All TTP Transformation Tuesday GMAT Tips at One Place

Question

No.  
 
   Topic  
 
   Link to Post

1. 
 
 Studying Fundamentals Is the Key to Building a Strong Foundation for GMAT Success 
  Post  
 
   2. 
 
 Imagine What You’re Reading in Movie Form or Create Mental “Snapshots” 
  Post   
 
   3. 
 
 Getting Excited About the GMAT Could Lead to a Higher Score! 
  Post  
 
   4. 
 
 Don't Let "Negative Nancys" Get in the Way of Your GMAT Preparation 
  Post  
 
   5. 
 
 The Daily Habit That Moves the Needle on GMAT Quant (Even on Tough Days) 
  Post  
 
   6. 
 
 Should You Invest More Time in the First 7 Questions in Each GMAT Section? 
  Post  
 
   7. 
 
 The Mistake That Keeps Holding Back GMAT Scores (And How to Fix It) 
  Post  
 
   8. 
 
 Why Skimming Verbal Question Stems Might Be Wrecking Your GMAT Score 
  Post  
 
   9. 
 
 Mastering GMAT Quant Takes More Work Than You Think, But It Pays Off 
  Post

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

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Studying Fundamentals Is the Key to Building a Strong Foundation for GMAT Success

We know that the GMAT is to a large extent a test of reasoning skill. However, it’s still the case that we need some fundamental knowledge to master the GMAT. So, a reason why people’s GMAT scores plateau is that they haven’t spent enough time learning fundamentals.

One reason why people don’t learn fundamentals when they study for the GMAT is that some GMAT resources don’t cover fundamentals in depth. Rather, such resources provide practice questions and explanations without discussing concepts. So, it’s easy to end up trying to master the GMAT by just answering a mix of practice questions.

Whatever the reason for not studying fundamentals, the outcome is that you get only so far. You may be able to answer easy questions or questions involving concepts you already know. However, when faced with questions you don’t have the fundamental knowledge to answer, you don’t make progress.

So, if your GMAT score isn’t improving, consider whether you’ve skipped the step of learning fundamentals or studied concepts only superficially or only in some areas.

The solution to the problem of not knowing fundamentals is to study fundamentals, and the way to do so is to work topic by topic. So, if you haven’t studied fundamentals, you could find a good GMAT prep resource, and start working on one topic at a time.

To master a topic, the best approach is to first learn the concepts involved in the topic. Then,learn strategies for the topic. Finally, practice applying the concepts and strategies by doing practice questions involving the topic.

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart 
Founder & CEO,  Target Test Prep

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

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Imagine What You’re Reading in Movie Form or Create Mental “Snapshots”

In many instances, it simply won’t be practical or feasible for GMAT material to include visual elements such as graphs and charts or videos and animations. Yet, you still need to be able to stay focused and assimilate text-based information.

For example, GMAT students often find it difficult to stay engaged with passages in Reading Comprehension or Critical Reasoning. Of course, engaging with what you’re reading in a passage is an essential part of mastering Critical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension.

Fortunately, you CAN make the experience of reading passages more visual, and thus more engaging, by picturing what you’re reading. Imagine what you’re reading unfolding as if it’s a movie you’re watching. This visualization process will help you be a more careful reader and better assimilate and connect the information.

Picturing described scenarios isn’t just for Verbal questions; it can also help you assimilate information in Quant word problems. Whatever you’re reading, whether it’s a practice question or lesson, try imagining it in movie form. You may be surprised at how much more easily you’re able to recall what you’ve read.

Alternatively, if you’re reading about something such as a formula, try to create a photograph of it in your mind. For example, say you just learned that rate = distance / time. Rather than merely reading that formula, look at it and create a mental “snapshot” of it. Later on, you can try to conjure up that snapshot in your mind.

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart 
Founder & CEO,  Target Test Prep

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

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Getting Excited About the GMAT Could Lead to a Higher Score!

