Free Online GMAT Study Material

The GMAT study material available on the Internet may be really overwhelming if you have decided to prepare on your own and you are now beginning your quest. Here is a handy review of five free online resources compiled by someone who has already conquered the GMAT.

Most people find the GMAT very difficult. Whether you are out of the habit of studying or can’t seem to remember that you need to flip the fraction over to find the reciprocal, most of us are going to need some help before we sit the test. In a previous post, I outlined my approach to GMAT preparations. However, you may be on a limited budget or just getting started and aren’t willing to pay out thousands of dollars for courses and GMAT study materials to prepare for the test. Luckily for you, there are some great FREE resources available.

Here are my top five:

5. Kaplan GMAT Test Prep

Ken Tran from Kaplan pointed me to the GMAT community homepage, where testers can preview all of Kaplan’s free resources. My favourite is the free practice test. Unlike many free practice tests, Kaplan tries to simulate test-day conditions with an actual proctored exam. If you enrol in the paid course, you can even take your practice exam at the real test centre, an awesome feature that is unique to Kaplan as far as I can tell.

4. The Economist GMAT Tutor

The Economist’s adaptive GMAT preparation, its best-in-class score guarantee, and the included one-to-one tutoring make the paid version incredibly good value.  They also offer a free trial version. The Economist will let you try their course and GMAT study material for 7 days, take a practice exam, and schedule a one-to-one tutoring session – all for free.

3. Veritas Prep’s Mobile App

The first of two mobile apps on this list, Veritas Prep’s prep app is free on the app store. The app, actually designed to accompany the paid course, still allows you to stream all (yes, I mean ALL) of Veritas’s course videos without parting with a single penny. Veritas’s video instructors keep it interesting with light candour while they impart some of the industry’s best instruction and most practical tips.

Complete GMAT Video Course on iTunes

GMAT Question Bank in Google Play

Head to our Marketplace and claim your $100 off any GMAT course provided by Veritas Prep!

2. Prep4GMAT

Our second app was designed to be free. So, unlike with Veritas Prep, there is no reference to paid GMAT study material you do not have access to. Prep4GMAT recently redesigned their app and what a difference it made! The new app is user friendly and allows for easy progress tracking and weakness identifying.

Prep4GMAT on iTunes

Prep4GMAT on Google Play

Here are also 5 Reasons to Focus on GMAT Preparation

1. GMAT Prep Now

The holy grail of free GMAT study material offers 500 videos, including 35 hours of expert GMAT instruction. Unlike most GMAT prep courses, which use only invented questions, many of GMAT Prep Now’s practice questions are from the Official Guide itself. This guarantees that you are not wasting time with questions you will not see on the test and also gives you confidence in the level of difficulty of the practice questions. Brent Hanneson from GMAT Prep Now did not say why they started offering the course for free when contacted for this post; however, their website says, “our biggest reason is that we’re proud of our course.”  Whatever that means…I don’t get it.  All I know is you now have access to hours of high-quality content for FREE!

The GMAT Exam Prepare for the GMAT Exam Test Prep Materials The GMAT Prep Timeline

Preparing for the GMAT exam takes time and effort, but with a sound study plan, you can get the score you want.

Being a little nervous about taking the GMAT exam is normal. Smart test takers approach the test with a solid plan and execute on that plan. They get the most out of practice tests and resources, understand how they learn, and stay positive throughout the process. Just remind yourself that you have what it takes! Like any important goal, preparation and hard work pay off. 

The following steps will help you plan a course toward your best GMAT. 

Step	Action
1. Determine When You Plan to Attend a Graduate Business Program	Next 1-2 years? Gather information about your target programs. Check the admissions deadlines and GMAT requirements for the schools you wish to apply to. Next 3-5 years? Explore the benefits of a graduate business education, and meet current graduate business students. Create an account on mba.com so that you can receive information about the GMAT and other events. Download the free GMATPrep® software. Opt-in to GMASS to help schools find you.
2. Register for the GMAT Exam and Develop a Study Plan	Download the GMAT® Handbook to learn everything you need to know about the exam.  Familiarize yourself with the test structure and overview, format and question types.  Be mindful of school application deadlines when you register. The further in advance you register, the greater your choice of available dates for taking the GMAT exam.
3. Establish Your Skills Baseline by Taking a Practice Exam	Practice the different question types and take the first practice exam in the GMATPrep software.  Use GMATPrep’s performance reports to identify the skills you need to study most and focus your preparation.  Consider purchasing the GMAT Focus Online Quantitative Diagnostic Tool to identify your quantitative strengths and areas of challenge.
4. Start Studying	Design a study plan that works with your lifestyle and results in you becoming comfortable with the test questions, timing, and pace.  Begin your study plan with the Official Guide for GMAT® Review, 2016  Consider simulating the actual GMAT testing environment by using a timer and by eliminating water, snacks, music, and technology during your practice tests.  Review your progress and plan to work on your weak areas.  Visit the mba.com store for additional study materials based on your needs.  Practice, practice, practice!
5. Assess Your Progress and Continue Studying	Take your second GMATPrep practice test. How was the pacing? Did you improve your weak areas and maintain your strengths? Use these results to further direct your studies.  Consider purchasing the GMATPrep® Exam Pack 1, which includes two new full-length practice tests or GMATPrep® Question Pack 1, which includes 404 additional practice questions.
6. Plan for Your Test Day	Take a tour of a test center to know what to expect on the day of your exam.  Make sure you understand what to bring and what not to bring to the test center (including proper identification).  Get a good night’s rest. You’ve planned, you’ve prepared, you’re ready!