For those with CFA & MBA

It’s really hard to judge how studying turns into scores. I signed up late, then crammed for 2 weeks, and scored well, but I am good at standardized tests to begin with. One definitely has to study for the test, but it’s very hard to quantify the effect of it. Obviously one’s base math and writing abilities play a huge role in your score. I can’t compare it to studying for the CFA at all, because it’s very different.
If you locate and take a practice test, you can get a general idea of how well you did, and what sort of questions there are. This will only take you two hours, and the tests are actually somewhat fun.
They are also changing the GMAT in May or June, so it will have a brand new section. I suggest taking it before then!
Incidentally, my GMAT score was basically my SAT score/2 (back when it was out of 1600, not 2400). Perhaps it’s a very rough proxy.
 
Thanks….!! I will take the GMAT in 2013 so I guess I get to take the new section……In the end I will study until I break into the 700 club. Hope it won’t take me 500 hours of study time.
 
Well good luck then!
I recommend getting the 3 official problem books (1 math, 1 verbal, 1 combo) and doing all the problems in them. Doing those ~1000 questions will really help a lot.
A huge factor in the GMAT is time, which you cannot easily simulate in practicing, but there are a few (somewhat expensive) online tests that try to do the adaptive thing, and you get 2 free official practice tests that are very important.
Last note, you can really only take the GMAT once, maybe twice. It’s not like the SAT where you just report your best scores; last I heard they sort of average all of them. And the test is $250 anyway.
You’ll be well prepared if you do 2,000 questions, which at 2 minutes tops per question is ~65 hours of studying to be in great shape.
 
i’ve had a bunch of final rounds but no offers on the table yet. granted my recruiting is non-traditional (not banking, consulting, marketing, GM) i think a good chunk of my class ~ 20-30% is still looking. i have buddies with mega-cap pe experience still struggling to land.
 
i’ve had a bunch of final rounds but no offers on the table yet. granted my recruiting is non-traditional (not banking, consulting, marketing, GM) i think a good chunk of my class ~ 20-30% is still looking. i have buddies with mega-cap pe experience still struggling to land.
 
I never thought about SAT = 2 * GMAT. But I had 1430 SAT and 760 GMAT, so I wouldn’t count on it to be very accurate. The SAT and GMAT English sections are very different – the GMAT is a logic test throughout, and there is absolutely no emphasis on vocabulary or “soft” English. It’s all grammar, all the time.
As far as “averaging,” retesting does not average your results. I forget if all scores are reported, but they will definitely see your best score. A lot of people retake the GMAT for a better score.
 
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