For most students, a 700+ GMAT score is their gateway to a top B-school. It helps them stand out in the pool of applications their dream school receives from thousands of students across the globe. On the other hand, for those aiming to earn a merit-based scholarship for MBA, a 700+ GMAT score is a must as it helps compete with other students who are also rooting for a scholarship.
However, if we talk about the stats, only 10-12% of all GMAT test-takers manage to score a 700 and above. Clearly, crossing the 700 feat is not easy. But, with the right guidance and strategies that help you solve even the toughest of GMAT questions, crossing the 700-mark on GMAT is possible.
In this article, we will be sharing some strategies that will help you in your overall GMAT prep and some exclusive strategies that can help you in dealing with specific issues during your GMAT prep. So, let’s begin –
How to Score 700+ GMAT Score
I. Do Not Rush Your Prep
The main issue with most students who fail to get a 700+ GMAT score is that they do not set achievable targets for themselves. For instance, if you are just starting out on your GMAT journey and wish to score a GMAT 700 with just one month of prep, you will most likely end up retaking or rescheduling your test. Similarly, if you have already devoted a few months to prep and improved your score to a 650-680 range, you will still need to put in extra effort to break the 700-score barrier. Not devoting ample time or trying to rush through prep is only going to give you a difficult time in crossing the 700-mark.
Expert’s Say – Aim for a Realistic Score
Now, when we say realistic, it has two implications –
a) A score that helps you get into the school of your choice or help you earn a scholarship (if that is your aim)
b) Is achievable based on your current score, the time you have available, and your pace of learning
Reassess your target score if it does not meet these requirements.
II. Be Consistent
If you are preparing for the GMAT alongside a full-time career, you must follow a study plan to be consistent with prep. If not, chances are that you will spend 20+ hours studying during the weekend and not study at all during the weekdays.
The problem with this approach is that when you study for hours at a stretch, you tend to cram concepts instead of understanding the logic behind them. This might help you solve easy-medium level questions but you will struggle with the hard level questions. Thus making your prep ineffective.
How to stay consistent with prep despite having a hectic work schedule?
Instead of focusing on the time you spend each day, set weekly targets and try to achieve them. Even if you are having a busy day at work, ensure that you practice at least 10 questions from your weak areas when you get home to stay consistent. Also, frequently revisit the concepts you have learned so far and revise your weak areas as well. Remember that spending even 30 mins preparing for the GMAT each day will go a long way in reaching your target score.
III. Find the Right Resources for GMAT Prep
Online courses, books, private tutoring – how do you decide which option is best for you?
To make an informed decision, you must keep certain factors in mind while evaluating the right course for you. For example, some students thrive in a class full of people whereas others require dedicated attention from their mentors and prefer one-on-one tutoring. If you prefer to study with a one-on-one tutor and get undivided attention, then joining a coaching centre will not work in your favour. A more suited solution for you would be to go for private tutoring.
There are also certain critical factors that most students ignore while finding the right GMAT course for themselves. Some of them are –
- does the course come with an integrated study plan
- is the course application-focused to help you solve even the hard level questions with ease or simply teaches you concepts
- are their mentors that guide you through every step of prep?
These are just some of the many factors that you must assess before finalising a GMAT prep course.
Recommended Read – Key Factors to Consider While Identifying the Right GMAT Prep Course?
IV. Quality wins Over Quantity in getting a 700+ GMAT Score
GMAT is not about cramming but about logic. As long as you are learning the right strategies and practicing the right problems, the number of hours you devote to prep do not matter.
For example, if you studied for 5 hours today but kept on repeating the same mistakes while solving Data Sufficiency questions, those 5 hours will not leave you better off in prep. However, if you spent 2 hours studying where you –
- learn a new concept
- understand the right way to solve from the explanation given
- practice 10-15 questions to apply the concept
- learn why you were making a particular mistake &,
- Understand why the correct answer is correct and the wrong answer is wrong
Then, in terms of effectiveness, this 2 hours of prep > 5 hours of prep. The GMATClub forum and online GMAT prep resources like GMATWhiz that have their own in-built forums and one-on-one tutoring options are a great option to prepare for the GMAT.
