3 GMAT Studying Mistakes to Avoid

Studying for the GMAT is very different to studying for exams in grade school or university. For one thing, the GMAT will become harder or easier depending on how well you do. Another distinct difference is that, unlike exams in school, doing well on the GMAT is more about answering the questions strategically than simply knowing the content.

Because people aren’t as used to studying for a test like the GMAT, they sometimes make mistakes with their GMAT study plan. This can be costly in terms of both time and score potential. Common mistakes include not taking notes, avoiding practice questions, and slacking on mental endurance.

Not taking notes

There is a lot of content to learn for the GMAT; too much to remember by simply sitting in a classroom or reading a book. In order to execute your GMAT study plan, you must be an active learner and take notes.  Studies have shown that taking notes by hand helps students better comprehend and remember the content they are learning.  That is why, regardless of what way you choose to study –course, tutor or books – taking notes by hand is essential.

Not reviewing practice questions

Because so much of doing well on the GMAT is finding creative solutions to complex problems, one of the best ways to learn is by example – through practice questions. It is very important for it to be part of your GMAT study plan to go over answer explanations every time you go over practice questions. Even if you got the practice questions right, the explanations might teach you a faster and better way to approach the problems.

Not building mental endurance

Taking the GMAT is like a mental marathon. Most people aren’t used to concentrating for nearly four hours straight. Just like preparing to run a marathon, you need to train your brain to be able to concentrate for the full test. In order to do that, you should familiarize yourself with full-length practice tests throughout the course of your GMAT study plan. This means that you need to complete the integrated reasoning and analytical writing assessment, completing each section within the allotted timeframe.