Get excited about taking the GMAT – you might just earn a higher score. That’s right – get excited!

Research by Alison Wood Brooks, professor at Harvard Business School, supports the notion that simply by getting excited about a stressful task, one can improve one’s performance on that task.

According to Brooks, many people think that the best way to heighten their performance under stress is to try to calm themselves down. To the contrary, Brooks’ research uncovered something interesting: people who got excited about rather than tried to calm down before a stressful task actually performed better.

According to Brooks, this is the act of “reappraising anxiety as excitement.” She says: “Individuals can reappraise anxiety as excitement using minimal strategies such as self-talk (e.g., saying “I am excited” out loud) or simple messages (e.g., “get excited”), which lead them to feel more excited, adopt an opportunity mind-set (as opposed to a threat mind-set), and improve their subsequent performance.”

In  one experiment , Brooks looked at how reappraising anxiety as excitement helped graduate students perform better under strict time pressure on difficult math problems (sound familiar to anyone?). Before solving any problems, one group of students would say the phrase “try to remain calm” out loud, while the other would exclaim “try to get excited.” Interestingly, she found that the group of students instructed to say “try to get excited” performed significantly better than the group instructed to say the first phrase.

In  another experiment , Jeremy Jamieson, professor of psychology at the University of Rochester, studied college students preparing to take the GRE. Jamieson divided the students into two groups and had each group take a practice GRE exam. He told one of the groups about new research suggesting that stress could actually be helpful to exam performance.

In addition, he told the group that if they noticed themselves experiencing stress during the exam, they should remind themselves that the stress may actually be helping them to perform better. The other group, the control group, did not receive this pep talk. Jamieson found that the group that had received the pep talk scored higher on the practice GRE exam than did the control group.

About a month later, both groups of students took the official GRE exam. Jamieson then reviewed both groups’ official GRE performances by analyzing participants’ ETS score reports (the ETS writes and administers the GRE). He found that the group that had received the pep talk, just as in the practice exam experiment, performed significantly better on the quantitative section of the GRE than did the control group.

So what are the key takeaways? First, if you’re feeling stressed about taking the GMAT, it may help to tell yourself that what you’re feeling is actually excitement, not stress. Each time you sit down to practice solving GMAT problems, try say something like “I am excited about mastering these GMAT questions,” or “I’m pumped about studying for the GMAT,” or “I am excited about scoring high on the GMAT.” Whatever it is, find a mantra that works for you. Then use that same mantra prior to taking your actual GMAT.

Then, if you find yourself stressing out during the official GMAT, you can take a moment to remind yourself that the stress is quite likely working in your favor and ultimately helping to boost your final score.

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart 
Founder & CEO,  Target Test Prep

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

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Don't Let "Negative Nancys" Get in the Way of Your GMAT Preparation

It’s no secret that your GMAT score can significantly impact your MBA admissions prospects and even your long-term career opportunities. A good GMAT score can open doors to top business schools and, in some cases, even give you a competitive edge in the job market. With such high stakes, staying motivated should be a no-brainer. However, it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture—especially when surrounded by those who view GMAT prep as a pointless hurdle, but don’t let negativity cloud your focus.

In the process of studying for the GMAT, you may encounter a small yet vocal number of your peers disenchanted with the GMAT preparation process. You’ll see that they are angry and almost detest the idea of having to study for the GMAT. These people will say things such as, “I’m great at business, so why do I have to take the GMAT?” or “What does the GMAT even test?”

You’ll discover that these people have probably struggled with their GMAT preparation. They spend a lot of time complaining and not enough time preparing. Don’t let these people color your view of the situation and bring you down with them. In fact, you can use your motivation to perform well as a competitive advantage. If the competition is not motivated to study, and you are, you are more likely to succeed on the GMAT.

