Beat The GMAT Forums and Articles – Improve Your GMAT Score

Resources

• Popular Free GMAT Resources
• GMAT Overview
• GMAT Practice Materials
• GMAT Study Tools
• GMAT Test Day Tips
• GMAT Math
• Advanced GMAT Math Topics
• Data Sufficiency
• GMAT Verbal
• GMAT Sentence Correction
• GMAT Critical Reasoning
• GMAT Reading Comprehension
• GMAT Essays (AWA)
• Student Blogs and Communities
• Business School Resources
• Business School Blogs and Forums
• MBA Admissions Consultants

• Popular Free GMAT Resources

  • Beat The GMAT Flashcards
    Over 300 free flashcards on GMAT Strategy, Math, and Verbal subjects. Review these flashcards daily during your GMAT preparation, and be sure to add your own flashcards to supplement your own study strategy. This is a must download!
  • Free Grockit GMAT Membership
  • Free Kaplan GMAT Practice Test
  • Free Knewton GMAT Class
  • Free Manhattan GMAT Flash Cards
  • Free Manhattan GMAT Practice Test
  • Free PowerScore Critical Reasoning Bible Chapter
    Free chapter excerpt of this famous GMAT Critical Reasoning guide.
  • Free Princeton Review GMAT Practice Test
  • GMATPrep Free Practice Tests
    The best and most accurate GMAT practice test simulation. This software is produced by GMAC (makers of GMAT test), and features actual but retired GMAT questions. This is a must download!

• GMAT Overview

  • 760 Debriefing – War Strategy
    Very nice debriefing from a Beat The GMAT member who used war strategies to succeed on the GMAT.
  • Attacking each section of the GMAT
    Helpful advice for approaching various sections/questions types found on the GMAT.
  • Beat The GMAT Blog
    An example of one successful GMAT self-study strategy. This is the original blog that the site founder used to prepare for his own GMAT prep. From this blog grew the GMAT/MBA community that you enjoy today!
  • GMAT Hacks
    Great articles on a variety of GMAT prep topics.
  • How to approach practice tests
    There are right and wrong ways of approaching your practice tests. Don’t simply just take them and look at the score-here are some tips on how to really analyze your performance.
  • How to study for the GMAT under one month
    GMAT study guide for people in a time crunch.
  • I just Beat The GMAT!
    Tons of success stories and debriefings from GMAT test takers!
  • Leaving Questions Blank on GMAT
    Excellent data showing that the GMAT will severely penalize you for leaving questions unanswered on the test. If you run out of time, GUESS!
  • Mark Rice’s GMAT Help, Notes & Study Outline
    Great tips for approaching your GMAT study.
  • MBA.com
    The official website of the GMAT. Another great source for test information, and the only place you can register to take the GMAT.
  • Myth of getting the first few questions correct
    Great post debunking the myth that it’s important to get the first few questions correct on each section in order to get a great GMAT score.
  • Reflecting on my GMAT Experience
    Summary of how the founder of Beat The GMAT (Eric) prepared for and earned a 720 on the GMAT.
  • Sample GMAT Score Report
    Example of what your GMAT score report will look like after taking the GMAT.
  • Taking GMAT with medical condition
    Interesting forum post on what steps to take to get additional time/resources for your GMAT if you have a medical condition that qualifies.
  • Teach Yourself the GMAT CAT in 24 Hours
    Decent introduction to the GMAT.
  • Understanding your GMAT Score Report
    Breakdown of a GMAT score report from MBA.com
  • Wikipedia Article on the GMAT
    A great place to start if you have no knowledge about the GMAT; includes information on what is tested, number of questions, scoring, etc.
  • Your last 14 days of GMAT prep
    Great advice on what to do in your final two weeks of study.

• GMAT Practice Materials

  • Free Grockit GMAT Membership
  • Free Kaplan GMAT Practice Test
  • Free Knewton GMAT Class
  • Free Manhattan GMAT Flash Cards
  • Free Manhattan GMAT Practice Test
  • Free PowerScore Critical Reasoning Bible Chapter
    Free chapter excerpt of this famous GMAT Critical Reasoning guide.
  • Free Princeton Review GMAT Practice Test
  • GMATPrep Free Practice Tests
    The best and most accurate GMAT practice test simulation. This software is produced by GMAC (makers of GMAT test), and features actual but retired GMAT questions. This is a must download!
  • Official Guide 10th Edition vs. 11th Edition
    These two books are compared, with interesting results on overlapping material between the two editions.
  • Official Guide 12 Analysis
    Manhattan GMAT has put together a great guide analyzing OG12 vs. OG11.
  • Poll: Best GMAT Practice Tests?
    Ongoing poll asking which GMAT test prep company makes the best practice tests. Started January 26, 2007.
  • PowerPrep – GMAT Practice Test Software
    PowerPrep was the free GMAT practice test software that used to be distributed from MBA.com. Beginning in 2006, it was replaced by GMATPrep. Even though this software is a bit old, it may still be valuable for practice.
  • Recommended GMAT Books and MBA Books
    The best books to use for your GMAT and business school prep.

