9 Top Tips to Ace the GMAT

The GMAT is an adaptive test. This means that the more questions you get correct, the more difficult the test will become. Some applicants become frustrated as the test goes on because it becomes more challenging to answer correctly, says Yim.

“Focus in your studies on building your experience of how the GMAT might challenge you, so you can be confident and comfortable by test day,” he adds. “Start your study sessions by stopping once you have five to seven things wrong to review and explore further. Use your mistakes to guide you.”

One of the biggest challenges for business school applicants is shifting gears to the verbal portion of the test. After all, many b-school applicants feel their strength lies in number crunching. In addition, the reading comprehension passages can be boring and laborious to get through, says Yim.

“You are not reading to learn content - don't obsess over details,” he adds. “Instead, focus on the author's purpose and never forget your primary goal in reading comp, which is to earn points. Most questions will ask you to consider the author's opinion and tone. This is the information you want to glean from the passage, through a variety of keywords. Don't skim, but quickly determine if you need the information or not.”

Doing math in your head can serve you well. “The entire time you are preparing for the GMAT, resist the urge to reach for the calculator whenever you need to do some real-world calculations,” suggests McGarry. “Learn the tricks to doing mental math (It’s way easier to add 59 + 27 by adding 50 + 20 and then 9+7; then add the sums together.)”

To get the correct answer in sentence correction items, you must first find the wrong ones, says Yim. “Eliminate commonly tested errors in other answer choices until only one remains,” he adds. “Many times the correct answer will not sound great but that's not the goal; you are trying to pick the error free answer.”

McGarry says visual literacy is a necessity. He advises applicants to become familiar with efficiently analyzing charts, tables, and imaginary symbols, which are commonly featured in the GMAT. Using official test prep materials, or those from third parties that come closest to the real thing are your best bet, says McGarry.

Determination and setting your mind on performing well is a big part of test taking – or really any challenge you undertake. McGarry believes this should be the cornerstone of your studying habits.

“You see, the vast majority of folks who study for the GMAT have access to all the information needed for an excellent performance, but only 10% cross the magic 700-threshold,” he says. “The difference is not the content, the information, which essentially everyone has. The difference maker is the level of yourself that you can bring. Excellence comes from the heart. If you can pursue excellence with the heart of a lion, you will be on the way to success.”