The document provides guidance on effective preparation for the GMAT exam. It recommends learning about the exam format and structure, building knowledge of the content areas tested, and understanding one's strengths and weaknesses as a test-taker. Specific tips include learning the rules and formulas tested in each section, practicing with strategies tailored for different question types, and developing a study plan that plays to an individual's pacing and strengths. Understanding all aspects of the exam and oneself as a test-taker is key to achieving the best possible score.

1. Akil Bello Co-Founder and Vice President MASTERING THE GMAT A guide to effective test preparation

2. Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself

3. Understanding of the format and setting of the test breeds comfort and confidence. Learn the GMAT

4. Learn the GMAT ! Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself Prepare for the environment Know the administration, materials, and setting

5. Learn the GMAT ! Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself

6. Learn the GMAT ! Prepare for the environment Know the administration, materials, and setting Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself Understand the format and scoring Duration, order of sections, breaks, and scoring

7. Learn the GMAT ! Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself

8. Learn the GMAT ! Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself 200 - 800 is the range of possible GMAT scores.

9. Learn the GMAT ! Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself 540 is the 50 th percentile score.

10. Learn the GMAT ! Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself 650 is the 82 th percentile score.

11. Learn the GMAT ! Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself 750 is the 98 th percentile score.

12. Learn the GMAT ! Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself 49 quant A score of 49 in the quantitative section is the 89%tile. Quant subsection scores range from 6 – 51.

13. Learn the GMAT ! Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself 40 verbal A score of 40 in the verbal section is the 89%tile. Verbal subsection scores range from 6 – 51.

14. Learn the GMAT ! Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself          

15. Learn the GMAT ! Prepare for the environment Know the rules, materials, and setting Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself Understand the format Duration, order of sections, and breaks Develop effective GMAT-specific strategies Question type strategies, content area strategies, and guessing strategies

16. A great GMAT score requires content knowledge combined with understanding of how to apply that knowledge. Learn the Content

17. Learn the GMAT Knowledge Learn the rules and formulas that will be tested and trends of the test. Recognition Learn to recognize the rules being tested. Execution Learn to accurately apply the knowledge you have gained. Learn the Content Learn Yourself Learn the Content !

18. Learn the Content ! Build your knowledge base Focus on learning content and rules before guessing strategies. Learn rules, not problems. Improve efficiency Poor time management is typically a consequence of lack of knowledge. Decrease anxiety Anxiety is often caused by awareness of deficiencies. Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself

19. Learn the Content ! Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself Algebra Manipulating equations, inequalities, exponents, roots, quadratic equations, and functions Geometry Lines, circles, triangles, quadrilaterals, and coordinate plane Arithmetic Number properties, work and rates, ratios, percent change, and word problems

20. Learn the Content ! Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself Which of the following is both divisible by 5 and a multiple of 6? (A) 80 (B) 90 (C) 102 (D) 105 (E) 132 A number is divisible by 5 if it ends in 0 or 5. A number is divisible by 6 if it ends in an even number and the sum of the digits is a multiple of 3.

21. Learn the Content ! Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself A certain roller coaster ride has between 79 and 131 people waiting in line to board. If riders are let on only in groups of 5 there will be 2 riders that do not get on. If the riders are let on only in groups of 6 all riders will be able to get on the roller coaster. How many riders are in the line? (A) 84 (B) 90 (C) 102 (D) 105 (E) 132 A number is divisible by 5 if it ends in 0 or 5. A number that has a remainder of 2 when divided by 5 will end in either 2 or 7.

22. Learn the Content ! Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself A certain roller coaster ride has between 79 and 131 people waiting in line to board. If riders are let on only in groups of 5 there will be 2 riders that do not get on. If the riders are let on only in groups of 6 all riders will be able to get on the roller coaster. How many riders are in the line? (A) 84 (B) 90 (C) 102 (D) 105 (E) 132 Separating things that must be integers into groups is another way to introduce divisibility. Discussions of remainders generally involve divisibility.

23. Learn the Content ! Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself Strategies for Data Sufficiency Questions: Translate the question Translate the statements Eliminate choices in groups

24. Learn the Content ! Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself Memorize rules, directions, and test structure (A) Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient. (B) Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient. (C) Both statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient. (D) Each statement ALONE is sufficient. (E) Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient.

25. Learn the Content ! Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself What is the value of ? AD B C E (1) a + b = 9 (2) c = 5

26. Learn the Content ! Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself AD B C E What is the value of a + b and what is c ? (1 and 2) a + b = 9 and c = 5 (1) a + b = 9 (2) c = 5 What is the value of ? Translate DS questions to find the real question

27. Learn the Content ! Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself Questions that deal with fractions often require you to consider a common denominator. The addition in the fraction indicates that rules for adding fractions are being tested. AD B C E What is the value of a + b and what is c ? (1 and 2) a + b = 9 and c = 5 (1) a + b = 9 (2) c = 5 What is the value of ?