• GMAT Study Tools

  • Beat The GMAT Flashcards
    Over 300 free flashcards on GMAT Strategy, Math, and Verbal subjects. Review these flashcards daily during your GMAT preparation, and be sure to add your own flashcards to supplement your own study strategy. This is a must download!
  • Error Log
    Example of an error log created by ‘rlvesco7′.
  • GMAT Practice Grid
    Excellent grid to help you analyze your strengths and weaknesses in your practice problem sets.
  • GMAT Practice Grid with Timer
    Very cool Excel-based GMAT practice grid that automatically tracks timing.
  • manishhemnani’s GMAT Practice Grid
    Another practice grid to help you analyze your performance. Created by the user ‘manishhemnani’.
  • Official Guide 10th Edition Question Information Grid
    Handy grid that classifies every question in OG 10 by: question type, topic, and level of difficulty. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen a similar grid created for OG 11 or OG 12.
  • OG 11 Question Types
    Someone created this Excel grid that classifies each questions in OG 11th Edition. Unfortunately, this document is missing the additional data which classifies each question as ‘EASY, MEDIUM, or HARD.’ Still, it might be useful.

• GMAT Test Day Tips

  • Details of my GMAT test experience
    Debriefing of the Beat The GMAT founder’s GMAT test day experience.
  • Materials you are given during the GMAT
  • Running out of time before confirming answer
    Information about this common timing scenario for GMAT test takers.
  • Stress Management during the GMAT
    The GMAT can be a psychologically grueling experience. Learn how to manage the stress from this post.
  • What to Bring to the Test Center
    What you should bring and should not bring to the GMAT testing center.
  • What to eat on test day
    Being hungry is the last thing you should worry about while taking the GMAT!

• GMAT Math

  • GMAT Math Review
    Decent overview of GMAT math topics.
  • Guide for people weak in math
    What to do when you need some serious help with math.
  • List of math topics tested on the GMAT
    A Beat The GMAT forum member has attempted to catalogue every math topic tested on the GMAT.
  • OG 12 Math Analysis
    Analysis by Knewton of what’s new with OG12 math, along with a breakdown of question types.
  • Test prep strategies for GMAT Math problems
    GMAT Math overview by Nova Press.
  • Year 10 Interactive Maths Support Material
    Lessons for 10th grade math topics (pretty much the same as what’s tested on the GMAT).

• Advanced GMAT Math Topics

  • Advanced GMAT Math Problem Set
    Small set of advanced math questions prepared by readyforGMAT.com.
  • Angles and Arcs
  • Compound and Simple Interest
    Lesson on understanding and calculating compound interest and simple interest.
  • DanaJ’s Quant Strategies
    Excellent tips from forum member DanaJ regarding some difficult GMAT Math problem types.
  • Difficult GMAT Math Problems
  • Formula for the total percentage change
  • Looking for Prime Numbers
    Lesson on how to quickly identify prime numbers.
  • Overview of Combinations
  • Overview of Permutations
  • Permutations and Combinations – Topics in Precalculus
  • Permutations Lesson
    Lesson on Permutations provided by the Mathematical Association of New South Wales.
  • Probability and Combination Practice Problems
    These types of questions appear infrequently on the test, so don’t overemphasize studying them.
  • Probability, Permutations, Combinations
  • Quadratic Equations and Functions
  • Strategy for picking numbers
    Great tips from forum member mayonnai5e on how to pick numbers for GMAT math problems.
  • The Highest Common Factor (HCF) and the Lowest Common Multiple (LCM)
    Excellent lesson on finding the highest common factor, lowest common multiple.
  • Two great guides on counting methods and probability
  • Two methods to calculate total average speed

• Data Sufficiency

  • Data Sufficiency Strategy
    Some suggestions on how to attack DS problems.

• GMAT Verbal

  • 1400 GMAT Words
    Collection of words that commonly appear on the GMAT–very useful flashcard format.
  • Common GMAT Words Confused & Misused
  • GMAT Verbal Notes
    A set of verbal notes compiled by a forum member, Sumit.
  • Litesee GMAT Verbal Tests
    Online GMAT verbal quizzes.
  • OG 12 Verbal Analysis
    Analysis by Knewton of what’s new with OG12 verbal, along with a breakdown of question types.
  • Ten Best Vocabulary Learning Tips
    Particularly useful to international folks with limited knowledge of English. To be clear, the GMAT does not test vocabulary.

