GMAT Tips
Test tips from leading prep firms for applicants studying for the GMAT. If you know your strengths and weaknesses, browse by test section: AWA, Quant and Verbal.
Latest Stories About GMAT Tips
GMAT Tip: Inequalities…and then some…(Part 1)
When it comes to tricky quantitative questions, inequalities take the prize for serving as one of the biggest deceivingly easy questions. Test takers should just treat inequalities as algebraic “equal to” equations with just a < or > symbol in place of the = sign, right? If only it was... Read more »
Episode 39: 5 Key GMAT Tips As You Approach Test Day
Before taking on the dreaded GMAT, what are the most important tips you’ll need to remember? One of the world’s few owners of both a 99th percentile GMAT score and an NBA championship ring, Brian Galvin, Veritas Prep’s Director of Academic Programs, would gladly help Charles Barkley (but not Karl... Read more »
GMAT Tip: Just When You Think You’re Done, Keep Going
Many test takers preparing for the GMAT get frustrated with questions in the quantitative section, often providing responses like “I took advanced math in college!” and “I did great on my SAT math, what gives?!” The GMAT Quantitative section is a tricky beast, with one key theme to the questions... Read more »
GMAT Tip: Consider the Possibilities and Make a Well-Reasoned Guess
In the GMAT Quantitative section, there are often problems that appear simple but turn into big time-wasters that detract from test takers’ ability to get to the tougher questions and/or finish the quantitative section of the exam. These time-wasters are a) often arithmetic questions b) also data sufficiency questions and... Read more »
GMAT Tip: Simplifying Fractions
In previous posts, we have discussed how the best way to tackle a difficult looking quantitative question on the GMAT is to clean it up – consolidating like terms, adding or subtracting inside of parentheses, or reorganizing variables to where it is easier not substitute equations. Not only is cleaning... Read more »
GMAT Tip: Don’t Fret Over Two Letter Words
Many students get frustrated when evaluating sentence correction problems, with the biggest point of frustration coming from feeling that they need to memorize chart after chart of idioms. While knowing idioms can certainly be helpful, if you are facing a short timeline, sometimes you can’t have your cake and eat... Read more »
So, You’re Terrible at Integrated Reasoning…
Since its release on the June 2012 exam, the Integrated Reasoning portion of the GMAT has had some test takers stumped. This 30-minute, 12 question section is oddly scored on a 1 to 8 scale, and no partial credit is given, even for multi-part, multi-answer questions. For the past several... Read more »
Combinations: Consider The Grouping with the Slot Method
The GMAT loves to present combination questions that force people to sit next to each other, or in certain seats, and then have the test taker figure out how many different ways people not forced to be glued to possibly a very uncomfortable chair can be seated around them. Because... Read more »
Probability Tip: Three Strategies That Aren’t Used Enough
Some GMAT instructors will say that students often place too much emphasis on studying for Probability and Combinatorics, rather than spending more time focusing on the heavy lifters of Algebra and Arithmetic. Like it or not, GMAT students get fixated on combinatorics and probability because a) these questions are never,... Read more »
Sentence Correction Tip: Cut the Junk
Sentence corrections on the GMAT can be particularly tricky. There are so many rules and goals to keep in mind – not only does the correct selection have to be grammatically correct, but it needs to be concise and clear – at least, according to GMAC standards. The biggest strategy... Read more »
GMAT Critical Reasoning Tip: Mind the Gap
Let’s start this post with a critical reasoning question: When a group of people starts a company, the founders usually serve as sources both of funding and of skills in marketing, management, and technical matters. It is unlikely that a single individual can both provide adequate funding and be skilled... Read more »
GMAT Tip: How to Master Critical Reading Questions
When I was a kid, all I wanted was a cool mono-syllabic last name. People would fumble through my clunky last name and inevitably layer some hybrid of odd accents in all of the wrong places. I just wanted to play lacrosse and hear “Go Capps” or “Go Carp!” Since... Read more »
GMAT Tip: What Makes Difficult Verbal, Well, Difficult?
Sometimes we overhear students claiming that there is “no way” a Sentence Correction question would appear in 700-level difficult verbal questions. It is “just grammar” and difficult verbal questions could only be something like Critical Reasoning with really difficult logic you have to decipher, right? Wrong. The GMAT has a... Read more »
GMAT Tip: Shaved Seconds Add Up
When working through GMAT Quantitative problems, at times some students will comment, “well, I solved this problem this way, so that’s fine right???” Totally. As we’ve covered in quite a few posts, there are always several different ways to get to the correct answer for a problem solving or data... Read more »
GMAT Tip: Keep the Concept in Mind
GMAT Quantitative questions can be difficult because of how questions are worded, relationships that have to be identified, and moves in logic that produce the right answer. But, sometimes, a quantitative question is difficult simply because you’re being tested on the same concept over and over again, and they’re hoping... Read more »
