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How to prepare for GMAT Vocabulary? Check Vocabulary App, List, Flashcards

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Rituparna Nath

Content Writer at Study Abroad Exams | Updated On - Feb 13, 2023

GMAT Vocabulary is an important essential part of GMAT Verbal Reasoning. The entire GMAT verbal section is based on grammar. During the GMAT Verbal preparation, you have to deal with the questions of Sentence correction, Reading Comprehension, and Critical Reasoning. To solve all these you need to have good knowledge about English grammar and familiarity with English words. GMAT Vocabulary strategies are essential to ace GMAT. In this article we talk about GMAT vocabulary in detail.

GMAT Vocabulary Strategies

While preparing for GMAT vocabulary, you will need to understand both the content of the passages and how to answer the related questions. For the ones who needs help in GMAT vocabulary, here are four steps to prepare vocab for the GMAT exam:

  1. Read magazines and newspapers with similar language to GMAT vocabulary

The GMAT Reading Comprehension passages involves a variety of topics, including:

Biology Astronomy American History European History
Economics Environment Science Physics Human Resource Management

In addition to working through actual GMAT passages, test-takers can also read publications like Scientific American, Financial Times, The Economist, and Bloomberg Businessweek to get comfortable with the writing styles that appear on the GMAT. These magazines often contain composition and language found in certain texts and case studies that you may encounter in your MBA program. So, understanding this GMAT vocabulary can help not only on the GMAT exam, but also in business school.

Get your hands on few GMAT vocabulary books like:

  1. Make a GMAT vocabulary list

Try to write down every word that you are unfamiliar with in a separate list. Then, write down the definition of each word on the list. As you go through the exam, you will notice these words appearing in multiple places on the GMAT. For Instance, the word “species” is often included in both Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning questions. The words “prime,” “median,” “mean,” and “reciprocal” are found in many Problem Solving and Data Sufficiency questions. Words like “consumption,” “dramatically,” “proliferation,” and “yield” are common words in the Analytical Writing Assessment topics. Making a list of unfamiliar vocabulary words can help you better understand what areas you can work to improve on. Once you know what these words mean, studying for the GMAT becomes much easier.

  1. Make GMAT vocabulary flashcards

From your list of unfamiliar words, write one word on one side of an index card. On the other side of the GMAT vocabulary flashcard, write the definition in your own words. Test yourself on 5-10 words per day, eliminating words once you are confident that you know them. Continue using GMAT vocabulary flashcards pdf practice as you study from official GMAT material and encounter more words you don’t know. This will keep the words in your head and help you process GMAT passages and questions more efficiently.

  1. Practice, practice & practice!!!

While GMAT preparation, take a full-length GMAT mock-test. Then, review your results. Go through each section of the exam, and look at the questions you answered correctly or incorrectly. This will help you learn the language of the GMAT. Familiarize yourself with the types of words used in each of the sections, including Quantitative and Integrated Reasoning, and identify the words that you did not understand.

GMAT vocabulary list 2021

Here is a list of words that you come across while preparing for GMAT.

Analyze: To examine something (usually a passage or argument, in the context of the GMAT) and break it down into its constituent parts; to inspect in detail. The Analytical Writing Assessment asks you to analyze and critique a given argument. Assertion: A statement, usually backed up by some kind of solid proof or reasoning. Synonyms include ‘claim’ and ‘contention.’
Assumption: The underlying reasoning of an argument. ‘Premise’ is a synonym. You’ll be asked about the assumptions of various arguments frequently in Critical Reasoning questions in the Verbal section. Cite: To refer back to your source or reasoning.
Claim: An assertion, argument, or statement. Contention: Can mean a conflict or clash. In the context of the GMAT, it usually refers to an argument or assertion, especially a controversial one. The verb form is ‘to contend.’
Corroborate: To support or validate an existing opinion, belief, or argument. Other synonyms include ‘verify’ and ‘confirm.’ Often used in the phrase ‘corroborating evidence.’ Faulty: Some Critical Reasoning questions may ask you if or how an argument is faulty. Faulty is a synonym for ‘flawed’ or ‘invalid.’ An argument is faulty if there’s a gap in its logic, or if the conclusion doesn't flow logically from its premise.
Imply: To imply is to suggest based on evidence (but not state explicitly). The adjective form is ‘implicit,’ which is the opposite of ‘explicit’ (overt or clear). Many students get confused between ‘imply’ and ‘infer.’ They are similar, but not exactly alike. An inference is a conclusion we can reasonably draw based on given evidence. An implication is a strong suggestion that is not directly stated. Infer/Inference: To infer is to conclude based on given evidence/information. When a Critical Reasoning question asks you to draw a conclusion based on a passage, it is asking you to make an inference.
Maintain: In the context of the GMAT, ‘maintain’ means to argue, assert, or contend, particularly repeatedly or after opposition. Mitigate: To lessen, diminish, or render less extreme or severe. Often used in the phrase ‘mitigating circumstances,’ which refers to circumstances that make a crime more understandable but don’t entirely exonerate someone of his/her crime.
Paradox: This is common in Critical Reasoning questions on the Verbal section. A paradox is something that is seemingly contradictory or doesn’t make sense, or two facts that don’t seem to coexist logically. Clues that a GMAT question may be asking you to identify a paradox are words like ‘discrepancy’ and ‘contradiction.’ Posit: To posit is to present an argument or hypothesis about something that is currently unknown or uncertain.
Premise: A premise is a statement upon which an argument or theory is based. Redundancy: ‘Redundancy’ refers to something (a word, phrase, or piece of information) that’s repetitive and thus meaningless or unnecessary. It comes up most commonly in Sentence Correction questions, which ask you to eliminate redundancy in the answer choice you choose.
Sufficient: Data Sufficiency questions, on the Quant section, ask you if a given piece of information is ‘sufficient’ to solve a problem or complete an equation. ‘Sufficient,’ in the context of the GMAT, means ‘enough on its own.’ In other words, could you answer this question or solve this problem or equation with only that numerical value or piece of information? Undermine: To weaken or invalidate (usually an argument, in the context of the GMAT).
Validate: Often used interchangeably with ‘corroborate.’ Warranted: ‘Warranted’ means justified, deserved, or necessary.

