Studying for the GMAT, LSAT, and GRE

GMATs, LSATs, GREs: the unholy trinity of graduate school testing. Sure, it may be absurd that your candidacy is judged via some computer-adaptive standardized test. But fortunately, no matter how bad of a test-taker you think you are, there is no standardized test that can’t be taught. Let me repeat that. No matter what the official line of the companies who write these tests, each test can be broken down into common problem types and then studied for methodically. So don’t be disillusioned by a low starting score. There is a wealth of companies and individuals out there that can familiarize you with the tools necessary to conquer these formulaic exams. That’s not to say that hiring a tutor is necessary for everyone. Many people do just fine by purchasing a few books and practice tests and working on their own. But if you need a decent-sized bump in your score after taking the diagnostic, participating in a class or hiring a tutor may be just the thing to ensure you’ll get the score you need for the school of your dreams. Here’s how to decide whether or not to go the tutored route, and if so, how to make the most of it.

Take the Diagnostic

LSAT, GMAT, and GRE, sample tests are available online. Take the test of choice in a setting comparable to that of the real exam. This means finding a quiet place and having a reliable timer sitting on our desk. Taking the diagnostic test in your beds and having to stop every five minutes to answer the phone will not give you a reliable score to judge if you need tutoring, and if so, what type will be most effective.

Research Graduate Programs

The next step is to look at your diagnostic score and decide which programs are realistically in your range. Yur college career office may provide statistics, but if you’ve fallen out of touch, you can check these lists of LSAT and GMAT average scores by school, register for free access to Business Week MBA program statistics, or pay for access to U.S. News & World Report data. Using this information, you should compile an assessment of programs that you could expect to get into (keep in mind that with studying or tutoring, your scores should rise from our diagnostic test).

At this stage, it's important to be honest with yourself. If you’re scoring a 140 on the LSAT and hoping to get into a school whose average LSAT score is 170, pick another school. On the flip side, if your diagnostic LSAT score is 160, with a lot of work and dedication, you can reach your target. One thing to keep in mind: test scores aren’t the whole package—when analyzing which schools are within reach, be sure to factor in all of your other relevant stats such as GPA, academic experience, and, in the case of an MBA program, work experience.

Try to Go It Alone

Even if you are only within a few points of the promised-land, you shouldn’t just sign up for the test and take it the next week. You need to be sure that you can consistently achieve your target score. If you’re comfortable with the go-it-alone approach, the first step is to take practice test...after practice test...after practice test. Books of practice tests (the ones published by the companies who write the tests are the best) are available for the LSAT, GMAT, and GRE. After you’ve hit your target score on three successive tests, then you should consider taking the real thing. However, if you aren’t the type of person to spend time taking practice tests instead of going out with friends or staying in and playing video games, or after taking the tests you aren’t achieving our target score, you should hire a tutor. The dirty little secret? Everyone does it.

Time for a Tutor

So, a tutor it is. The next decision to make is whether you want to pony up for that special private tutor or go for the cheaper classroom structure. If you're naturally good test taker and scoring within a few points of your targets—say 5 for the LSAT or 50 for the GMAT and for both sections of the GRE—a class may be all that you need.

Classes

The classes offered by companies like Kaplan, Test Masters, and Princeton Review all give a solid overview of the material along with a few helpful tips and techniques for specific question types. You'll also wet your feet with some practice tests. The different class programs are all very similar, with approximately sixty hours worth of class broken into fifteen sessions of four hours a piece. They cost between $1,250 and $1,399, with the Princeton Review at the high end and TestMasters at the bottom. In terms of class size, both Princeton Review and Kaplan cap their class size (at 27 and 30 respectively). Test Master’s class size depends on the location. If classes are being held in a large hotel ballroom you may be sitting with 60 other people scratching and tapping away. All companies provide access to a large number of practice tests, but Kaplan seems to put more of an emphasis on that aspect of tutoring. All in all, don’t expect any miracles from these classes. They have to be taught to the lowest common denominator and are in no way personalized to your specific learning styles.