V. Self-assess to Identify your learning pattern
Every student’s GMAT prep journey is unique. Your pattern of learning may be different from others, your pace of learning may be faster or slower, and your current skill level may vary compared to your peers. Therefore, a one-size-fits-all study strategy will not work in your favour. If you do not successfully assess your learning pattern, you are most likely to waste time on learning concepts you already know and miss out on important stuff that you need to study.
The best way to self-analyse your performance is to think like a test-maker. Understand which questions you are getting wrong and why. For instance, we all know Reading Compehension questions are critical to score high on GMAT, but understanding why they are important and how to ace GMAT RC is something not all students will care to know.
Courses like GMATWhiz provide you insights into such questions that books and coaching centres may fail to answer. We teach advanced techniques to solve 700-level difficulty questions such as involved & evolved reading for RC, pre-thinking approach for CR, and more. Sign Up for a FREE TRIAL of the GMATWhiz course to learn these techniques to score a 700+ GMAT Score.
VI. Prepare for the Test Day
Students often observe that their performance in GMAT mocks and/or practice tests is great but their scores on the actual test are lower than their expectation. The main culprit behind this is that you mainly prepared yourself for the test i.e. you learned the concepts and how to solve questions correctly, but you were not prepared to take the test in the ‘test environment’. GMAT is an adaptive test and a timed one. Therefore, preparing yourself for the test conditions becomes really critical.
Another common problem that impacts your performance during the test is GMAT Test Anxiety. While some levels or nervousness or anxiety is common and fairly manageable, anxiety that interferes with your performance during a timed-test like GMAT can be detrimental for your GMAT score.
Learn these 5 Expert Tips to Manage Test Day Anxiety
VII. GMAT is a Timed Test
We know that GMAT is a timed test where, on an average, you get to spend only 2 minutes per question. Now, if you have the power of right strategies and you have practiced enough during prep, you will know that 2 minutes is more than enough to solve any difficulty level question on GMAT. You neither need to spend too much time on a particular question nor too little. Here’s how you can balance your time during the test –
a) Learn the right approach to solve questions on GMAT
b) Take mocks before taking the test to get a hang of how the timed-test works
c) Manage your breaks well
d) Do not keep checking the clock after each question. Some questions may take more than 2 minutes while other may take less. Only check the clock once every few questions to not lose track of time
NOTE – Do not time yourself in the beginning of prep. Your focus should only be on learning and understanding the right concepts. Only time yourself once you have solidified your concepts well.
VIII. Understand the GMAT Algorithm
Many students tend to lose confidence during the test because even after getting a previous question right, they get served with an easier question. They begin doubting whether they got the previous question right or wrong. nTwo problems with that –
a) Not every question that you find easy is actually easy. There can be a difference in aptitude and skill that causes you to find a difficult question easy
b) The algorithm adapts after every few questions and not after every single question. Instead of focusing on the difficulty levels of questions, you should focus on getting them right in the desired time
We are not getting into the depths of the algorithm in this blog because it will become lengthy. If you want to understand how scoring on GMAT works, below is the link of our detailed blog on –
How does the GMAT Adaptive Algorithm Work? Sample ESR Analysis
IX. Proritize Questions When Facing a Time Crunch
Some common questions students ask us during discussions are –
‘Is it better to skip questions when facing a time crunch?’
‘Does GMAT penalise wrong answers?’
‘How do I manage to solve every question if I am running out of time?’
So, here’s what our experts advice you to do –
When facing a shortage of time, it is okay to not waste your time solving questions that you are sure to get wrong. Instead, save your time and choose to answer questions that you are confident you will get right. While solving questions that you are not confident about, try to eliminate the wrong answer choices first and then try and guess the right answer out of the remaining ones – this will enhance your chances of getting the answer right.
