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In working with many people preparing for the GMAT, I've had the opportunity to see what are the key factors that lead to high scores. Interestingly, the differentiating factors tend to be less about what someone knows walking in and more about how they approach the preparation process. So, for anyone wondering what it takes to score high on the test, here’s what I’ve seen making the difference
1. Growth Mindset
High scorers believe they can develop their abilities with focused effort. They understand logically, even before seeing results, that effective preparation works. That conviction sustains them through difficult stretches and prevents them from seeing challenging moments as evidence of a ceiling that doesn't actually exist.
2. Understanding What the GMAT Actually Tests
The GMAT tests more than math and verbal knowledge. It tests skill in reasoning, noticing details, organizing thinking under pressure, allocating attention effectively, and executing with precision. So, to score high, we need to prepare with this broader understanding in mind, allowing it to shape both how we study and how we approach the exam itself.
3. Good Project Management
Managing the project well can make a big difference. For instance, doing some research on best practices before starting to prepare can be a game-changer. Also, being organized in going through topics, tracking progress, and adjusting based on what the data indicates are other aspects of good project management that lead to high GMAT scores.
4. Topic and Performance Driven Preparation
The most effective way to organize GMAT prep is to work through one topic at a time and let performance on practice questions determine readiness before moving on. This approach keeps preparation focused and also makes it manageable rather than overwhelming by breaking it down into a series of steps.
5. Thoroughness
It’s key to be thorough in every aspect of GMAT prep from understanding concepts to answering practice questions to filling skill gaps. Things like learning concepts from the ground up, revisiting topics as many times as necessary, and being ruthlessly honest with ourselves about whether we truly get something result in high scores.
6. Using Logic, Not Just Rules
Since the GMAT is a reasoning test, it’s essential to emphasize use of logic in preparing for it. Rules will get us only so far. To score high, we need to both learn the underlying logic of topics and get into the habit of seeing key aspects of the logic of what’s going on in the questions we encounter.
7. Using Sophisticated Thinking
The GMAT is a sophisticated exam and, accordingly, our scores on the test will correlate with the level of sophistication of the reasoning we use in answering the questions. Simplistic or gimmicky methods work for easy questions but not for hard ones. To score high, we have to get into the habit of using sophisticated and sometimes out-of-the-box reasoning that works across the full range of the challenges of the test.
8. Being Discerning
There is no shortage of GMAT advice, and some of it can be unhelpful or even misleading. Gimmicky strategies and ineffective preparation methods are genuine pitfalls that can result in time wasted on doing things that will never work. To score high and prepare efficiently, we have to be discerning about what guidance we follow and what resources we invest our time in.
9. Untimed Practice
One of the most consistent patterns I see in struggling students is that they have been doing all their practice under timed conditions. Two minutes per question is not enough time to learn — it's barely enough time to execute once a skill is already developed. So, it’s key to start with untimed practice focused on developing understanding and skill. Once we can get questions correct consistently, we can work on answering them fast.
10. Focusing on Accuracy
The GMAT rewards getting things right. High scorers train accordingly — prioritizing precision over pace and developing the habit of working super carefully rather than rushing at the cost of errors. A focus on accuracy is what builds the consistency high scores require. So, to score high, we have to be relentless about achieving very high accuracy on practice questions.
11. Addressing Weaker Areas One by One
High scorers don't avoid their weaknesses — they seek them out systematically. They track errors, identify patterns, and work through weaker areas methodically. Converting weaknesses into strengths is key.
12. Building on Strengths
It’s easy to get the impression that it makes sense to put minimal time into our stronger areas. For instance, someone scoring 84 on Verbal early in GMAT prep may decide to focus almost entirely on the other sections.
The truth is that a high section score can become an even higher score, and a strong score on one section can have a great effect on your total score. So, to score high, be sure to not only work on weaker areas but also build on your strengths.
13. High Quality Resources
The materials used in preparation have a direct impact on its quality. So, to score high, we need to be careful in choosing resources and do our best to find ones that are accurate and sufficiently comprehensive and teach things that will genuinely help in scoring high on the exam.
14. Positive Self-talk
High scorers are positive coaches to themselves. They keep their internal messaging encouraging rather than critical, especially when things are hard.
