We have all heard some type of horror story about someone else’s experience writing GMAT. Many of these stories are over exaggerated and should not be believed. There are many myths going around, but these are the top 8 myths about GMAT.
Highest score wins
This is by far the biggest myth regarding GMATs out there. Many students work so hard to achieve a high score in the hopes of getting into some of the top schools. Even though a high score does not hurt your chances, receiving a 730 might be viewed in the same light as someone with a 760 score. Do not stress yourself out too much about your score.
You have to do it
There are many students doing their MBAs without the GMAT. It is not common that higher education centres accept this situation, but there are students who just cannot do the GMAT test. You would need to write a GMAT waiver letter to the institution you want to do your MBA through and explain your situation. Do some research on how to waive GMAT and you can simply look at some examples online and then write your own story. There is no tricky business in knowing how to write a waiver, but simply explaining your situation in full.
You can use your calculator
We all love using our calculators to solve problems, but unfortunately you cannot rely on it this time. There is only one section in the GMAT where you can use your calculator, but most of it is done without one. A benefit of this is that you will usually be given questions that can be reasonably solved without the use of a calculator.
SAT is similar to GMAT
It is important to not allow yourself to be stressed out by the GMAT test, but it is just as important to understand that this is serious business. Just because you did well on your SAT, does not mean that you can ignore studying for your GMAT. You still need to prepare just as hard, if not more.
It’s a waste of time
Many people believe that once they are accepted into a school, the GMAT scores won’t be of any use anymore. This is not true. You might want to apply for a scholarship down the line and your GMAT results will come in very handy. There are also many recruiters basing their decision off the inclusion and results of your GMAT scores, so it would never be a complete waste of your time.
It’s a test of your intelligence
Sure, you have to prepare for the test as you do for all your other tests, but it does not determine someone’s level of intelligence. Critical thinking is a skill you would need when doing your GMAT, but just because someone scored higher than you does not mean that they are more intelligent.
The maths is too difficult
There are so much talk about the difficulty of the maths included in the GMAT. I would hope that no one gets put off by taking the test, based off this information. If you got maths in high school, you’ll probably get the maths in the GMAT, because that is the level of maths you will be expected to do. If you have managed to master the basic maths concepts, you won’t struggle with the test.
First questions are the most important
Who came up with this myth? That is what I want to know, because everyone should know that all questions count in a test. Do not allow yourself to guess and slack after the first set of questions. The entire test deserves you trying your best, so do not allow the views of others to rob you of this opportunity. If you get the first set of questions right, your next set of questions might be on a higher level, but this is how you push up your score.
Conclusion
There are pros and cons to knowing these myths, but it is important to remember through it all, that you are capable of scoring high in the GMAT. Nothing is too difficult with the right amount of preparation. Consistently working on improving yourself will only help you solidify a secure and successful future. There are many people who have become very successful without a formal education, but you increase your chances so much more by pursuing a higher education. Do not allow anyone to tell you that it is too difficult and that you could never do it. Many have done it and there are many more that will do it. You can put your name in that pile of high scoring GMAT students, but do not let it determine your worth in any way.