The best defense to avoid a situation like this is to time your test right from the very beginning.
Need strategic help from our GMAT Strategy Expert? Schedule a FREE Consultation Call
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For most students, a 700+ GMAT score is their gateway to a top B-school. It helps them stand out in the pool of applications their dream school receives from thousands of students across the globe. On the other hand, for those aiming to earn a merit-based scholarship for MBA, a 700+ GMAT score is a must as it helps compete with other students who are also rooting for a scholarship.
However, if we talk about the stats, only 10-12% of all GMAT test-takers manage to score a 700 and above. Clearly, crossing the 700 feat is not easy. But, with the right guidance and strategies that help you solve even the toughest of GMAT questions, crossing the 700-mark on GMAT is possible.
In this article, we will be sharing some strategies that will help you in your overall GMAT prep and some exclusive strategies that can help you in dealing with specific issues during your GMAT prep. So, let’s begin –
How to Score 700+ GMAT Score
I. Do Not Rush Your Prep
The main issue with most students who fail to get a 700+ GMAT score is that they do not set achievable targets for themselves. For instance, if you are just starting out on your GMAT journey and wish to score a GMAT 700 with just one month of prep, you will most likely end up retaking or rescheduling your test. Similarly, if you have already devoted a few months to prep and improved your score to a 650-680 range, you will still need to put in extra effort to break the 700-score barrier. Not devoting ample time or trying to rush through prep is only going to give you a difficult time in crossing the 700-mark.
Expert’s Say – Aim for a Realistic Score
Now, when we say realistic, it has two implications –
a) A score that helps you get into the school of your choice or help you earn a scholarship (if that is your aim)
b) Is achievable based on your current score, the time you have available, and your pace of learning
Reassess your target score if it does not meet these requirements.
II. Be Consistent
If you are preparing for the GMAT alongside a full-time career, you must follow a study plan to be consistent with prep. If not, chances are that you will spend 20+ hours studying during the weekend and not study at all during the weekdays.
The problem with this approach is that when you study for hours at a stretch, you tend to cram concepts instead of understanding the logic behind them. This might help you solve easy-medium level questions but you will struggle with the hard level questions. Thus making your prep ineffective.
How to stay consistent with prep despite having a hectic work schedule?
Instead of focusing on the time you spend each day, set weekly targets and try to achieve them. Even if you are having a busy day at work, ensure that you practice at least 10 questions from your weak areas when you get home to stay consistent. Also, frequently revisit the concepts you have learned so far and revise your weak areas as well. Remember that spending even 30 mins preparing for the GMAT each day will go a long way in reaching your target score.
III. Find the Right Resources for GMAT Prep
Online courses, books, private tutoring – how do you decide which option is best for you?
To make an informed decision, you must keep certain factors in mind while evaluating the right course for you. For example, some students thrive in a class full of people whereas others require dedicated attention from their mentors and prefer one-on-one tutoring. If you prefer to study with a one-on-one tutor and get undivided attention, then joining a coaching centre will not work in your favour. A more suited solution for you would be to go for private tutoring.
There are also certain critical factors that most students ignore while finding the right GMAT course for themselves. Some of them are –
These are just some of the many factors that you must assess before finalising a GMAT prep course.
Recommended Read – Key Factors to Consider While Identifying the Right GMAT Prep Course?
IV. Quality wins Over Quantity in getting a 700+ GMAT Score
GMAT is not about cramming but about logic. As long as you are learning the right strategies and practicing the right problems, the number of hours you devote to prep do not matter.
For example, if you studied for 5 hours today but kept on repeating the same mistakes while solving Data Sufficiency questions, those 5 hours will not leave you better off in prep. However, if you spent 2 hours studying where you –
Then, in terms of effectiveness, this 2 hours of prep > 5 hours of prep. The GMATClub forum and online GMAT prep resources like GMATWhiz that have their own in-built forums and one-on-one tutoring options are a great option to prepare for the GMAT.
