Strategy: Absolutely Rock The GMAT

This topic has expert replies
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 2:38 pm

Strategy: Absolutely Rock The GMAT

by glideslope » Wed Mar 06, 2013 2:53 pm
Hello. I have never taken the GMAT before but I am looking to get into a really competitive Masters (not MBA) program at a very well regarded school. I was told by the Admissions office that I would need a great GMAT score. I am a decent test taker. I am eight years out of school and am a CPA - my CPA exam scores were: FAR (91), AUD (90), REG (85), BEC (92), all passed on the first attempt. I found these exams to be very difficult, but I did well on them through continual study, practice, and reviewing deficiencies. I actually have 150+ hours of undergraduate and graduate level courses, but no Masters degree because I just took what I needed to meet my State Accounting Boards requirements to practice. My strategy for the GMAT exam is to study and practice for the most difficult section first (quantitative) and spend 3-4 solid months of review and practice, and then move on to the qualitative sections while reviewing what I have already worked on. I plan on taking the GMAT in Q4 of this year.

I am confident with my quantitative skills. I have not purchased any review books yet, but have been going to the library to use the free (albeit outdated) GMAT Quant materials. For strategy's sake, what is the mathematical body of knowledge that the GMAT - Quant section draws upon? Is it statistics, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus - or even more than this?
Source: — GMAT Strategy |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 16207
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pm
Location: Vancouver, BC
Thanked: 5254 times
Followed by:1268 members
GMAT Score:770

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Wed Mar 06, 2013 4:16 pm
The quantitative section tests concepts that you learned in elementary school and high school (up to about grade 10). You don't need to know calculus or even the trig ratios (sine, cosine etc.)
Be sure to buy the Official Guide - 13th edition (aka OG13): https://www.amazon.com/The-Official-Guid ... 1118109791
This has a section on what math concepts are tested. The OG13 also has hundreds of official (albeit retired) practice questions.

That should be enough to get you started.

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 16207
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pm
Location: Vancouver, BC
Thanked: 5254 times
Followed by:1268 members
GMAT Score:770

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Wed Mar 06, 2013 4:23 pm
Here's a brief overview of the quantitative section: https://www.mba.com/the-gmat/test-struct ... ction.aspx

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image