Congratulations on your decision to pursue and MBA.
Congratulations on your decision to pursue and MBA.

You will likely invest hundreds of hours into your GMAT preparation, so we wanted to put
You will likely invest hundreds of hours into your GMAT preparation, so we wanted to put

together a list of test day tips to ensure you protect your significant investment of
together a list of test day tips to ensure you protect your significant investment of

time.
time.

Try to Relax Yes, this is easier said than done – even
Try to Relax Yes, this is easier said than done – even

for admissions consultants who have already taken the exam, and even graduated from business
for admissions consultants who have already taken the exam, and even graduated from business

school.
school.

Nonetheless, worrying and stressing over the GMAT will do nothing to boost your confidence
Nonetheless, worrying and stressing over the GMAT will do nothing to boost your confidence

or increase your ability to answer the questions correctly.
or increase your ability to answer the questions correctly.

Keep in mind that the GMAT exam is only one component of your total application package.
Keep in mind that the GMAT exam is only one component of your total application package.

Admissions committees at the most selective business schools normally give your academic
Admissions committees at the most selective business schools normally give your academic

qualifications, including grades and other non-GMAT components a weighting of between
qualifications, including grades and other non-GMAT components a weighting of between

30% and 40%.
30% and 40%.

That means that you may still be a very competitive applicant, even if your GMAT score falls somewhat
That means that you may still be a very competitive applicant, even if your GMAT score falls somewhat

below the median of those applicants historically accepted to your top-choice schools.
below the median of those applicants historically accepted to your top-choice schools.

Get Adequate Sleep the Night Before If you have spent any significant amount of
Get Adequate Sleep the Night Before If you have spent any significant amount of

time preparing for the GMAT CAT, then you will know that your score will benefit more
time preparing for the GMAT CAT, then you will know that your score will benefit more

from some extra sleep than it will be from a few last-minute cram preparations.
from some extra sleep than it will be from a few last-minute cram preparations.

Dress in Layers You can never be sure whether the test center
Dress in Layers You can never be sure whether the test center

will be warm or cold, so it is always a good idea to wear layers of clothes that you can
will be warm or cold, so it is always a good idea to wear layers of clothes that you can

easily add and remove.
easily add and remove.

The GMAT test site is not a fashion show, so dress comfortably.
The GMAT test site is not a fashion show, so dress comfortably.

If that means old jeans and sneakers for you, then that, by all means, that is what you
If that means old jeans and sneakers for you, then that, by all means, that is what you

should wear!
should wear!

Make Sure You are Comfortable with the Computer Tutorial
Make Sure You are Comfortable with the Computer Tutorial

The GMAT CAT will begin with a tutorial on using the computer.
The GMAT CAT will begin with a tutorial on using the computer.

We do not recommend rushing through it.
We do not recommend rushing through it.

If you have adequately prepared yourself for the GMAT, you will suffer no short-term memory
If you have adequately prepared yourself for the GMAT, you will suffer no short-term memory

loss in the few minutes it takes to complete this tutorial.
loss in the few minutes it takes to complete this tutorial.

You do not want to find that, having rushed through this tutorial, you panic when the
You do not want to find that, having rushed through this tutorial, you panic when the

timed test begins and you're suddenly not sure how to scroll through the long passages
timed test begins and you're suddenly not sure how to scroll through the long passages

in the verbal section.
in the verbal section.

Finally, this tutorial provides an excellent way for most test-takers to calm their nerves
Finally, this tutorial provides an excellent way for most test-takers to calm their nerves

before delving into the actual GMAT test questions.
before delving into the actual GMAT test questions.

Become Familiar with the Testing Facility Find out where the nearest bathroom and water
Become Familiar with the Testing Facility Find out where the nearest bathroom and water

fountain are located before you begin the test.
fountain are located before you begin the test.

You are allotted only two 5 minute breaks during the GMAT, and will want to be able
You are allotted only two 5 minute breaks during the GMAT, and will want to be able

to locate those facilities when you need them.
to locate those facilities when you need them.

It is also not a bad idea to figure out ahead of time how to get to the test center and
It is also not a bad idea to figure out ahead of time how to get to the test center and

to arrive there well before your scheduled time on test day.
to arrive there well before your scheduled time on test day.