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart 
Founder & CEO,  Target Test Prep

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

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The Daily Habit That Moves the Needle on GMAT Quant (Even on Tough Days)

Let’s be honest — GMAT studying isn’t always fun. It takes time, energy, and a whole lot of discipline. And on some days, it’s tempting to prioritize everything except your prep. But here’s the reality: your daily level of commitment — even on the tough days — will bring you either closer to or further away from your GMAT goal.

To make sure you’re always moving in the right direction, don’t let too many days go by without touching GMAT Quant. Sure, if you’ve been studying hard for a few weeks, taking a well-earned day off makes sense. Just be careful not to let one day turn into two, or two into a week.

Even if you’re short on time or energy, do something. Review flashcards. Work through a 20-question mixed set. Re-watch a lesson video. Tackle just one tricky concept you’ve been avoiding. Ten solid minutes is better than nothing. What matters is keeping your momentum going — especially on the days when motivation feels low. Those are the days that build resilience and routine.

If you start thinking, “I’ll just skip today and make up for it tomorrow,” stop and ask yourself how often that plan actually works out. It’s much easier to stay consistent with short, manageable sessions than it is to try and play catch-up after a week off. Remember, consistency beats intensity over the long haul.

Keeping your GMAT prep front and center will help you stay on track for GMAT Quant success. And remember: the time and effort you put in now is an investment that will pay dividends for the rest of your life.

Reach out to me with any questions about your GMAT prep. Happy studying!

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart 
Founder & CEO,  Target Test Prep

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

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Should You Invest More Time in the First 7 Questions in Each GMAT Section?

Maybe at some point during your GMAT test prep, you heard that if you correctly answer the first 5-7 questions in each GMAT section, you automatically get a great score. Maybe you decided that this “secret weapon” would give your score that extra little boost it was missing. Maybe, as a result, you experienced a GMAT score drop.

Myths about the GMAT are never in short supply, but the myth of the first 7 questions is one with serious staying power. Unfortunately, overinvesting time in the first 7 questions of a GMAT section to better your chances of getting them correct can actually have a negative impact on your score.

For one thing, answering the first several questions correctly does not mean that the GMAT scoring algorithm will have you pegged as a “high scorer.” Furthermore, by spending extra time on those initial questions, you’ll likely end up rushing at the end of the section. You may even have to guess on several questions. Either of those scenarios could hurt your accuracy and your score.

So, even if at question 7 you had a very high score, by the time you reach the last question in the section (if you make it there), your score will have plummeted.

Are the first 7 questions of a section important? Sure. But all of the questions in a section are important. So, stick with a timing strategy that allows you to pace yourself methodically throughout a section. This approach gives you the best chance to correctly answer each question, not just the early questions.

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart 
Founder & CEO,  Target Test Prep

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

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The Mistake That Keeps Holding Back GMAT Scores (And How to Fix It)

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve spoken with GMAT students who asked me the question, “How do I improve my GMAT score?” yet were not following a structured study plan. Many of these students were using a few GMAT study books and practicing hundreds of random questions. They were hoping to master GMAT quant and verbal by simply reviewing the solutions to problems they had encountered. If that situation reminds you of something you’re currently doing, I have some news for you: your current study method is unlikely to result in an increase in your GMAT score.

Remember, there are hundreds of topics that you must be familiar with in order to perform well on the GMAT. It is impossible to learn so much information without following a well-structured study plan. For GMAT preparation, a linear, topic-by-topic approach is the most effective way to ensure that you master each GMAT topic. If you use such an approach, you won’t waste time practicing questions before you’ve mastered the fundamentals of the material.

So, the structure of your GMAT study plan should be to learn one topic at a time. Then, practice what you’ve learned by answering questions that are specific to that topic before moving on to the next topic in your study plan. Start with the fundamentals and work your way up to more advanced concepts. This method of study will be a game-changer for you.

