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The Graduate Management Admission Test, or GMAT, is a standardized exam designed with high-level business schools in mind. It is an international exam with objective assessment criteria, making it a more reliable predictor of future academic success than a grade point average subject to an individual school's policies and curriculum. The GMAT is required or accepted at over 1,600 business schools nationwide, so working with a GMAT tutor could help you reach for an MBA or another advanced business degree. In today's competitive landscape, you'll want every advantage you can get!
One of the first questions asked during GMAT tutoring sessions tends to be what the structure of the exam is like. The chart below breaks down the most important details so that you know what to expect on exam day:
GMAT Overview
- 3.5 hour exam
- Computer-based
- Sections:
GMAT Section | Number of Questions | Time Allowed | Scoring Range |
Analytical Writing | 1 writing prompt | 30 minutes | 0-6 |
Integrated Reasoning | 12 | 30 minutes | 1-8 |
Quantitative Reasoning | 31 | 62 minutes | 0-60 |
Verbal Reasoning | 36 | 65 minutes | 0-60 |
As you can see, there are four separately-timed sections for test-takers to contend with. The first is Analytical Writing, which requires students to compose a thoughtful essay in just half an hour. If you could more effectively express your ideas in a written format, you might want to review how to outline your work during a GMAT tutoring session. Composing an outline can save you time, as you are never staring at the screen wondering what to say next. It can also make it easier to remember all of your supporting details, as they are all listed in one reference point for your convenience. Once you gain some experience working from an outline, you are unlikely to try to work without one.
What Are The Benefits Of Working With GMAT Tutors Near Me?
Working with private GMAT tutors also affords you the luxury of studying in a one-on-one learning environment. You are your GMAT tutor's only pupil during your GMAT tutoring sessions, so any questions you have can be addressed promptly. Likewise, all of your work can receive immediate feedback, allowing you to correct any mistakes while the material remains fresh in your mind.
In addition, your private GMAT tutor may be able to design GMAT tutoring sessions around your unique needs. If you are an auditory learner, your GMAT tutor might structure sessions as a discussion, making sure to repeat the most important details so that they have a better chance to stick in your mind. Alternatively, a visual learner might get more out of working with charts and graphs that illustrate important concepts.
The entire GMAT exam is multiple-choice once the Analytical Writing section is over, but that doesn't mean that the rest of the test is easy. The list below highlights the skills you need for the GMAT Integrated Reasoning section:
GMAT Integrated Reasoning Section Overview
- Abilities Assessed
- Synthesize information presented in graphics, text, and numbers.
- Evaluate relevant information from different sources.
- Organize information to see relationships and to solve multiple, interrelated problems.
- Combine and manipulate information from multiple sources to solve complex problems.
- Question Types
- Multi-Source Reasoning
- Review data, written passages, and other information to answer questions
- Table Analysis
- Sort and analyze a spreadsheet-like set of data to answer questions
- Graphics Interpretation
- Review and interpret provided information to answer questions
- Two-Part Analysis
- Solve complex problems across multiple disciplines
At its core, the GMAT Integrated Reasoning section evaluates your ability to apply what you have learned and outside data in order to make practical business decisions. This is very test-specific, so you might not have a lot of experience answering questions like this. Your GMAT tutor may provide sample questions drawn from previous exams to get you in the habit of thinking like the test, allowing you to build up self-confidence heading into exam day.
Can GMAT Tutoring Near Me Help If I Have Trouble Staying Focused?
It can be difficult sometimes to keep your attention on your studies, especially when the material may be dry, but a GMAT tutor may be able to incorporate your interests and hobbies to make your sessions more engaging. For example, if you are a fan of a particular company or entrepreneur, your knowledgeable instructor can look for ways to use them as an example in your test prep.
Alternatively, the situations could be drawn from something you love. For instance, an ardent baseball fan might look at how modern MLB front offices incorporate new "Statcast" metrics such as spin rate and sprint speed, traditional performance metrics, player comps, marketability, and budgetary considerations in order to put the best team possible on the field. As long as you are drawing relevant data from a variety of sources and using it in a practical manner, it works as GMAT Integrated Reasoning prep. Why not have some fun with it?
