MAKING THE MOST OF GMAT PREP

JonFrank

Friends, today we willstep juuust a bit outside our comfort zone.  We are going to talk brieflyabout TEST PREP.

As usual, there is a lot of clamor about the whole thing, and we like toinstead keep things niiiiice and simple.  In fact, let's make one of ourhandy lists, if we may.  

1.  ractice problems.  There is no substitute for good oldfashioned practice gang.  Now I know everyone is quick to rush to a prepcourse--and we will get to that shortly.  But regardless of whether youchoose to enroll in such a course--do THOUSANDS of practice problems. When folks approach me and ask for one snippet of advice regarding the GMAT, Ialways say the same thing: buy a book of practice problems, calculate how manydays you have to study, and split the book into that many days.   Sofor example, if the book has 5,000 problems in it, and if your test is in twomonths...well you need to do 83 problems every night.  Do practiceproblems--that is the only way you will get into the mind of the exam.

2.  Look beyond the usual prep courses.  We all know about thebiggest players in the business--and some are very happy using them to prep fortheir tests.  But there is actually a new breed of prep out there that isfresher.  We love to recommend a new company called Knewton.  (Dontworry, we're not getting any money to pitch them etc.)  What they havedone though is interesting--they have actually designed an entirely onlinecourse that adapts to your learning and style--just as the GMAT test does, bythe way.  Give em a look, at www.knewton.com.  They have "cracked the code," so to speak.  Welike to look at them as the prep course version of PrecisionEssay...   : )

3.  If at first you dont succeed...retake the test.  Ifyour score isnt high enough, take it again gang.  If it STILL isnt highenough...you guessed it.  Take it again, gang.  Now if you have takenthe test three times, and you dont appear to be making headway, at some pointyou leave good enough alone.  Explain it away in your optionalessay.  But dont make that decision until you have taken the test all ofTHREE times.

As always, juuust trying to keep things nice and simple.  Keep in touch,and good luck to everyone.

Jon Frank
HBS 2005