Tips for cracking GMAT 2009

[sajiv]

GMAT: If you have prepared for CAT, you do not need any extra preparation for GMAT but you will need to give online tests for practice.

The IIMs are not biased for or against work experience. Therefore if you do not have any work experience you need not worry provided you are young. However if you are 25-26 years old and have not been working after your graduation then that can prove to be quite harmful.

For working professionals: Make CAT preparation a part of your morning routine. Working has its advantages. It is easier to access a vocabulary site online and to read non-fiction passages. Photocopy one or two exercise pages and keep it on your table while working.

Preparing for group discussions

Importance of practice: To avoid nervousness and anxiety, practice a lot. Candidates usually panic because they feel the panelists or the moderators are out to get them. That is far from the truth. Feel positive for them and you will automatically begin to relax.

How to practice: Start by initiating discussions amongst friends, become a little aggressive with them and move on to discussions with strangers. Reading from books loudly will help you with your tone. You do not have to shout but a slightly higher tone has a better chance of being heard.

How to get a chance to speak: The noise level in GDs has a pattern -- there are peaks and troughs. If a GD gets too noisy, try and enter during the troughs. It takes some practice but learn to enter at the troughs.

If you do not understand a GD topic, wait for someone in your group to start. Pick up from what the group is discussing. You could also try and become the de facto leader of the group by summarising the discussion at regular intervals and providing a new direction from time to time.

Do not read simply for the sake of learning facts. Form opinions with justifications and apply them in practice GDs.