Do You Need to Study for the GMAT?

Not technically, but almost everybody should. The exam tests reasoning and timing under pressure, so walking in cold almost always results in a performance that’s below what you’re capable of. The exam isn’t cheap and you can only take it five times per year, so it’s worth making every attempt count.

The GMAT is an exam that rewards familiarity with its adaptive format, its variety of reasoning-based questions, its pacing, and its harsh penalty for unanswered questions; that familiarity takes time to cultivate through practice.

There is one caveat: we do advocate taking a practice exam nearly cold to understand your baseline. You can take a free practice exam on mba.com if you’d like.

For more information on how to get started studying for the GMAT, visit: How to Study for the GMAT.