V. Self-assess to Identify your learning pattern
Every student’s GMAT prep journey is unique. Your pattern of learning may be different from others, your pace of learning may be faster or slower, and your current skill level may vary compared to your peers. Therefore, a one-size-fits-all study strategy will not work in your favour. If you do not successfully assess your learning pattern, you are most likely to waste time on learning concepts you already know and miss out on important stuff that you need to study.
The best way to self-analyse your performance is to think like a test-maker. Understand which questions you are getting wrong and why. For instance, we all know Reading Compehension questions are critical to score high on GMAT, but understanding why they are important and how to ace GMAT RC is something not all students will care to know.
Courses like GMATWhiz provide you insights into such questions that books and coaching centres may fail to answer. We teach advanced techniques to solve 700-level difficulty questions such as involved & evolved reading for RC, pre-thinking approach for CR, and more. Sign Up for a FREE TRIAL of the GMATWhiz course to learn these techniques to score a 700+ GMAT Score.
VI. Prepare for the Test Day
Students often observe that their performance in GMAT mocks and/or practice tests is great but their scores on the actual test are lower than their expectation. The main culprit behind this is that you mainly prepared yourself for the test i.e. you learned the concepts and how to solve questions correctly, but you were not prepared to take the test in the ‘test environment’. GMAT is an adaptive test and a timed one. Therefore, preparing yourself for the test conditions becomes really critical.
Another common problem that impacts your performance during the test is GMAT Test Anxiety. While some levels or nervousness or anxiety is common and fairly manageable, anxiety that interferes with your performance during a timed-test like GMAT can be detrimental for your GMAT score.
Learn these 5 Expert Tips to Manage Test Day Anxiety
VII. GMAT is a Timed Test
We know that GMAT is a timed test where, on an average, you get to spend only 2 minutes per question. Now, if you have the power of right strategies and you have practiced enough during prep, you will know that 2 minutes is more than enough to solve any difficulty level question on GMAT. You neither need to spend too much time on a particular question nor too little. Here’s how you can balance your time during the test –
a) Learn the right approach to solve questions on GMAT
b) Take mocks before taking the test to get a hang of how the timed-test works
c) Manage your breaks well
d) Do not keep checking the clock after each question. Some questions may take more than 2 minutes while other may take less. Only check the clock once every few questions to not lose track of time
NOTE – Do not time yourself in the beginning of prep. Your focus should only be on learning and understanding the right concepts. Only time yourself once you have solidified your concepts well.
VIII. Understand the GMAT Algorithm
Many students tend to lose confidence during the test because even after getting a previous question right, they get served with an easier question. They begin doubting whether they got the previous question right or wrong. nTwo problems with that –
a) Not every question that you find easy is actually easy. There can be a difference in aptitude and skill that causes you to find a difficult question easy
b) The algorithm adapts after every few questions and not after every single question. Instead of focusing on the difficulty levels of questions, you should focus on getting them right in the desired time
We are not getting into the depths of the algorithm in this blog because it will become lengthy. If you want to understand how scoring on GMAT works, below is the link of our detailed blog on –
How does the GMAT Adaptive Algorithm Work? Sample ESR Analysis
IX. Proritize Questions When Facing a Time Crunch
Some common questions students ask us during discussions are –
‘Is it better to skip questions when facing a time crunch?’
‘Does GMAT penalise wrong answers?’
‘How do I manage to solve every question if I am running out of time?’
So, here’s what our experts advice you to do –
When facing a shortage of time, it is okay to not waste your time solving questions that you are sure to get wrong. Instead, save your time and choose to answer questions that you are confident you will get right. While solving questions that you are not confident about, try to eliminate the wrong answer choices first and then try and guess the right answer out of the remaining ones – this will enhance your chances of getting the answer right.
The best defense to avoid a situation like this is to time your test right from the very beginning.
Need strategic help from our GMAT Strategy Expert? Schedule a FREE Consultation Call
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