GMAT advice from the EMPOWERgmat team
222 articles on GMAT strategy, study plans, pacing and the MBA application.
You CAN Cement Your Future With the Choices that YOU Make in 2016
We’re now through the first full week of 2016 and this is a time of year when many people look to define their goals for the coming 12 months. The start of any…
How to Pick Up Those Missing GMAT Points in the Next 4-6 Weeks
Many Test Takers give themselves several months to study for the GMAT, since that Test score is such a vital part of the application process. The GMAT score is…
3 Aspects of Test Day That You Probably Have NOT Trained For
The GMAT is a predictable, standardized Test, so Test Takers have the potential to properly learn the content that will appear on the Exam. Over the Course of…
Efficient GMAT Test-Taking Comes From Efficient GMAT Studies
Any time a looming application deadline approaches, you’re more likely to see a group of Test Takers scrambling to jam as much extra study time into their…
When You’re Stuck, Ask For Help (And Try To Do So In A TIMELY Fashion).
We are currently right in the middle of “GMAT Season” – that busy time of year (after most of the Round 1 deadlines have passed) when many GMATers are still…
Self-Analysis of Your GMAT Performance MUST Include Actual Analysis
Studying for the GMAT can be a challenging endeavor for many Test Takers. Arguably, one of the most common score goals for Test Takers (if not THE most common…
Anatomy of an OG Question: How ‘Brute Force’ Can Work Really Fast
The following article refers to the Problem Solving question #229 in the OG13, GMAT2015 and GMAT2016 books. You can view the question in its entirety here…
Big Factors in Why Verbal Scores Can Drop on Test Day
Recently, someone who is currently studying for the GMAT asked for my insights into why so many GMATers seem to experience a big drop in their Verbal Scaled…
Spot the 6 Major Problems With How This GMAT Test Taker Studied
Much like the article from October 9th, 2015, the following article is meant as a critical thinking ‘test’ – the following Test Taker made at least 6 different…
3 Reasons Why it’s Actually Advantageous to Apply For Round 2
The process of putting together a strong overall application involves a number of different ‘steps.’ However, many prospective MBA candidates come into the…
8 Common, Must-Avoid GMAT Prep Mistakes - Can You Spot Them ALL?
The following article is meant as a critical thinking ‘test’ – the following Test Taker made at least 6 different ‘mistakes’ with his/her studies before taking…
4 Silly Mistakes That Many GMATers Make on Test Day (And What YOU Should Actually Do Instead)
Test Day is an almost universal ‘event’ for most Test Takers. While you might hear the occasional ‘horror story’ about how something went wrong at the Testing…
Anatomy of a Quant Question: There’s More Than 1 Way to the Answer
One of the great aspects of most of the GMAT Quant questions that you’ll face on Test Day is that they can be approached in more than one way. You can always…
5 Important Factors in Planning Out Your GMAT Studies
September is the time of year when many people decide that an MBA is a degree that they would like to have. Unfortunately, they often rush head-first into the…
5 Factors to Consider About the Business Schools You Plan to Apply to
Over the years, I’ve seen many GMATers define their Business School plans in the following (overly-simplified) way: “I plan to apply to Top15 Schools...”…
The Economics of How You Choose to Prepare For (and Take) the GMAT
GMATers vary in their perspectives on the amount of money that they ‘think’ they should spend on the GMAT. If we ignore the broader costs (time, energy, the…
The One Thing That COULD Actually Kill Your Score During The Verbal Section
Many GMAT Test Takers view the percentiles (that are associated with the Quant and Verbal sections of the Test) with some confusion. Seeing that a Q40 is about…
One of the Toughest Choices You Will Have to Face On Test Day
To begin this article, I have to give you some bad news – you’re probably NOT going to get an 800 on the GMAT. Shocking news, I know – but if we pull together…
Anatomy of a Tough OG Graphing Question
Co-ordinate Geometry (often referred to as ‘graphing’) is a rare subject in the Quant section of the GMAT. On Test Day, you’ll likely see just 1 or 2 graphing…
The Top 7 Things About the GMAT That Actually Work in Your FAVOR
Anxiety is a big factor in how many Test Takers deal with the Official GMAT. It’s natural to be a bit ‘on edge’ while taking the GMAT, but it’s far better to…
The BIG Payout That Can Come Later From Investing in your GMAT Training NOW
In the realm of financial investing, it pays to invest early on. By doing so, the accumulated return over time can be staggering. There are plenty of online…
3 Advantages to Reviewing Questions That You ALREADY Answered Correctly
Almost without fail, the first questions that most Test Takers will look at after taking a CAT are the questions that were answered incorrectly. Reviewing…
The Challenge(s) That You Face in Your GMAT Prep are NOT That Complicated
Nearing the middle of July, many Test Takers are starting their GMAT prep (or are in the midst of it already) in anticipation of applying to Business School…
How to Get the Most Accurate Assessment From Your CATs
When it comes to studying for the GMAT, there are a variety of ways to approach the process. Regardless of how you might formulate your study plan, CATs are…