10 Tips to Improve Your Score & App With NO Extra Studying

Taking regular restroom breaks certainly helps between various sections even if you don't need one. It provides your body a bit of motion and also distracts your mind out of exam room. Try to avoid any discussions during the break to avoid loosing focus. I still haven't appeared for exam but have done prometric tests and it really helps me.

great POST!
It will help me a lot for the last week!!!

Thanks for the advice GMATLA. Great stuff as I'm just preparing my preparation.

Excellent list! Especially like the last one. Let me expand on cognition: Think extreme positivity and confidence.


In a way, this is a chicken and egg problem. You need to do well on GMAT questions in order to be confident. And you need confidence in order to get the tough GMAT questions correct. But you should develop a little of each and have them grow upon each other.

Bad thoughts:
1) I suck at math.
2) There’s no way I’ll finish the exam.
3) English is not my first language, I can’t do it.

Good thoughts:
1) Math is not my strong point, but this math isn’t rocket science. Sure, I get some wrong, but looking back at them–the questions are actually pretty easy. I just need become familiar with the different ways that the GMAT can test me on these relatively simple concepts that I learned in high school. I can do that! No problem!

2) GMAT is a timed test. I’ve had tons of timed tests before. I just need to come in with the right thought process and get enough practice that I have the confidence to know when I am positively sure about a GMAT question. By being super confident in an answer in as little time as possible, I know know I’ll be able to nail the super easy ones in less than one minute and the harder ones in less than 2-3 minutes. Confidence = less double checking/rereading = less time.

3) Although idioms are a part of the GMAT, a lot of the questions actually don’t test the idioms. A lot of times there are other concepts tested alongside the idioms and as long as I focus on that portion of the question, understand the key frameworks, and recognize how those concepts can show up in test questions, I’ll be fine.

Extreme positivity:

I’m going to kickass on the GMAT. Sure, I’ve been to college and failed tons of exams. But the GMAT is so much easier–it’s high school material repackaged in fancy, awkward questions. I just need to get used to it. My goal is to follow a study plan. I’ll stick to it and keep pushing myself. Heck, I’ll even visualize the questions that I got wrong and see myself think through it correctly as if I were sitting in for the real exam.

My strategy will be to first get as many correct GMAT practice questions as I can. Then I’ll try to get those questions correct in as little time as possible. Any question the GMAT throws at me will be answered correctly and tossed away as I wait for the next one. Bring it!

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Practice Typing on a "Desktop" keyboard.

This might sound silly but, I think this is as important as the other suggestions. On the test day you will be provided with a desktop. Most of us, I assume, are accustomed to use a laptop and might find it a bit difficult to type at a pace on a desktop keyboard. My suggestion is to get comfortable using a desktop keyboard, if you think you are not, before the D day.

Thanks for sharing these nice tips.........great piece info you share....Keep posting like this...

Great post, thanks for the advice. Didn't really pay attention to the fact that schools could be looking at the test day photos.

This is a very useful thread and taught me things I had not known previously. You get your picture taken? Wow, didn't know that. And great tip in visiting the test center beforehand. Makes a great deal of sense.

Thanks!

Cool post! Tyvm.

Thanks, good reminder what to keep in mind!

I can totally relate to the earplug thing. I never ever had any experience wearing those weird orange earplugs. On the test day, it was very uncomfortable to handle them.
Thanks for the great tips.
+1 for sharing.

Some great tips in this post. I think I'll start doing the AWA after I have reviewed all the material and start testing stamina.

Brilliant post! +1! I am going to go get myself a laminated pad right away!

Thanks for your great post! I remembered every single point in this note and followed them, definitely gained much confidence on my test day. It helped a lot. Thanks again.

I completely agree with this post ... it's more about mental state of mind ..

So I've decided that it is time to add a #13! I've been thinking about what new intagible is extremely important on test day, and I finally decided:

13. Choose Your Test Time & Day to Set Yourself Up for Test Day Success
So are you a morning person? How is your test taking ability on Saturday? Can your brain function at 8:00am? These are alllll questions you should ask yourself when you sign up for the GMAT. You should not only be trying to figure out what time fits best in your schedule, but also what time works best for you mentally. The general advice for the BEST time for the MOST amount of people to take the test is on Monday morning. Either 8:00am or 9:00am depending on the testing center. This is because you have the whole weekend to relax/easy study, and then Monday your brain is usually prepared for the work week. This is the time I would suggest to anyone.

The funny thing is, most commonly Saturdays and Fridays are the first days to fill up! Why??? Because people don't want to miss work, and people want days that make sense in their work week. Try to forget about the days you work, and try to figure out when your brain works BEST. You should book this time regardless of what day it falls on because taking one day off of work is worth never having to take this test again! So book your test day and time to help give you the best shot to score your top score. Once you have this test date booked, try to take your practice tests on this day and time if possible, but if not, make sure to atleast take practice tests on the same time of different days to get used to the timing.

My First post on GMATclub!!!

First of all thanks GMATLA, gr8 post!! I have already placed order for scratch pad. Being a character who gets nervous with a change, I want to simulate everything possible. Thanks.

Here are my 2 cents.
I am struggling thru the practice tests after studying rigorously for 2 months. Tried to find the problem area, it differs from test to test in verbal. so tried to analyze what is wrong. My analysis may help, if not just forget about my post.
I found that when I do a string of same type questions I am perfectly bang on. Even while doing review of my earlier MGMAT I tried to solve only SC questions again, and I got only 2 wrong out of 15.
I found that switching type is my problem, when I get RC and CR questions back to back ...no problem, though CR after RC consumes a little more time. But after a string of RC and CRs, I tend to focus on meaning of SC sentence rather than grammar rule itself.
So I am going to try mixing the question types while practicing.

Hope this helps.

Thanks.

Good tips there, I think being as comfortable and used to your environment as possible is key

I'd definitely agree. You'd be surprised how many people overlook this important step. They work SOOO hard to have everything under control, and forget that they can often times easily drive to their testing center and experience the environment. I can tell you from personal experience that my 2nd time at the test center, and felt like a seasoned veteran. The only thing you don't have control over on test day is the test itself, you should do your best to MASTER everything else.

About building exam stamina, I had a few doubts. Before the doubts, I would like to put in what I am actually doing. My GMAT's around the corner, April end ... I have been trying to time the OG 12 questions, but always seem to mess up my time if I am using a regular watch or a stopwatch application. So here are the doubts:

1. Is there a timing tool that I can use effectively? I try timing with my digi watch or the stopwatch on my lap, but it always overshoots then!. I work with the same mental pace in my Practice tests (Gave Kaplan and MGMAT CAT 1 - One gave me a 640, and the other a 610!!), but ended up having 8 minutes extra at the verbal section and 3 minutes for the Quant. Frankly, i am a loss to how to cope in the issue. I tried looking up all aspects, but am not able to find a way to simulate the exam timing sessions into my practise set routines. Need a little help with that!!

2. Is giving 2 tests on the same day with a 2 hour break and trying to estimate your level of fatigue a good idea?