GMAT Tips to Improve Your Score

Here is a great list of several tips that will help you while you are taking the GMAT. You can add precious points if

you employ these strategies.GMAT Tips Blog

Clock Watching Kills

• Don’t keep looking up at the clock. This hurts for two reasons:

• First of all you are wasting precious seconds every time you take your eyes off of the test and look up at the clock.

• Second, even though you know that your time is passing by, actually visualizing it by looking at the clock will add immense pressure to you. You will start rushing and making silly mistakes.

Listen to Your Internal Clock

• You should know about how long you have for each question on average. This comes out to be about 1:45 per question on the verbal section and about 2:00 per question on the quantitative.

• If you spend more time than average on a question, keep in mind that you’ll need to make that time up by spending less on another question.

Try Harder on the First Few Questions

• On the GMAT, the questions you receive are determined on your answer of the previous question. If you miss a question, your next question will be easier. However, you get more points for difficult questions.

• If you get the first few questions correct, you’ll be in the upper rung of questions and will be getting questions that are worth more.

• If you start out missing questions, you’ll be in the lower rung and you won’t receive as much credit for answering the easier questions.

• It’s worth spending a few extra seconds on the first couple of questions to insure you get them correct.

Don’t Over-Analyze

• Don’t spend too much time on any one question. Remember that you have an average of 1:45 or 2:00 per question (depending on which section).

• If you find yourself hitting the 2:00 mark and you still aren’t close to an answer, it’s time to move on. You won’t be leaving yourself time to answer questions that you actually do know the answer to.

Don’t Guess Blindly

• It’s an almost certainty that you will have to guess on some questions. That doesn’t mean that you should just pick a letter.

• Take a look at the answers and scratch out any that simply don’t make sense.

• Look for synonyms among the answers. There can only be one correct answer, so if two answers mean the same thing, most likely neither are correct.

Watch for Look Alike Answers

• Something that the test makers like to do in the Verbal section is to provide not only a correct answer, but an “almost correct” answer.

• If you rush through the answers, you have a good chance of choosing the “almost correct” answer, especially if it’s listed before the correct answer.

• Take the time to completely read all answer choices before making a selection.

Mind Your Calculations

• One of the most common errors on the math problems is incorrectly performing the calculations.

• The test makers know the common calculation mistakes that people make and they will provide an incorrect answer as such.

• Be sure to perform your calculations correctly.

Spend Lots of Time Studying

• Studying not only helps you learn the correct answers, it helps you learn the test. When it comes time to take the test, you should have the instructions to the sections memorized. This will save you valuable time that can be spent answering questions.

• GMAT Study Secrets Program has great GMAT practice tests.

Learn the Incorrect Answers

• While you are studying for the GMAT, of course you will be learning the correct answers. But also pay attention to the incorrect answers. Knowing how incorrect answers are structured and what words they contain will help you on the exam by eliminating wrong answers.

Read with your Pencil

• While you are reading the questions, make notes, markings, and calculations with your pencil. This will help you read actively instead of passively. When you read actively you will pay closer attention and not miss important information. It will also help you remember the question so you don’t have to waste time going back to reread it.

Good Luck

• Remember to stay calm. Be confident in your preparation and abilities. Tell yourself that this is important, but it’s not the end of the world. You can always take the exam again if need be.

• GMAT Study Secrets Program