You come across dozens of test-taking strategies and facts that “no one else is aware of.” You have no idea which ones are genuine and a waste of time. So, how do you go about doing that?
The first myth is: "The GMAT is an intelligence test."
So either you have a natural talent for it, or you don’t. And if you don’t, no amount of studying will help you obtain a good grade. That is entirely incorrect. The GMAT evaluates your problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities. As a result, you may and should prepare for it. Indeed, the more you study, the better your chances of getting a decent grade. However, the preparation must be correct: rote memory is rarely effective in this situation.
The second myth is that: "Pay great attention to the first ten questions, as they account for a larger portion of your overall score."
The GMAT is an adaptive examination, which means it will continue to evaluate your abilities during the exam. As a result, even if you answer all of the questions correctly in the first section of the test, your overall score may be low. Each question should be answered to the best of your ability. If a question is exceedingly complex and you have no idea how to solve it, I recommend guessing and moving on. However, proceed with considerable caution.
The third myth is that: "You don’t need to prepare for the Quantitative portion if you are a math master."
On the other hand, a language expert does not need to worry about verbal preparation. The topics assessed in the quantitative section of the GMAT are, after all, high school level. You don’t have to be a math wizard to succeed. Even if you are, your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities may need improvement. Experts in English are in the same boat. Sure, knowing the grammar rules will give you an advantage, and you may even have a higher reading speed. However, you may need to improve your comprehension and critical reasoning abilities.
The fourth myth is that: “Only practice tests or only practice problems” is a practice method.
Neither of these extremes is viable. A mock test should be the first step in your preparation. It will assist you in identifying your weak spots. Then practice questions, focusing on the areas where you need to improve. The GMAT is also a focus and perseverance test. You’ll be prepared for both with complete tests. Another key advantage of taking comprehensive examinations is perfecting your timing. If you continue to take tests without first comprehending the subjects and question patterns, you are wasting your time. On the other side, if you solely concentrate on learning topics and solving problems without taking quizzes, you will be missing out on some critical practice for the big day.
The fifth myth is that: "Your profile looks poor because you took the test multiple times."
And such prospects are seen negatively by business schools. First and foremost, if your GMAT score does not meet your expectations, you should retake the exam. A higher score is ALWAYS better for your profile, and schools solely worry about your top score. In reality, I’ve learned from several admission committee members that many test tries, at worst, have no bearing on your profile and, at best, demonstrate that you’re serious about your application, significantly if your scores have improved each time.