There are real correlations between negativity and stress, lack of progress, and even careless errors — it's difficult to perform well when you're beating yourself up. Conversely, consistently positive and encouraging self-talk sustains effort, supports clear thinking, and reinforces the belief that the goal is achievable.
For example, after missing a question, rather than say, “That was stupid,” we can say something more encouraging like “I almost got that one. I just have to execute a little better.”
15. Positive Mindset Overall
High scorers bring a fundamentally optimistic orientation to the process. When something doesn't click, they treat it as a problem to be solved rather than a source of frustration — asking What am I missing? What does this question actually require? They maintain perspective when things are hard, focus on what is going right, and approach the exam as something to be mastered rather than endured.
This mirrors Carol Dweck's research on growth mindset — students who welcomed challenges as opportunities consistently outperformed those who found setbacks discouraging.
It's also worth noting: if you hit a score ceiling, the issue isn't you — it's your preparation approach. There are always new strategies to try and adjustments to make, and high scorers understand that and keep looking until they find what works.
We can celebrate any little wins along the way to maintain momentum. In fact, I like to go beyond a glass-half-full attitude to a glass-10-percent-full attitude. In other words, any progress is a win that can be built upon.
Possibly the most extreme example of this attitude is my friend Dalal’s reaction when she scored in the 300s on her second GMAT after scoring in the 200s on her first. She was excited to have increased her score by 100 points. Taking that attitude toward her GMAT journey, she ended up increasing her score over 500 points to the upper 700s.
16. Some Enjoyment of the Process
People who score high tend to find at least some satisfaction in the puzzle-solving nature of the exam — in the challenge of a difficult question, in the progress that comes from systematic preparation. That doesn't mean that they love every minute of studying. It means they're not entirely miserable doing it, and that difference can make preparing and scoring high much easier.
17. Sheer Determination
This may be the most important success factor of all. What ultimately separates GMAT aspirants who reach their goals from those who fall short is the refusal to quit. At times when preparation gets hard, high scorers keep going. They bring that same determination to individual questions, staying with a problem until they've worked it through.
Psychologist Angela Duckworth's research found that, among students, teachers, military cadets, and others, the single strongest predictor of success wasn't IQ — it was grit. In GMAT preparation, that holds up. Determination is what makes all the other factors sustainable over time.
With effective approaches, the right mentality, and sheer determination, we can achieve great things.
Happy studying, and warm regards.
- Marty
1. Growth Mindset
High scorers believe they can develop their abilities with focused effort. They understand logically, even before seeing results, that effective preparation works. That conviction sustains them through difficult stretches and prevents them from seeing challenging moments as evidence of a ceiling that doesn't actually exist.
2. Understanding What the GMAT Actually Tests
The GMAT tests more than math and verbal knowledge. It tests skill in reasoning, noticing details, organizing thinking under pressure, allocating attention effectively, and executing with precision. So, to score high, we need to prepare with this broader understanding in mind, allowing it to shape both how we study and how we approach the exam itself.
3. Good Project Management
Managing the project well can make a big difference. For instance, doing some research on best practices before starting to prepare can be a game-changer. Also, being organized in going through topics, tracking progress, and adjusting based on what the data indicates are other aspects of good project management that lead to high GMAT scores.
4. Topic and Performance Driven Preparation
The most effective way to organize GMAT prep is to work through one topic at a time and let performance on practice questions determine readiness before moving on. This approach keeps preparation focused and also makes it manageable rather than overwhelming by breaking it down into a series of steps.
5. Thoroughness
It’s key to be thorough in every aspect of GMAT prep from understanding concepts to answering practice questions to filling skill gaps. Things like learning concepts from the ground up, revisiting topics as many times as necessary, and being ruthlessly honest with ourselves about whether we truly get something result in high scores.
6. Using Logic, Not Just Rules
Since the GMAT is a reasoning test, it’s essential to emphasize use of logic in preparing for it. Rules will get us only so far. To score high, we need to both learn the underlying logic of topics and get into the habit of seeing key aspects of the logic of what’s going on in the questions we encounter.
7. Using Sophisticated Thinking
The GMAT is a sophisticated exam and, accordingly, our scores on the test will correlate with the level of sophistication of the reasoning we use in answering the questions. Simplistic or gimmicky methods work for easy questions but not for hard ones. To score high, we have to get into the habit of using sophisticated and sometimes out-of-the-box reasoning that works across the full range of the challenges of the test.