Request Scrap Paper and Use it Freely Scrap paper will come in handy for both the
Request Scrap Paper and Use it Freely Scrap paper will come in handy for both the

verbal and the quantitative sections of the test.
verbal and the quantitative sections of the test.

There is no need to feel self conscious if you happen to have a few more sheets of scrap
There is no need to feel self conscious if you happen to have a few more sheets of scrap

paper than other test takers do.
paper than other test takers do.

After all, you do not want to waste valuable test-taking time requesting additional paper
After all, you do not want to waste valuable test-taking time requesting additional paper

if you run out of it during the middle of a section.
if you run out of it during the middle of a section.

Speak Up if Your Working Conditions are Less than Optimal
Speak Up if Your Working Conditions are Less than Optimal

If your carrel is too small or if you are having difficulty with your mouse, keyboard,
If your carrel is too small or if you are having difficulty with your mouse, keyboard,

or any other part of your computer, do not hesitate to speak up.
or any other part of your computer, do not hesitate to speak up.

These problems, on the rare occasions that they arise, are usually quite easily remedied.
These problems, on the rare occasions that they arise, are usually quite easily remedied.

Don't Waste Time This advice probably seems self-evident, but
Don't Waste Time This advice probably seems self-evident, but

we mention it because we've had clients tell us how they wasted time by revisiting the
we mention it because we've had clients tell us how they wasted time by revisiting the

help screen or requesting extra scrap paper after they had already begun their test.
help screen or requesting extra scrap paper after they had already begun their test.

These activities, if undertaken once the section has begun, will only take valuable time away
These activities, if undertaken once the section has begun, will only take valuable time away

from working on the questions.
from working on the questions.

Pace Yourself You want to spend a judicious amount of time
Pace Yourself You want to spend a judicious amount of time

on the first 5 questions of every section.
on the first 5 questions of every section.

However, after completing these first 5 questions, you may need to pick up the pace a bit in
However, after completing these first 5 questions, you may need to pick up the pace a bit in

order to stay on track and have the opportunity to answer each question in the section.
order to stay on track and have the opportunity to answer each question in the section.

The GMAT CAT's software will display the amount of test time you have left in each section.
The GMAT CAT's software will display the amount of test time you have left in each section.

If you prepared yourself by taking some simulated practice tests in the computer-adaptive format,
If you prepared yourself by taking some simulated practice tests in the computer-adaptive format,

you should have become proficient at managing your time during the exam.
you should have become proficient at managing your time during the exam.

Think Very Carefully Before Doing Any of These Before you cancel your score or quit the exam,
Think Very Carefully Before Doing Any of These Before you cancel your score or quit the exam,

ask yourself whether you are sure this is what you really want to do.
ask yourself whether you are sure this is what you really want to do.

It has been our experience that most test takers who cancel their scores or quit the
It has been our experience that most test takers who cancel their scores or quit the

exam do so irrationally.
exam do so irrationally.

You probably know from your previous test experiences that you often turn out to have
You probably know from your previous test experiences that you often turn out to have

done better on an exam than you thought you would while you were taking it.
done better on an exam than you thought you would while you were taking it.

It is human psychology to dwell more heavily on the questions that you believe you answered
It is human psychology to dwell more heavily on the questions that you believe you answered

incorrectly rather than on the (hopefully) more numerous questions you probably answered
incorrectly rather than on the (hopefully) more numerous questions you probably answered

correctly.
correctly.

Try to keep this in mind when the GMAT CAT asks if you want to cancel your scores or
Try to keep this in mind when the GMAT CAT asks if you want to cancel your scores or

see them immediately.
see them immediately.

It is our frank advice that, unless you felt deathly ill during the exam, you should not
It is our frank advice that, unless you felt deathly ill during the exam, you should not

cancel your scores.
cancel your scores.

Whether you are planning to apply late or early in the admissions season or just want
Whether you are planning to apply late or early in the admissions season or just want

to discuss some pre positioning issues, we’re to help.
to discuss some pre positioning issues, we’re to help.

Call us at 1.800.809.0800 to learn more about how we can ensure you maximize your b-school
Call us at 1.800.809.0800 to learn more about how we can ensure you maximize your b-school

admissions chances.
admissions chances.