.S. News columnist Stacy Blackman wrote on the MBA Admissions: Strictly Business blog. “So don’t become discouraged if your first score isn’t where you’d hoped.”
Here are 10 coping strategies experts suggest for dealing with a low GMAT score.
1. Consider a retake
Experts say first-time test takers are often nervous during the GMAT, which hinders their performance on the test.
Blackman, the founder of an MBA admissions consulting firm, wrote in a blog post that there is no shame in retaking the GMAT, especially if anxiety or illness prevented you from doing your best. “In fact, this dedication to improving your score is often interpreted by the admissions committee as a sign that you’ll do whatever it takes to prove you’re ready for business school.”
2. Study more
Blackman says MBA applicants typically need a minimum of 100 hours to prepare for the GMAT, and she says it is difficult to do well on the test without a significant time commitment.
Dan Gonzalez, president of the Manhattan Prep test prep firm, told U.S. News in 2014 that prospective MBA students should plan on studying for the GMAT on a regular basis rather than cramming.
“Studying for the GMAT is kind of like practicing an instrument or learning how to play a sport,” Gonzales said. “You have to give it frequent attention.”
3. Reach out for help
If you need guidance on how to deal with certain aspects of the GMAT or if you need accountability to ensure that you study enough for the GMAT, experts say a course or a tutor could be valuable.
“Feeling prepared is half of the battle,” Rachael Waddell, an MBA graduate from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University, told U.S. News in 2012. “During the test, the ability to regroup after a few rough questions is crucial. This comes from confidence in knowing that you are familiar with the material and question types.”
4. Evaluate what went wrong
Looking at your previous GMAT test will reveal your mistakes so you can correct them on a future test, Blackman wrote in a U.S. News blog post about how to decide whether to retake the GMAT.
“After your first test, it’s time to go over your entire GMAT performance to determine your weaknesses and double-down in those areas as you resume your studies,” she wrote. “Don’t completely ignore the sections you did well on, however. You wouldn’t want to improve in one area but do worse in another the next time.”
5. Pace yourself
Meeting time limits is a challenging aspect of the GMAT, Gonzalez of Manhattan Prep said, so test-takers should take practice tests with time limits.
“Never do a practice exam without a stop watch,” he said. “Timed practice is one of the most critical parts of the test.”
6. Try the GRE
Experts say prospective MBA students who do not have a quantitative background often perform better on the GRE than the GMAT.
“The GMAT mathematics section is just more difficult,” Mary Pat Jacobs, the founder of Apply Point Admissions Consulting, told U.S. News in 2015. “If someone has a weakness in the quantitative section, then I recommend the GRE.”
7. Demonstrate math skills
If your GMAT score won’t budge, experts say to show MBA admissions officers that you are ready to handle the rigorous quantitative courses in business school.
Experts say to take supplemental math courses or describe the quantitative work you have done throughout your career in your application.
“The admissions committee will sometimes give candidates the benefit of the doubt if other aspects of their application are exceptionally compelling,” Blackman wrote about getting into business school without quantitative experience.
8. Avoid panic
Experts say eliminating test day jitters can improve GMAT scores.
Blackman wrote that getting a video tour of the GMAT test center and researching test procedures can prevent surprises the day of the test. Meditation can also help to reduce anxiety, she wrote, as can taking the GMAT in the same location where you took a previous test, which reduces the chance of getting lost.
9. Identify your learning style
Dave Killoran, the CEO of PowerScore Test Preparation, told U.S. News in 2014 that students should consider how they learn best — whether independently or through the structure of a course – before choosing a study method.
“If you’re a real procrastinator, you do not want to self study. Because you’ll put it off all the time,” he said.
10. Highlight your strengths
Some students are not good test-takers. If you have taken the GMAT multiple times without success, focus on portions of the application where you can excel, said Blackman.
“Put your energies toward boosting your candidacy in the areas of your application you can control, namely the essays, extracurriculars and, to some extent, the recommendation letters, where your recommenders can highlight your quantitative skills,” Blackman wrote in 2013. Using the optional essay to explain a low test score is unwise, she said, because these kinds of excuses don’t play well with admissions officers.
More About GMAT Preparation
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10 Ways to Address a Low GMAT Score originally appeared on usnews.com
