Next steps

Last updated: 20 May 2008

In this tutorial you have been given a basic overview of the GMAT.

You should now know whether you need to take the GMAT or not. You should also be clear that it tests your basic math and english. Finally you should understand that to achieve the best score possible you must prepare for this test.

There are a variety of things you can do next to get you on your way to taking the GMAT.

Diagnotic test

You should probably start by taking a diagnostic test which will give you some practical experience of what the test will be like and also give you an idea of how difficult you are likely to find the test.

Start with our guide to practice tests which will show you how to take a diagnostic test.

Start studying

If you want to get stuck in and start studying then you could start with either

• Start on the verbal section with our sentence correction tutorial or...
• ...on the quantitative (math) section with our fractions tutorial.

Or take a look at the full list of our GMAT tutorials.

Further reading

The following should help you start preparing for the GMAT.

• GMAT information bulletin 2008, 47 pages of detailed information about the GMAT and choosing an MBA from MBA.com
• Tips from successful GMAT takers, the best accounts from around the web of the experience of preparing for the GMAT.
• GMAT on Wikipedia.

MBA Research

Start reasearching the MBA programs that you are interested in applying for.

What do you want to achieve with your MBA? What sort of MBA program will help you do this?

You may find the following useful in your search for the ideal MBA program

• Business Week's MBA program guide
• Peterson's Business School search
• The MBA programs guide

Once you have narrowed down your search you probably want to look into when do you need to apply to them by and at what sort of GMAT scores do successful applicants get. This information will be available from the website's of individual MBA programs.

Business Week's admissions Q&A's are essential reading for those interested in finding out more about how business schools choose between applicants and in particular how the GMAT fits into this.