Once you've decided to enrol yourself on a Management program, you need to appear for the GMAT exam which needs some focused preparation. To get onto an MBA program, you need to get a really high score, 780 if possible.

But before that, one thing to know is that the GMAT exam is not like any other eligibility test. That's because you can't cram for it; besides, it isn't very difficult to crack. All you need to be is highly disciplined and prepare excellently and you will get a really impressive score.

Introducing the GMAT test: A computer-adaptive test, the GMAT is a computer-adaptive test (CAT). This means that the difficulty level of the questions adapt to your performance. It works like this: As you begin answering questions, the computer estimates your ability level. It then selects the next question that you can answer correctly. The goal of this system is to get as much information about your ability level.

How to ace the GMAT exam: Good, old-fashioned advice to ace this exam is of course excellent preparation, 100% concentration, sharp-wittedness and keeping calm and collected. But for more in-depth tips to ace this mountain of an exam, please read on:

1. Prepare, prepare, prepare: Usually, students prepare for the GMAT exam by studying for it for about three to six months. They learn the test format and gain as much knowledge about the content as possible. You need to learn how to approach this computer-based test, apart from writing good essays for the analytical writing section.

2. Learn time management skills: Once you start preparing for this test, you will definitely learn to answer the test questions, but the moot question is whether you can answer this test paper in the specified time. So, an important skill to master is time management. You need to complete all sections of the exam or you will attract a penalty.

   When you do practice tests, it's a good idea to build in time limits. And, when you take the test, keep the onscreen clock on so that you are aware of the time and work faster. On average, spend no more than 1¾ minutes per verbal question and two minutes for a quantitative question.

3. Understand and familiarize yourself with the GMAT format: You shouldn't do a GMAT test without knowing the format well. Here are the details.

   The GMAT comprises three sections and an eight-minute break between two sections:

   For Analytical Writing and Integrated Reasoning, you get 30 minutes each.

   For Quantitative and Verbal, you get 75 minutes each. These two sections are given in CAT format, which gauges your ability level. By answering one question correctly, the computer places a more difficult one before you. If you answer this wrong, your next question will be easier.

   At the end of the first 10 questions per section, the computer puts you in an overall scoring range based on the difficulty level of your correct answers. To increase your chances of getting a high score for a particular section, answer the initial questions correctly.

4. Do as many practice tests as you can: There are a number of practice tests online that you can try. The more you do, the better you will be prepared. For better preparation, use official guides that have hundreds of practice questions, answers and explanations. Get used to different kinds of questions and develop your own way of answering each question type.

   Next, analyze the practice test by examining those areas in which you are weak and those that you are strong in. GMAT does not reward excellence in isolated sections but in overall capability.

5. Study hard for the test content: Use the strategies given below to help you ace the GMAT test:

   i) Use a GMAT study guide with many sample tests. The more you practice, the better you will be at cracking the final test.

   ii) Set aside some fixed amount of time to study and crack sample tests. Of course, the more time you put in to study, the better will your performance be.

   iii) Pace yourself well so that you complete each section in the time allotted. If you aren't sure of an answer, you can guess the answer after eliminating one or two wrong answers. For every wrong answer, you're penalized 1/4 point. Plus, you can't go back to solve unanswered questions.

6. Understand the scoring system: GMAT scores range between 200 and 800. About 67% test-applicants score anywhere between 400 and 600. Quantitative and Verbal sections can bring up your score to a maximum of 60. Both scores are on a fixed scale and are comparable across all GMAT tests. However, Verbal and Quantitative scores measure a different set of concepts and are therefore different from each other.

   If you don't finish in the pre-set time, you still stand to gain scores if you have attempted all sections. However, your scores take into consideration all the questions you answer, and decreases considerably depending on the number of questions that you leave unanswered.

   Before you appear for the test, find out the score you will need to get into a good college or university. A business school of repute will put out the cut-off score they are looking for before you appear for the exam.

   For a high GMAT score, have a test strategy personalized for you, based on your strengths and weaknesses. Seek the help of a professional organization that prepares students for the GMAT exam so that you put your best foot forward at the GMAT exam.

   And lastly, stay calm. Don't be under stress, only then will you do your best.