• GMAT Sentence Correction

  • “Cheat Sheet” for Sentence Correction and Critical Reasoning
    Sentence Correction and Critical Reasoning notes compiled by forum member whodeani.
  • Brutal SCs
    A collection of the toughest sentence correction practice questions.
  • Comprehensive List of GMAT Idioms
    Excellent list of GMAT Idioms prepared by Griscom Test Prep
  • English Style Guide from SparkNotes
    Online guide to grammar with quick, easy-to-find answers on everything from commas to semicolons to superlatives and more.
  • GMAT Idioms
    Another great list of GMAT idioms.
  • Grammar Slammer
    Very useful American English grammar reference.
  • HyperGrammar
    Grammar resource.
  • Infinitives, Gerunds, and Idioms
    Cool verbal spreadsheet put together by ‘4nilesh’.
  • Pronouns with Elliptical Clauses
    An advanced topic sometimes tested on the GMAT: elliptical clauses.
  • Rajat-nda’s Sentence Correction Notes
  • Sahil’s Grammar Notes
  • SC topics tested on the GMAT
    A forum member’s compilation of all the sentence corrections tested on the GMAT.
  • Spidey’s Sentence Correction Notes
    These SC notes from Testmagic.com are absolutely legendary. A must download.
  • The Phrase Finder
    Resource to look up English idioms.
  • Verbal Guide for Sentence Correction
    An overview of SC grammar.
  • Waqa’s Sentence Correction Flashcards

• GMAT Critical Reasoning

  • Boldface Critical Reasoning Questions
    Some info on boldface critical reasoning questions.
  • Critical Reasoning Strategy – PowerPoint
    Awesome PowerPoint presentation on attacking CR questions.
  • Critical Reasoning Tutorial
    Critical Reasoning tutorial from PrepForTests.

• GMAT Reading Comprehension

  • CBS Learning Resources Site
    Nice archive of articles that are similar to GMAT reading comprehension passages.
  • Eric’s Approach for Reading Comprehension
    A small post that provides an overview of the founder’s (Eric) personal approach to attacking RC questions.
  • General Strategies for Reading Comprehension
    Guide for folks who are newbies to RC.
  • Speed Reading Test Engine
    Helpful tool to build speed reading skills.
  • The McKinsey Quarterly
    Nice business articles. Good prep for those RC business passages.
  • The New York Times
    Wide variety of well-written articles. A good way to prep for RC passages and keep up with current events.
  • The Scientific American Magazine
    You’ll find many articles here that are similar to the science passages tested on the GMAT.
  • Tips for improving reading speed
    Some advice on how to read more quickly. Especially good for slow readers.

• GMAT Essays (AWA)

  • Analysis of Argument Template
  • Analysis of Issue Template
  • GMAT AWA example essays from Beat The GMAT Members
    Forum member AlaaQasem started a great thread that aggregates the practice GMAT AWA essays submitted by Beat The GMAT members and categorizes these essays by estimated score.
  • GMAT Essays Strategy and Overview
    Good strategies for preparing for the GMAT AWA essays.
  • How to format your GMAT essay
    Nice guidelines for formatting your AWA essays on the GMAT.
  • jangoJess’ Analysis of Argument tips
    Useful AWA Argument tips from forum member jangoJess.
  • Official List of AWA Argument Topics
    From MBA.com
  • Official List of AWA Issue Topics
    From MBA.com

• Student Blogs and Communities

  • charting consumption since 2007
    Beat The GMAT member blog about GMAT prep and other things.
  • Chronicles of an MBA Aspirant
    An MBA applicant blog.
  • Hella’s List
    Aggregator of MBA applicant and student blogs.
  • Journey to my MBA
    At one time, one of the best b-school applicant blogs around. Rarely updated today.
  • MBA Admissions Wire
    Very impressive end-to-end journal of this guy’s b-school admissions.
  • Palo Alto for a While
    Student blog about a woman who’s entered the Stanford GSB MBA program, class of 2011.

• Business School Resources

  • The Admit Office’s Hate List
    Great article by BusinessWeek exposing what NOT to say in your business school applications.
  • Vault/PagalGuy Business School Buzz Book
    E-Book created by Vault and PagalGuy that provides a fantastic deep-dive profile of the top North American and European MBA programs. Similar guides like this have cost $50, but this one is free!

• Business School Blogs and Forums

  • Businessweek B-School Forums
  • University of Chicago GSB Forums
  • Wharton’s student2student discussion board

• MBA Admissions Consultants

  • Accepted Admissions Almanac Blog
  • ClearAdmit Blog
  • ClearAdmit MBA Admissions Wiki
  • Magic MBA Admissions Consulting
    Inexpensive MBA Essay Coaching for Do-It-Yourself Applicants. Free 15 minute consultation.
  • MBA Admissions Studio
    An elite b-school admission support service for MBA applicants since 2002.
  • Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog