If you’re like many people planning to take the GMAT, you may be wondering what will happen if you take the GMAT without studying. Some MBA aspirants wonder whether they need to prepare for the GMAT to achieve their target scores. Others hope that just cramming for a week or taking a few practice tests will be the extent of the GMAT prep they need.
So, in this article, I’m going to explore the possibility of taking the GMAT without any preparation. We’ll see how people score without preparing, and we’ll also discuss how to determine whether you need to study for the test.
Here are the topics we’ll cover:
- What Is the Average GMAT Score Without Studying?
- Is It Even Possible to Pass the GMAT Without Studying?
- Do I Need to Study for the GMAT?
- Taking the GMAT Without Studying: In Summary
- What’s Next?
Let’s begin by considering how people typically score on the GMAT when they take it without any preparation.
What Is the Average GMAT Score Without Studying?
There is not a lot of data on how people score on the GMAT without studying. However, to estimate the average GMAT score without preparation, we can do the following.
We’ll start with the average GMAT score. The mean score on GMATs taken over the past three years is 575. The median for the same period is 600.
Next, we’ll determine an average GMAT score increase from studying. Nobody has done formal research to determine what the average GMAT score increase from studying is. However, informally gathered information indicates that the increase is around 50 points.
That said, some people take the GMAT more than once in the course of achieving their score goals. So, the average score increase achieved through studying for one GMAT is probably closer to 40 points.
Finally, we’ll subtract that estimated average increase from studying from the average GMAT score to determine what the average GMAT score without preparation is. Here are our results:
- The mean GMAT score without studying is around 575 – 40 = 535.
- The median GMAT score without studying is around 600 – 40 = 560.
So, a reasonable estimate of an average GMAT score without preparation is somewhere in the low to mid 500s.
This estimate matches what many people say about their baseline GMAT scores, the midpoint of which seems to be in the 500s.
KEY FACT:
The average GMAT score people would achieve without any preparation is likely in the low to mid 500s.
Now that we have a sense of how people score on the GMAT, on average, without preparation, let’s discuss a common question about the GMAT, whether it’s possible to pass it without studying.
Is It Even Possible to Pass the GMAT Without Studying?
The GMAT is not a pass/fail test. So, there is no failing score on the GMAT. Thus, to determine whether it’s possible to pass the GMAT without studying, we have to define “pass the GMAT.”
There are two ways we can define “pass the GMAT.” One is to define it as simply achieving one’s personal GMAT score goal. The other is to define it as achieving a 700+ score, since so many GMAT test-takers aim for 700+ scores.
So, with regard to achieving one’s personal GMAT score goal without studying, doing so is certainly possible. Particularly if your target score is in the 500s or low 600s, there is a good chance you can achieve your goal by simply familiarizing yourself with and taking the test.
With regard to scoring 700+ on the GMAT without studying, there are people who achieve that feat as well. They don’t represent a large percentage of GMAT test-takers, but they do exist. At the same time, there is something important to realize about these cases. Let’s discuss.
The Truth About People Who Score High on the GMAT Without Studying
You may have heard stories about people who took the GMAT exam without studying and scored 700+. So, you may be wondering how they managed to score so high without any preparation.
Well, the truth is that they didn’t. That’s right; they didn’t actually score that high without any preparation. How do I know? I know because nobody is born knowing the high school math the GMAT involves or GMAT Verbal topics, such as Critical Reasoning. So, clearly, people who have succeeded in correctly answering GMAT questions on test day prepared somehow. They may use math at work, or they may read a lot. Something they’ve done prepared them for the GMAT.
So, if you’re wondering how to pass the GMAT without studying, the answer is that, to do so, you need to have prepared for the GMAT by doing something else.
KEY FACT:
It’s possible to achieve your GMAT score goal without studying if your goal is relatively modest or you’ve prepared for the GMAT by doing something else.
Let’s now discuss how to determine whether you need to study for the GMAT.
Do I Need to Study for the GMAT?
If you’re wondering whether you need to study for the GMAT, there are two factors that determine the answer. One is your GMAT score goal. The other is your current score level. So, you can determine whether you need to study for the GMAT by choosing a target score, determining your current score level, and seeing whether your current level is above, at, or below your target score.
To choose a target score, consider the average GMAT scores of business schools you’re planning to apply to. Also, consider your overall profile to determine whether you need a GMAT score that is higher than your target schools’ averages or you’ll be set with a score that is at or below the averages. To learn more about how to choose a target GMAT score, you can read our post on determining what is a good score for you.
To determine your current score level, first prepare for about 10 to 20 hours to familiarize yourself with the GMAT. Then, take one of the official GMAT practice tests available on mba.com. Your score on that test will indicate fairly accurately how you’d score if you were to take the actual GMAT.
Having taken those two steps, you can determine whether you need to study for the GMAT, and if you do need to study, how much.
Determining How Much You Need to Study for the GMAT
If your score on an official GMAT practice test is above your target score, you likely can achieve your target score on the actual GMAT without further preparation. A score on the practice test that is the same as your target score indicates that you may need some light preparation to ensure that you achieve your target score on test day.
If your practice test score is 30 points or fewer below your target score, you can probably achieve your target score with about a month of preparation involving doing some general practice along with targeting some weaker topics. A practice test score significantly below your target score, for example 100 points below it, indicates that you likely need to do thorough GMAT preparation.
TTP PRO TIP:
To determine how much you need to study for the GMAT, choose a target score, take an official practice test, and compare your score on the practice test with your goal.
In case you need to prepare thoroughly for the GMAT, let’s discuss the best way to prepare.
The Best Way to Prepare for the GMAT
The best GMAT strategy for preparation is to focus on one Quant or Verbal topic at a time. By mastering one topic at a time, you can increase your expected GMAT score incrementally until you achieve your goal.
To master a GMAT topic, you can proceed in the following way:
- Learn or review the concepts and strategies involved in the topic.
- Do practice questions involving the topic UNTIMED until you’re achieving high accuracy, answering the questions correctly almost all the time.
- Work on answering questions involving the topic faster until you’re answering them in the time per question allotted by the GMAT.
Once you’ve mastered enough GMAT topics to achieve your score goal, you can take practice tests to work on time-management and develop the test-taking attitude you’ll need to achieve your score goal.
For more detail on how to master the GMAT Quant section, Verbal section, and IR/DI section, see these articles:
How to Increase Your GMAT Quant Score
How to Score High on GMAT Verbal
GMAT Integrated Reasoning Tips
TTP PRO TIP:
The best way to increase your GMAT score is to master one topic at a time.
Let’s now wrap up by summarizing what we’ve discussed.
Taking the GMAT Without Studying: In Summary
Here is what we’ve seen about taking the GMAT without preparation:
- On average, people score in the low to mid 500s on the GMAT when they take it without any preparation.
- It’s possible to achieve your GMAT score goal, i.e., “pass the GMAT,” without studying if either your goal is modest or you’ve prepared for the GMAT by doing something else.
- To determine whether you need to study for the GMAT, you can choose a target score and take an official practice test to see how your current score level compares with your goal.
- If you need to prepare for the GMAT, the best way is to focus on mastering one topic at a time.
What’s Next?
If you’re wondering whether you can study for the GMAT by using just the Official Guide, you can find out by reading our post on whether the Official Guide is enough.
To learn why people often have to study for months to achieve their GMAT score goals, see our post on why the GMAT is so hard.
