GMAT is a standard test offered by ETS that people take for admission to business schools abroad. Admission councils of all reputed schools the world over pay due attention to your GMAT score, so it’s in your best interest to always put your best foot forward—which means your GMAT scores should be quite impressive if you want that admit.

Now, how do you go about achieving said impressive score? We broke down the entire process in these simple steps:

Step 1: Decide your target score

The ‘target score’ is the score that you need to achieve on the GMAT to get into the school that you want, and of course, it varies from one school to another. In some cases, it may also vary from one country to another, so before you set your target score that you will be aiming for, you need to be clear about the schools you shall be applying to.

Step 2: Know your current position

Another important thing to consider here is your current standing: which means, you need to know how prepared (or unprepared) you are for the test. Official GMAT mock tests can help you with that, and whatever score you obtain when you are unprepared gives you an idea about how far you have to go in order to achieve your target score. Also, it’s at this stage that you need to consider the amount of time that you can spend in focussed studying, and plan out your study schedule accordingly.

Step 3: Ask for help

At this point, you might begin to feel a tad (or a lot) overwhelmed, so don’t shy away from asking for help. A mentor, an educated friend or family member, or even a knowledgeable third person can help you with setting your target and coming up with a plan to achieve it. Professional help is the best in this case, since their opinions are unbiased and objective, which goes a long way in making sure your efforts count for something.

Step 5: Be realistic

It’s praiseworthy to be ambitious and aim for something that lies beyond your current circle of abilities. However, it’s also important to consider the effort that an increased target score requires, and whether you are able to commit to it. Mock tests also play a key role in re-evaluating your target score. Keep attempting mock tests, and observe the pattern of your scores to finally fix a score that is balanced between ambition and practicality.

In conclusion, targeting a good GMAT score is specific to your situation, and the number and type of business school that you are applying to. So do your research well, and be sure to enlist help from as many trustworthy sources as possible. Business schools are very particular not only about your GMAT scores, but also your career goals post MBA, so ensure that you are making all the choices that are correct for you. All the best!