28. Learn the Content ! Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself What is the value of ? AD B C E (1) (2) c = 5

29. Learn the Content ! Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself What is the value of ? AD B C E What is the value of ? (2) c = 5 (1)

30. Learn the Content ! Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself Grammar Modifiers, Pronouns, Lists, Comparisons, Verbs and Idioms Logical reasoning Identifying assumptions and drawing inferences from passages Reading comprehension Drawing inferences from statements in passages

31. Learn the Content ! Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself Sentence Correction tests: Modifiers: proper placement Pronouns: agreement and clarity Lists: parallel and logical construction Comparisons: parallel and logical construction Verbs: tense and agreement Idioms: memorization

32. Learn the Content ! Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself Like Cordozar Calvin Broadus, the music of Christopher Wallace is honest, biographical, and complex – combining street vernacular with complex syntactic riffs. Like Cordozar Calvin Broadus, the music of Christopher Wallace (B) Like Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Christopher Wallace’s music (C) Like Cordozar Calvin Broadus’, Christopher Wallace’s music (D) As with Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Christopher Wallace’s music (E) As is Cordozar Calvin Broadus’, the music of Christopher Wallace Comparisons must be between structurally and logically parallel. Comparison words (like, unlike, than, etc.) indicate that comparisons are being tested.

33. Learn the Content ! Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself Tips for Critical Reasoning Questions: Learn the common argument types and patterns Learn the common question types Learn the common mistakes

34. Learn the Content ! Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself In the country of Slovenia, the average life expectancy for the population as a whole is 63.5 years. However, children born in the Manzia province will live an average of 68 years while those born in the Turkania province will live 61.5 years. It follows that if a newly married couple from Turkania were to begin their family in Manzia, their children would be expected to live longer than if the family stayed in Turkania. Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the passage’s conclusion?

35. Learn the Content ! Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself Causal arguments assume no other possible cause. Premises: Differences in average life expectancy between the two cities. Conclusion: Were the couple to begin a family in Manzia, the children would be expected to live longer. Assumptions: No factor other than location is involved. This couple is similar to the population at large.

36. Learn the Content ! Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the passage’s conclusion? (A) Slovenia’s Census Bureau statisticians do not believe that moving to Manzia will significantly lengthen the average Turkanian’s life. (B) The Minister of Turkania has falsely alleged that statistics for his province are not accurate. (C) The longer life of Manzia’s current population is due mostly to factors of genetics. (D) Twenty percent of all Turkanians can expect to live past age 68. (E) Most of the cities in Manzia have levels of water pollution well below the national average for Slovenia.

37. Understanding yourself as a test-taker will allow you to plan for and correct your typical mistakes. Learn Yourself

38. Learn Yourself ! Learn your optimal pacing Have a plan that is conducive to your performing the best you can. Play toward your strengths Are you the tortoise or the hare? Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself

39. The Tortoise 49 Quant

40. The Hare 49 Quant

41. Learn Yourself ! Learn your optimal pacing Have a plan that is conducive to your performing the best you can. Play toward your strengths Are you the tortoise or the hare? Account for your mistakes and inefficiencies If you can predict your mistakes you can avoid them. Build real confidence and kill anxiety Real confidence comes from not believing the hype. Learn the GMAT Learn the Content Learn Yourself

42. How do you ensure effective prep? 5 keys for effective preparation and efficient practice.

43. Be realistic Set a schedule that you can stick to. Be patient Improvements may not come immediately or smoothly but getting frustrated will not expedite that. Be organized Don’t do random problems, have defined goals and objectives when you do problems or study. Be determined Honestly determine your strengths and weaknesses . Work to maintain strong areas and to improve weak areas. 1. Create a prep Plan

44. 2. Practice Efficiently Goal oriented Every practice set or session must have a defined objective. Quality not Quantity Effective practice includes as many examples as you need to accomplish your goal (whether that’s 5 or 50,000) . Skill Building Effective practice addresses the skills (recognition, execution, strategy application, etc.) you need to develop. Analytical Effective practice includes time to analyze results and learn from those results.

45. 3. Learn from Mistakes Learn from you mistakes Log your mistakes and review them periodically so you remember what not to do. Knowing what not to do is almost as helpful as knowing what to do. Make every question work for you You should have a takeaway (key concept or point) that’s gained from every question you get wrong (and most of the ones you get right).

46. 4. Get Help Books or websites Self-study materials offer low cost prep options but require you to do most of the work. Courses Courses offer live assistance and structured curriculum. Tutors Tutors offer flexibility and customization.

47. 5. Use good Resources

48. Q A & Akil Bello Co-Founder | Bell Curves akil @bellcurves.com | 877.223.3828