{"id":7005,"date":"2024-02-09T14:06:32","date_gmt":"2024-02-09T14:06:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/business-school-insider\/?p=7005"},"modified":"2024-02-09T20:15:49","modified_gmt":"2024-02-09T20:15:49","slug":"top-10-myths-about-your-gmat-score","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/gmat\/top-10-myths-about-your-gmat-score\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 10 Myths About Your GMAT Score"},"content":{"rendered":"

We talk to future MBAs every day, so the GMAT is a hot topic of conversation. Those conversations come with their share of myths that are just begging to be busted. It\u2019s time to set the record straight so you know what to focus your energy on.<\/span><\/p>\n

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1. GMAT math is really tough<\/h3>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nFalse. GMAT math is deceptively simple\u2014high-school-level simple. The GMAT assumes that you have mastered those basic concepts, and it challenges you to a mental duel, which requires critical thinking and a strategic approach. In other words, you\u2019re not being tested on difficulty and analytical skills but rather beyond mere application. <\/span>
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2. You can rely on your calculator for hard questions<\/h3>
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\nSorry, but you can\u2019t. Other than on<\/span> the Data Insights<\/a> (DI)<\/span> section, there are no calculators allowed on the GMAT–and the one on the DI is on-screen and very basic. The bad news: if you\u2019re uncomfortable with mental arithmetic, you may struggle. The good news: no calculator means that the GMAT will only include questions that could <\/span>reasonably be solved without a calculator<\/span>, so you will be expected to think\u2014rather than compute\u2014through the problem. You will<\/strong> need to know\u00a0basic multiplication up to 12 times 12.<\/span>
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3. The GMAT tests intelligence; you have it or you don\u2019t<\/h3>
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\nThink again. The GMAT, like all standardized tests, is a<\/span> skills-based test<\/span>. <\/span>Yes, it assumes a modicum of basic knowledge, but at its core, it tests your critical thinking and reasoning skills. As such, you can (and should) build your GMAT math<\/a>, verbal<\/a>, and data sufficiency<\/a>\u00a0skills through practice and strategy.<\/span>
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4. A good GMAT score won\u2019t help finance your MBA<\/h3>
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\nWrong. Programs that offer<\/span> scholarships<\/a> and fellowships<\/span> to MBA students look for exceptional candidates. They often determine your eligibility with the same qualifications you\u2019re reporting on your business school applications. Your GMAT score<\/a>, therefore, along with your GPA, personal statement, and resume or extracurricular work, plays a large role in that decision.<\/span>
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5. Once you\u2019re in school, the GMAT won\u2019t matter<\/h3>
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\nQuite the contrary. Your GMAT score<\/a> will come in handy when you\u2019re applying for internships, and you can also put it on your resume when<\/span> applying for jobs<\/span><\/a>\u2014especially those in consulting. These positions are likely to be particularly interested in your performance on the integrated reasoning section.<\/span>
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6. The GMAT is irrelevant in your MBA program and beyond<\/h3>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nTry again. The skills you master while you practice for the GMAT\u2014critical thinking, strategy, and high-level reasoning ability\u2014will prove extremely useful in both the classes you take in business school and <\/span>the jobs you\u2019re up for after graduation<\/span>.<\/span><\/a>
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7. You need a 750 to get into a top-10 MBA program<\/h3>
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\nClose, but no. You know that a low GMAT score can be an<\/span> application killer<\/span>,<\/span> but when it comes to gaining admission to elite business schools, don\u2019t be blinded by averages. By definition, half of students admitted will fall below the median\u00a0GMAT score for a each school.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not only that, but once you\u2019ve crossed that 700 threshold, it\u2019s <\/span>no longer about your GMAT score<\/span> but about the rest of your outstanding credentials. The strength of your GPA, personal statement, and extracurricular activities should all point toward a complete picture of you as a great candidate.<\/span>
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8. You don\u2019t need a great GMAT score<\/h3>
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\nSorry. Undergraduate institutions, employers, and volunteer experiences all vary, but the <\/span>GMAT is the only standardized measurement <\/span><\/a>of applicants on which business schools can base their decisions, so of course admissions committees are going to pay attention.<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t count on the other parts of a strong application to camouflage a low GMAT score. You need to show your potential MBA programs that you are prepared to reason and perform at a top level.<\/span>
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9. You should spend the most time on the first 10 questions<\/h3>
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\nFallacy. This myth assumes a few things: that spending more time on questions equals more correct answers\u2014which is not necessarily the case\u2014or that you can answer the first 10 questions correctly without sacrificing answers at the end.<\/span><\/p>\n

Trust us: Don\u2019t do it. The algorithm is pretty solid, and you\u2019re not likely to outsmart it no matter how much you practice.<\/span>
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10. If you scored well on the SAT, you don\u2019t need GMAT prep<\/h3>
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\nThis is a big whopper. While you shouldn\u2019t let the GMAT intimidate you, it\u2019s also not a good idea to underestimate it. Even if you\u2019re a natural-born test-taker,<\/span> a few months of solid prep<\/span><\/a> can take you from a decent GMAT score into the stratosphere. Your future is worth the investment.<\/span><\/p>\n
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<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We talk to future MBAs every day, so the GMAT is a hot topic of conversation. Those conversations come with their share of myths that are just begging to be busted. It\u2019s time to set the record straight so you know what to focus your energy on. False. GMAT math is deceptively simple\u2014high-school-level simple. The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":45909,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[55],"tags":[56,57],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7005"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7005"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7005\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45912,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7005\/revisions\/45912"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45909"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7005"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7005"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7005"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}