11 GMAT Club Expert Tips to ace the GMAT with NO extra studying
1. Try to study in 1-2 hour chunks with 8 minute breaksStudying in this fashion will help mold your work into a test day environment. On Sat and Sun I would study 5-6 hours with 1.5 hour chunks and 8 minute breaks. Stamina went through the roof! Increasing stamina can be the one area, if overlooked, that can affect even the most prepared of test takers.
2. Wear earplugs while studying and on test day (Test Center Only)This is a key component many forget: On test day you have a room full of other people! You're not going to be in your mom's quite basement with a 40 inch computer monitor (great visual! haha). All these people will be going in and out of the room, all on different test schedules than you. Buy some earplugs and wear them during your practice tests and study sessions. Get used to what it feels like, sounds like, to have them in. DON'T take them out during the real test day breaks. It is in your best interest to not hear anything around you, and only care about what you need to do. Think tunnel vision, with a 700+ at the end of that tunnel. (Note: you cannot use earplugs for GMAT Online)
3. During breaks get the blood movingJump around, move your legs, arms, hands, stretch out your muscles, do some push ups. I know this might feel weird, but go the bathroom on ALL breaks and before your test, do all of these exercises and get the blood moving. It will rejuvenate you physically and mentally. Get your face up on the mirror and say "YOU'RE GOING TO KILL THIS TEST". Then kick the door open, give the test proctor the double guns "what up" and a wink, and get back to your test.
4. FORGET ABOUT THE PREVIOUS SECTIONSeriously, forget about it. Everybody tries to guess how they did, or feels like they did good or bad on the last section (especially quant). First, IT DOESN'T MATTER ANYMORE. Your score is in the books and on a CAT test there is no way to really know how you did. Second, the verbal section is the biggest opportunity on the test to drive your score! FREAKING FORGET ABOUT IT! I've tried "guessing" how I did on a section and it doesn't matter, it's a stamina killer, and you're usually wrong. On test day I felt good on the Quant, and thought I blew the verbal. Go figure that it was the exact opposite. Buuut, my high verbal drove my overall score over 700. How many times have you read on these forums about how something got into someone's head, and they felt it affected their performance? Well, when i read that, it makes me think they are not mentally strong. When you are mentally strong, you force those thoughts out of your head, and move onto the next question... your next opportunity to take your score to the next level.
5. Take full length practice testsTake the full 30 minutes on the AWA and IR. This was critical before the section order came in since AWA and IR came first so it is not as important these days but if you don't want to worry about that 4.0 AWA or 5 on the IR and not have it on the back of your mind, you want to do some tests with AWA and IR. If you never practice the essays, the last hour of the actual test will be torture. Plus, your score on that test will not be representative of your actual scores taken separately.
6. Visit the testing center before your testSome of you may live 100s of miles from testing centers, so you may have an argument for not visiting the testing center. But for everyone else, you have NO reason not to check it out. This may be one of the most overlooked opportunities to familiarize yourself with your testing environment. People go to great lengths to have great practice tests. Why wouldn't they check out the center? I would go in, meet the lady at the front desk, ask her about your test and anything important you should know. On test day, the proctor might even remember you and put you at the best seat in the house. You never know! But wouldn't you want that advantage? Plus, you'll know how to get there, you'll know where the bathrooms are, and there will be so many intangible advantages gained by this trip.
7. Know exactly what you're going to eat and drink on test dayYou should literally know exactly what you are going to eat, how much you are going to drink, and how long it will take you. I had it down to a science. I knew what I was going to have for breakfast and how much I would drink with that meal and how long before I had to use the restroom. I practiced on all of my practice tests also. During the breaks I limited myself to only 4 oz of water, knowing that I would not get the urge in the middle of the test. You need to know your body, so that none of these factors distract you on test day. For example, if you've never worn earplugs and decided not to eat the morning of your test, then you're going to hear you stomach rumpling like thunder inside your body. You need to know how you're going to react to EVERYTHING.
8. Leave your cell phone and notes in the car or at homeWhile this doesn't gain you any points on test day, it will keep you from making the most common and most serious test taking mistake. If you get caught with notes or a cell phone during the test, regardless if you are using them, you can be dismissed and have a "P" for policy violation put on your score report. You will lose your $250, and have to wait to take the test again. Plus you will have to deal with this on your score report, and explain to adcoms that you don't follow directions. Don't be one of these people.
9. Learn how to use a scratch pad, and how to use it to the best of your advantage on test daySo many of you may not know this, but you are not allowed to use pen or paper on test day. No pen and paper you say!? Yes, the GMAT uses what is called a scratch pad. It is basically a legal (11x14 inch) laminated dry erase booklet with a wet erase pen.
I recommend that all of you purchase one.
10. Visualize test day successThis is a technique used by many world class athletes. Visualize your success on the big day. Imagine yourself getting every problem right, seeing questions you know, pumping your fist when you see your dream score, walking out of the test center and telling all your friends and family your success, and even writing you debrief on GMATclub. Seriously, the psychological effects of visualization can be profound in building confidence and keeping a clear mind. It's the self-fulfilling prophecy. When you are doing practice tests and on the big day, imagine seeing that score you want, pumping your fist, and saying goodbye to the GMAT forever. Using this technique could help give you that confidence boost to push you to the next level on test day!
11. Choose Your Test Time & Day to Set Yourself Up for Test Day SuccessSo 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 at least take practice tests on the same time of different days to get used to the timing.
Other advice:Don't forget the AWA and test day photoDid you know that if requested the schools you've selected to see your scores can also read your essays and see your test day photo? Although I would assume it would be rare, consider what you're writing in your essays and how you look on test day. From the shoulders up you should try to at least look decent. Also, make sure your essays don't hit any topics that could be looked at negatively if read by an AdCom. AdCom do read them sometimes.
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Updated on: 15 Jul 2021, 12:59
so fixing it quickly until I can perhaps revise it more fully). 
