GMAC, GMAT and last Thursdays

Last week, GMAC (owners of the GMAT Exam) held a Google Hangout event for prospective MBAs and GMAT candidates across Africa. The focus of the event was helping to improve the performance of African (which turns out to be mainly Nigerian) candidates for the GMAT and there were over 300 participants.

Total Ascent was invited as a panellist to speak on the challenges of GMAT candidates in Nigeria and provide insights on our programmes and how they have helped our students ace the GMAT.

The baseline statistics and feedback on GMAT candidates in Africa are disheartening:

Over a five-year period, the average GMAT score for African candidates dropped to 430 (on a scale of 800), the lowest in the world.

On average, Africans spend less than 50 hours preparing for the GMAT. This is less than half of what is typically required for a score of over 700 (which will get you past the minimum GMAT requirements for ANY business school).

The structure of the GMAT requires application rather than rote knowledge, which is very different from what many African candidates are used to. Hence, typical study methods and habits are not effective at all.

Bringing it closer to home, prospective Nigerian candidates for the GMAT face the challenges of insufficient time (“I have a busy schedule and don’t have enough time to prepare”); ineffective methods (“I will buy the book and just study on my own”); or a weak foundation (“I have never liked Maths/English, and barely passed my SSCE”).

This creates a palpable fear and the mind-set of “I’d rather not even try because I’m going to fail anyway”. For those who face their fears, but still don’t do the right things to prepare effectively, this mind-set is a self-fulfilling prophecy, as seen in the performance of African candidates on the GMAT over time.

From our experience at Total Ascent, the first step to success on the GMAT is to understand the exam – structure, content, question types and strategies….and whom better to learn from than someone who has gone through the process successfully, and can speak from experience.

Total Ascent’s tutors scored over 700 on the GMAT and have helped many of our students do the same. We also provide a structured personalised programme that ensures that the right preparation time, study methods and practice material are applied. This has resulted in an average increase of 40 percent in the scores of our students (post- vs. pre- our programmes).

To find out more and to meet with our tutors, attend “LAST THURSDAYS” a FREE monthly event for prospective MBAs and GMAT/GRE candidates to engage with alumni and admissions officials from top Business Schools.

Tosin Okojie