GMAT vocabulary App

GMAT vocabulary apps are very essential for vocabulary preparation GMAT. Here is a list of apps that you must follow to ace your vocab for GMAT Verbal Section:

  • Manhattan Prep GMAT
  • Ready4 GMAT (Prep 4 GMAT)
  • GMAT Exam Prep (Pocket Prep, Inc.)
  • Economist GMAT Tutor
  • GMAT Prep Course (Veritas Prep)

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.

Ask your question

Answered Questions

BS

Bhavya Singh

18 Mar 21ISB Hyderabad

Several factors affect the chance of a candidate getting a seat in ISB Hyderabad. Not only the GMAT score, but also the application profile, essays, and performance in the interview combined together decides whether a candidate should get a seat or not in such an elite institute. The points listed below are some important aspects to consider for admission to such institutes.

  • There is no fixed cut-off for ISB Hyderabad, as declared by the institute. There are examples of people with a GMAT score of 720 not getting a seat from the interviews. On the other hand, there are candidates with a score of 700-710 but are successful in getting a seat in ISB Hyderabad.
  • GMAT score is not the only criteria for getting a seat, but the door to get an interview call. The quality of essays written by the candidate, his/her application/ profile, and the performance in the interviews are also considered.
  • For candidates with an average profile, a GMAT score of 720+, along with a complete application and a good essay can be considered to have high chances to receive an interview call. After having a call, the rest depends on how the candidate will perform in his/her interview.

This is the overall scenario for admission in ISB Hyderabad, for a student with an average profile.


MN

Mahak Nigam

30 Jun 22Master of Business Administration Degrees & Finance, Aditya Institute of Management Studies and Research

More than 140 Business Schools in India accept GMAT scores. Here is a list of popular B-School that accept GMAT scores.

IIM Ahmedabad (PGPX) IIM Bangalore (EPGP) IIM Calcutta (PGPEx)
IIM Indore (EPGP) IIM Kozhikode (EPGP) IIM Lucknow (IPMAX)
XLRI Jamshedpur MDI Gurgaon IMT Ghaziabad
IIFT Delhi FMS Deli ISB Hyderabad/Mohali

Many other reputed B-School across the country also accept GMAT scores.


AV

Arvind Verma

30 Jun 22Studied at Indian School of Business

ISB Hyderabad accepts both examination scores. So, you can opt for either of GMAT or GRE. Your chances of selection or rejection will remain the same. Go through the examination pattern and syllabus and choose the one in which you feel that you will be able to score better. Ultimately having a good score is what matters during admission. As per the recent trends, ISB Hyderabad cutoff for GMAT is 600, while for GRE it is 311. 


AS

Aditi Sen

12 May 21PGDM from Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad (2019)

There are many business schools in India that require GMAT scores at the time of admission.

Some of the top business schools with requiring GMAT scores in India are:

Institute Name

GMAT Score

ISB, Hyderabad & Mohali

730 or higher

S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai

550

IIM Ahmedabad

711

School of Management, NMIMS Mumbai

600

IIM Bangalore

710

Great Lakes Institute of Management

600

IIM Calcutta

701

XLRI Jamshedpur

710

IIM Lucknow

680

IMT (All campuses)

720

IIM Indore

700

ICFAI Business School (Hyderabad & Mumbai)

700

IIM Kozhikode

700

A few other institutes include - MDI Gurgaon, FMS Delhi, Sunstone Business School Noida, ISB Indore, and more.


NM

Nishad JK Makol

10 Mar 23PGDM Marketing & Consulting, S. P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (2017)

I see that you already have more than 50 months of work experience. My suggestion for anyone with such work experience is to opt for the 1-year PGPM Program rather than the 2-year PGDM Program. Keep working for another year and earn your fee for the 1-year program. This way you will save time. Money and even be spared from investing additional efforts when the same could be done in lesser time. The cutoff for both the programs is

Program

Cutoff

PGPM

660

PGDM

85 Percentile