The GMAT becomes more standard once the Integrated Reasoning section is completed, as Quantitative Reasoning is a basic math test while Verbal Reasoning assesses your ability to communicate effectively. Many students may not immediately understand why they need to take an English Language Arts test to get into business school, but communication is a vital skill at all levels of the corporate ladder. Here is a breakdown of some of the concepts you might see on the Verbal section:
GMAT Verbal Reasoning Section Overview
- Question Types
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding words statements, logical relationships between significant points, drawing inferences, following the development of quantitative concepts.
- Read a passage and then answer questions regarding the interpretation material, drawing inferences, or applying information to a further context. Passage topics include social sciences and humanities, physical and biological sciences, or a business-related field.
- Critical Reasoning
- Make and evaluate arguments, formulate or evaluate a plan of action.
- Read short passages and determine the best answer to questions that intend to make an argument weaker/stronger, critique the argument, and identify aspects that support or damage the argument.
- Sentence Correction
- Correct expression
- Tests grammar and structure abilities
- Effective expression
- Tests ability to identify the expression of ideas/relationships in clear and concise ways using proper grammar
- Review the underlined portion of a sentence or paragraph and choose the best answer rephrasing that underlined snippet
That's a lot of material, but a GMAT tutor can help you break it down into more digestible chunks. For example, close reading is an important skill on both the Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning subsections. If you could retain more of the information you read, your GMAT tutor might demonstrate active reading techniques to ensure that you remain actively engaged with the material. "Active reading" sounds complicated, but it just means that you are taking notes as you go along. Referring to your notes may also be faster than going back to the passage to look something up, providing another benefit.
How Else Can A GMAT Tutor Near Me Help Me Prepare For The Exam?
Many students take practice exams under realistic test-taking conditions during GMAT tutoring sessions to give them a sense of what to expect on the actual test. You only have so much time available to you, and experiencing what it feels like firsthand can help you budget it more effectively. Similarly, you can save a little bit of time on test day if you know what the directions are before heading in.
Practice tests can also reveal academic strengths and areas of opportunity that you may not have even realized you had. For instance, a student who consistently scores better on the Quantitative section than the Verbal one might be able to improve their study efficiency by concentrating more on the Verbal component.
Most importantly, taking practice exams may help you feel more comfortable with the test's electronic interface. The GMAT utilizes Computer-Adaptive Testing technology, or CAT, which means that it selects your next question based on your performance on the previous ones. If the questions keep getting more difficult, you are answering a lot of them correctly. If you get several easy ones in a row, you may have missed a few. It is easy to fall into the trap of overthinking this and concentrating more on which questions you may have missed than the one in front of you.
You can't go back and change history, so it is always better to concentrate on the question in front of you. Your GMAT tutor can demonstrate mindfulness techniques to help you calm down if you start thinking about previous questions, allowing you to face the one currently on your screen with renewed focus. If you have dealt with test anxiety in the past, your instructor may also show you medication techniques to help mitigate it.
Your GMAT tutor may also show you test-taking strategies you can fall back on if you get stuck. For instance, you can probably eliminate some of the incorrect answer choices even if you aren't sure of the correct response. There is no penalty for guessing on the GMAT, so taking an educated guess and moving on is often a better option than puzzling over one question for so long that you don't have the opportunity to answer every question.
The GMAT has always been a competitive exam, but it has become even more so in recent years. The chart below reveals how GMAT scores have been trending upward:
GMAT Score Trends
Score Range | 2013 | 2017 |
< 600 | 61 | 55 |
600-690 | 28 | 33 |
700+ | 11 | 13 |
This trend has allowed competitive business schools to raise their standards for admission, meaning that you need a good score if you want to pursue your academic goals. Investing in private GMAT tutoring is one way to help you reach for your academic potential.
Why Should I Choose 大象传媒 To Find A GMAT Tutor Near Me?
At 大象传媒, we try to match every student with GMAT tutors who can accommodate their scheduling needs. We know how busy working professionals are, so we design our services to make the process as convenient as it can be. After all, nobody wants test prep to dictate their life!
Likewise, our proprietary Live Learning Platform facilitates digital study sessions, allowing you to experience the benefits of face-to-face instruction from the comfort of your own home. This online classroom offers powerful features such as a virtual whiteboard and video chat functionality to match the efficacy of in-person tutoring without the corresponding headache.
If you are ready to stop searching for "GMAT tutoring near me," give us a call today! Expert Educational Consultants are standing by to answer any questions you have about the services we offer.