How to score 700 on the GMAT

Step 1

PURCHASE THE OFFICIAL GUIDE FOR GMAT REVEW

Buying the official guide, published by the Graduate Management Admission Council, is your first step towards scoring 700 on the GMAT. As you study for the exam, this book must become your bible. For the next several weeks or months, you and this book will become like one. It contains actual questions from past GMAT exams, written in the exact same style that real questions will be presented to you. You cannot live without this book if you want to kick ass on the test.

Step 2

RECOGNIZE THE SERIOUSNESS REQUIRED TO SCORE WELL ON THE GMAT

The first time I took the GMAT, I bombed it. Because I did not have the discipline required for success that first time around, I was woefully unprepared for the time pressure and decisiveness needed to do well. After picking myself up from the disappointment, I swore I would plan ahead and take studying seriously.

Step 3

TAKE A GMAT PREP COURSE

Although GMAT prep courses can be pretty pricey (>$1,200 for a class), if you focus and learn the material they offer, these classes can significantly increase your chances of scoring above 700. I recommend Manhattan GMAT. These guys are awesome. They only teach the GMAT, they have fabulous instructors (who are required to regularly take the GMAT on their own AND score 750+ (99th percentile) to remain instructors). No, Manhattan GMAT did not pay me to endorse them, I just think they have a great business model and really do a great job preparing students for the exam. Check out their website and see if there is a class offered close to where you are, or take an online option: http://www.manhattangmat.com.

Step 4

PLAN A RIGOROUS STUDY SCHEDULE

Give yourself PLENTY OF TIME (if you are able to, of course) to study for the GMAT. I gave myself SIX FULL MONTHS to prepare for the GMAT the second time around and it allowed me to master every section of the exam (the essays, Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal, etc.). Moreover, I carefully laid out a detailed study plan with goals for every day of the week. I was working full-time and also wanted to maintain a healthy exercise schedule and social life while preparing for the test. I strongly recommend producing a detailed weekly schedule with FUN built in to it. This way, you remain focused on the days you plan to study and give yourself much-needed relief on certain days and the weekend to re-charge your batteries.

Step 5

FIND PRACTICE GMAT EXAMS FOR FREE (or for a small fee)

Take practice exams only when you are ready, but first you need to gather as many as you can find, or are willing to take. You can download or order a CD with free practice exams available from http://www.mba.com at http://www.mba.com/mba/thegmat/downloadfreetestpreparationsoftware. You can also search for practice exams online through Google, order past written GMAT exams (for a fee), or buy practice exams from Kaplan, The Princeton Review, or Manhattan GMAT. Many other independent sites offer GMAT test prep materials, my favorite being Test Magic: http://www.testmagic.com/gmat/

Step 6

TAKE MORE THAN TEN PRACTICE GMAT EXAMS

After about three months of studying, taking a prep course, and completing every question in the Official Guide, you should be ready to take GMAT practice exams. In order to score 700 on the real test, you should consistently be scoring well over 700 on practice exams. If not, you need to practice and study more, or you will most likely score below 700. Take one or two practice exams per weekend leading up to your test date, and take them in a quiet place, by yourself, under test-like conditions. This means that you will take the test TIMED as it would be when you take it for real, and DO NOT CHEAT on time. If you count a question you did after time is up, you will not accurately know where you really stand with your score. If you are honest with yourself about where you need to improve, you will get there.

Step 7

GET PLENTY OF REST BEFORE THE EXAM AND DRESS FOR SUCCESS

After you are comfortable with your performances on practice exams and you are scoring above 700 consistently, you are ready to take the real exam. The night before the test, get a good night's sleep and get up with enough time to do some practice problems to warm up. Eat a solid breakfast (but one that won't upset your tummy) and DRESS FOR SUCCESS. One of the great tips I got from a reader from Test Magic was to dress well for the exam. I wore a nice shirt and tie with slacks and was ready to go. Psychologically, it actually helped. By dressing well, I felt like I would be on top of my game and ready to take care of business. Contrast that to what your mentality would be if you wore a t-shirt and sweats. Understandably, you want to be comfortable, but trust me on this, when you look good, you play good. And the GMAT after all, is one of the toughest games you'll play. Give yourself every edge!

Tips & Warnings

Obviously, I cannot guarantee anyone's performance on the GMAT. But scoring over 700 is totally possible for anyone with the talent, potential, and willingness to work.

For many of you out there, standardized exams come easy and if that is the case, this article is not for you. However, if you are like me, smart but not exactly the best test-taker, being disciplined in your approach and process-oriented toward studying for the GMAT, you can score above 700 EASY. It just takes time and hours and hours of practice. If you want to get into HBS, Columbia, or Stanford, this is what you need to do. GOOD LUCK