Also, be careful not to confuse “doing a lot of GMAT work” with “doing the right kind of GMAT work.” Just because you're spending hours on prep doesn't mean you're making progress—especially if you're jumping from topic to topic without a plan. A structured approach keeps your study time focused and purposeful. It helps you build a solid foundation and then layer more advanced skills on top of it, which is what leads to meaningful score gains. So, if you’re serious about improving your GMAT score, commit to a plan that emphasizes structure, progression, and mastery.

Reach out to me with any questions about your GMAT prep. Happy studying!

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart 
Founder & CEO,  Target Test Prep

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

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Why Skimming Verbal Question Stems Might Be Wrecking Your GMAT Score

Do yourself a favor and always read each Verbal question stem fully and carefully. It’s easy to tell yourself that you’ve seen this type of question before and you “know what it’s asking.” But here’s the thing: you’re not actually saving time by skimming. More often than not, you’re setting yourself up for confusion, second-guessing, or falling into a trap the GMAT writers laid specifically for hasty test-takers.

In fact, rushing through the question stem often leads to a  double loss : you not only waste time trying to make sense of something you didn’t fully read, but you may also end up selecting a wrong answer and hurting your score. It’s a false economy—what feels like speed is just sloppiness in disguise.

And even if you think you’ve trained yourself not to rush during practice, don’t underestimate the test-day pressure. Maybe the clock is ticking louder than usual. Maybe nerves are creeping in. Maybe you get overconfident halfway through and start cutting corners without realizing it. Any of these can cause even strong test-takers to slip into bad habits.

So make it a point—every time—to slow down just enough to fully understand what the question is asking. Read it. Process it. Then proceed. If rushing through stems is one of your weaknesses, tackling it head-on could easily mean the difference between a good Verbal score and a great one.

Reach out to me with any questions about your GMAT prep. Happy studying!

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart 
Founder & CEO,  Target Test Prep

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

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Mastering GMAT Quant Takes More Work Than You Think, But It Pays Off

One of the most common miscalculations GMAT students make is underestimating the amount of work required to truly master the Quant section. The truth is, the workload is often two to three times what people expect going in.

That may sound like a lot, but it also reveals something important. GMAT Quant is not some unsolvable mystery. It is a skill that responds directly to the effort you put in. If other test takers are studying for 100 hours, and you study for 200 hours, you will almost certainly become much more proficient. If others are spending 200 hours, and you put in 300, you will have a meaningful edge. In this way, you can outwork the competition and, as a result, outscore them.

This idea is backed by science. Research shows that cognitive training has a dose-dependent effect. That means the more training you do, the greater your gains in reasoning ability, learning capacity, and problem-solving. In simple terms, effort matters. Not just in a vague motivational sense, but in a measurable, practical one.

So, when you see someone scoring in the top percentiles on GMAT Quant, you are not seeing a naturally gifted math genius. You are seeing someone who trained more, studied longer, and built stronger math skills. The result you want on test day will be a reflection of the hours you’ve put in. No more, no less.

Reach out to me with any questions about your GMAT prep. Happy studying!

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart 
Founder & CEO,  Target Test Prep

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All TTP Transformation Tuesday GMAT Tips at One Place

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No.	Topic	Link to Post
1.	Studying Fundamentals Is the Key to Building a Strong Foundation for GMAT Success	Post
2.	Imagine What You’re Reading in Movie Form or Create Mental “Snapshots”	Post
3.	Getting Excited About the GMAT Could Lead to a Higher Score!	Post
4.	Don't Let "Negative Nancys" Get in the Way of Your GMAT Preparation	Post
5.	The Daily Habit That Moves the Needle on GMAT Quant (Even on Tough Days)	Post
6.	Should You Invest More Time in the First 7 Questions in Each GMAT Section?	Post
7.	The Mistake That Keeps Holding Back GMAT Scores (And How to Fix It)	Post
8.	Why Skimming Verbal Question Stems Might Be Wrecking Your GMAT Score	Post
9.	Mastering GMAT Quant Takes More Work Than You Think, But It Pays Off	Post