8. Being Discerning
There is no shortage of GMAT advice, and some of it can be unhelpful or even misleading. Gimmicky strategies and ineffective preparation methods are genuine pitfalls that can result in time wasted on doing things that will never work. To score high and prepare efficiently, we have to be discerning about what guidance we follow and what resources we invest our time in.
9. Untimed Practice
One of the most consistent patterns I see in struggling students is that they have been doing all their practice under timed conditions. Two minutes per question is not enough time to learn — it's barely enough time to execute once a skill is already developed. So, it’s key to start with untimed practice focused on developing understanding and skill. Once we can get questions correct consistently, we can work on answering them fast.
10. Focusing on Accuracy
The GMAT rewards getting things right. High scorers train accordingly — prioritizing precision over pace and developing the habit of working super carefully rather than rushing at the cost of errors. A focus on accuracy is what builds the consistency high scores require. So, to score high, we have to be relentless about achieving very high accuracy on practice questions.
11. Addressing Weaker Areas One by One
High scorers don't avoid their weaknesses — they seek them out systematically. They track errors, identify patterns, and work through weaker areas methodically. Converting weaknesses into strengths is key.
12. Building on Strengths
It’s easy to get the impression that it makes sense to put minimal time into our stronger areas. For instance, someone scoring 84 on Verbal early in GMAT prep may decide to focus almost entirely on the other sections.
The truth is that a high section score can become an even higher score, and a strong score on one section can have a great effect on your total score. So, to score high, be sure to not only work on weaker areas but also build on your strengths.
13. High Quality Resources
The materials used in preparation have a direct impact on its quality. So, to score high, we need to be careful in choosing resources and do our best to find ones that are accurate and sufficiently comprehensive and teach things that will genuinely help in scoring high on the exam.
14. Positive Self-talk
High scorers are positive coaches to themselves. They keep their internal messaging encouraging rather than critical, especially when things are hard.
There are real correlations between negativity and stress, lack of progress, and even careless errors — it's difficult to perform well when you're beating yourself up. Conversely, consistently positive and encouraging self-talk sustains effort, supports clear thinking, and reinforces the belief that the goal is achievable.
For example, after missing a question, rather than say, “That was stupid,” we can say something more encouraging like “I almost got that one. I just have to execute a little better.”
15. Positive Mindset Overall
High scorers bring a fundamentally optimistic orientation to the process. When something doesn't click, they treat it as a problem to be solved rather than a source of frustration — asking What am I missing? What does this question actually require? They maintain perspective when things are hard, focus on what is going right, and approach the exam as something to be mastered rather than endured.
This mirrors Carol Dweck's research on growth mindset — students who welcomed challenges as opportunities consistently outperformed those who found setbacks discouraging.
It's also worth noting: if you hit a score ceiling, the issue isn't you — it's your preparation approach. There are always new strategies to try and adjustments to make, and high scorers understand that and keep looking until they find what works.
We can celebrate any little wins along the way to maintain momentum. In fact, I like to go beyond a glass-half-full attitude to a glass-10-percent-full attitude. In other words, any progress is a win that can be built upon.
Possibly the most extreme example of this attitude is my friend Dalal’s reaction when she scored in the 300s on her second GMAT after scoring in the 200s on her first. She was excited to have increased her score by 100 points. Taking that attitude toward her GMAT journey, she ended up increasing her score over 500 points to the upper 700s.
16. Some Enjoyment of the Process
People who score high tend to find at least some satisfaction in the puzzle-solving nature of the exam — in the challenge of a difficult question, in the progress that comes from systematic preparation. That doesn't mean that they love every minute of studying. It means they're not entirely miserable doing it, and that difference can make preparing and scoring high much easier.
17. Sheer Determination
This may be the most important success factor of all. What ultimately separates GMAT aspirants who reach their goals from those who fall short is the refusal to quit. At times when preparation gets hard, high scorers keep going. They bring that same determination to individual questions, staying with a problem until they've worked it through.
Psychologist Angela Duckworth's research found that, among students, teachers, military cadets, and others, the single strongest predictor of success wasn't IQ — it was grit. In GMAT preparation, that holds up. Determination is what makes all the other factors sustainable over time.
With effective approaches, the right mentality, and sheer determination, we can achieve great things.
Happy studying, and warm regards.
- Marty
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