MBAXPLOIT: STEPS 1-2-3 to a MBA future.

The Sentence Correction questions in the GMAT exam ask you to choose the correct grammatical format of a sentence. In practice there are only a few categories of mistakes that they tend to test.

General Principle: Concentrate on the parts of the different options which differ. Consider the following questions:

When I saw Mum struggling through the door with the shopping, I remembered I promised to help her.

1. struggling through the door with the shopping, I remembered I
2. struggled through the door with the shopping, I had remembered I
3. struggling through the door with the shopping, I had remembered that I had
4. struggling through the door with the shopping, I remembered that I had
5. struggled through the door with the shopping, I had remembered that I had

As you can see, the phrase “… through the door with the shopping, I ...” is identical in each option and can be ignored for the purpose of sentence correction. Having read the question, don’t bother looking at option (A). It simply duplicates the original. By all means choose (A) if you think that the original is correct, but there is no point in reading the original question and then reading (A) in great detail. Remember, time is pressing!

Try to spot particular errors. Glance through the options, to see if there is some aspect of grammar that you immediately recognise. “Aha! I know this! This is a ….. question!” Then look for the options that correct that error. But be careful - the option that you choose must correct errors in the original without introducing other errors!

The best way to solve sentence correction questions is via a process of elimination. The correct answer may not be perfect, but it should be the least bad option. If you can eliminate all the options containing grammatical errors, then what you are left with must be the correct answer! You should always keep the same basic meaning as in the original, except when that meaning is patently stupid.


Beautifully restored to its original condition, the antique dealer displayed the cabinet in his window.

1. Beautifully restored to its original condition, the antique dealer displayed the cabinet in his window.
2. The antique dealer, beautifully restored to its original condition, displayed the cabinet in his window.
3. The antique dealer beautifully restored the cabinet to its original condition and displayed it in his window.
4. The antique dealer restored the cabinet beautifully to its original condition and displayed it in his window.
5. The antique dealer displayed the cabinet, beautifully restored to its original condition, in his window.

All the options here are grammatically correct, so we must judge them on their meaning and apply some common sense. The original sentence (and, of course, option (A)) and option (B) imply that it was the antique dealer who had been restored to his original condition (although the pronoun “its” is used, which should be a give-away that something is wrong) - clearly this is stupid! Options (C) and (D) both imply that the antique dealer was the one who restored the cabinet, but there is no suggestion of this in the original, and we must keep as much of the meaning of the original sentence as common sense allows. Only option (E) makes sense in this question. Hence option (E) is the correct answer, even though its meaning differs slightly from that of (A).

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Whether this applies to you depends so much on your specific situation and how much time you have to study (and, of course, how good you are now). But I will speak in general terms and about myself. I only had 3 weeks to prepare and work schedule was tight too during the period.

If you are working, then you may have to study for two or 3 weeks (mostly at night), including weekends, before you can tell how many questions are reasonable to do within the remaining time you have. (If you do not have to work, you can likely tell in a few days of 6 solid study hours each.) You may not have time to answer over 3000 questions, but do as many as you can, and be careful to use the last 1/3 or 1/4 for ETS questions (”Official Guide and PowerPrep“). More on that below.

I favor Kaplan questions for the initial phase of studying (books and CD based tests) because they are harder than others (more complicated and more subtle) and they give you all the good concepts. But do not become discouraged by Kaplan tests. You may consistently score significantly lower on Kaplan tests than on any others. But don’t worry. Then, when you have studied a lot (maybe 2/3 of your total time) switch to ETS’s PowerPrep and the Official Guide for GMAT review. Ignore ETS’s math and verbal instructions and reviews. Those of Kaplan are much better. Continue Reading »

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The GMAT examination covers regular math problem solving, reading comprehension, grammar-related questions (sentence completion), and logic questions (critical reasoning). The total score can range from 200 to 800 points. Verbal and math are both graded on a 0 to 60 point scale, and the writing assessment score is reported on a 1 to 6 point scale.

You will have two 30 minute essays to be written on the computer, a 75 minute 37-question, math section, and a 75 minute 41-question verbal section.

If you will be writing your GMAT exam soon, you can get access to online practice questions at scoretop and 4tests. Do note that there is need for you to really practice before the exam.

Technorati Tags: GMAT, Verbal, math

Are you really ready to exchange your salary and briefcase for a backpack and student loans? The thought of going back to school conjures up serene campuses, summer vacations, and a laid-back lifestyle. After several years of 60-hour workweeks, heading back to class might sound like a much-needed two-year break. And, hey, MBA grads can command six-figure salaries. What’s not to like? So should you go for it? Only you can decide that.

Where Do You Want to Be in Three Years?
The first step in deciding whether or not to strap on your backpack and head back to school is to figure out what you want to get out of an MBA program. Business school can mean a heavy investment in time and money—two years for most full-time programs, give or take a year for executive MBAs and part-time students. Ask yourself first how business school will help you meet your goals, then consider what you’ll be bringing to the mix.

Do You Need an MBA to Get There?
It’s important to investigate the skills needed for the particular type of position you want. You may be surprised to find out that while an MBA is de rigueur in fields like investment banking and consulting, it won’t necessarily even guarantee you an interview in some industries. But if you’re looking to move to a completely different career, an MBA can definitely facilitate the switch.

Technorati Tags: salary, MBA, business school

Looking back at my application process and experience, here is some high level advice for future applicants. I will keep it brief………….

GMAT: Set a test date, set a study schedule, determine where you at in terms of knowledge by taking a practice/diagnosis test, then practice, practice & practice. I used the 11th edition OG GMAT book and Kaplan book. If you have undisciplined studying habits (especially being out of school for a few years), sign up for a class. Unfortunately, my work schedule didnt allow me to sign up with any class but putting a simple study calendar helped me stay focused. I had only 3 weeks to prepare for the exam. This is the most unenjoyable, in fact down right boring, and unstimulating part of the application process.

Goals: It’s essential to know what you want to do with your life after MBA. Understanding what you are passionate about, what interests you have and how a MBA will help you get there will make the essay portion of the application process much much easier and, believe it or not, enjoyable. Before looking at a single application I started thinking about why I wanted a MBA. I had to answer the “why now” question. Can I pursue my professional and business interests without a MBA and how does a MBA help me align myself with my long term goals etc….Think about these things and it will make your life much more simpler when it comes down to tackling the essays.

Picking the schools: Before picking any particular school, think about what you want to get out of school. Do you want a large class or a smaller more intimate community feel; Is your focus/interests offered by the school; what kind of student body are you looking for (international vs. US), case based method vs. lecture vs. a mix of both, big city vs. small city, what student run activities/initiatives that might interest you….These are some of the things I had to think about that helped me narrow down my choices.

So, you’ve been working for a few years and you’re feeling the itch for an MBA. Now what’s next?

Most people like me will definitely find the prospect of returning to school (especially full-time) daunting. You might quail at the thought of undertaking such a drastic change, but I’ve come to realise that the first few steps are the most important, and with proper planning you can not only enhance your chances for success, you can also protect your downside…

Based on my own blinkered opinion of the process, here’re a few things you can start doing now:
1) Register at GMAC.org. Read up on the GMAT exam and take the diagnostic test. Taking the test early will be your first differentiator within the applicant pool. Since schools always look at your highest score, taking the GMAT by July will not only make the fireworks seem so much more cheerful, but also leave you with enough time to take it again… and again… and again, if need be.

2) Start thinking about your budget for the MBA application process. Budget not just your financial resources, but also the amount of time available to you. This is crucial because selecting too many schools can leave you with half-baked applications. It might not seem so bad now, but when you’re looking at deadlines within days of one another, the work will pile up awfully fast. Continue Reading »

Technorati Tags: MBA, success, GMAT, Budget

Columbia announces deadlines for MBA class of 2009. The essays question would be released by end of May 2006.

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Have you decided an MBA is right for you? If so, now it’s time to find the MBA program that meets your needs.

Spend some time thinking about what is important to you … Are you concerned about an MBA program’s location? placement rates? reputation? specialties? tuition? alumni network? teaching methods?

Once you know what you’re looking for, you now need to determine which schools best meet your needs. There are several resources that contain overviews MBA programs. For example, Business Week, Financial Times and US News & World Report all publish rankings and profiles of schools in their magazines and on their websites.

After you start developing a short list of schools, you should do as much research as possible on each school. An MBA is a big investment of time and money and you want to be sure you find the program that is right for you. Continue Reading »