Right GMAT answers are all alike; every wrong answer is wrong in its own way.

With apologies to both Tolstoy and MPrep instructor Ceilidh Erickson, from whom I borrowed that analogy: let’s have a chat about getting GMAT problems wrong. It’s not just about careless errors and forgotten formulas! Read more

A GMAT gremlin is an imaginary creature that gives you terrible advice. Read more

In the first article in this series, we started looking at the big picture of GMAT Verbal. Is there any point to studying Verbal? Is there any way to know which answers are really right, given that language is so much more subjective than math? Read more

Students sometimes tell me that studying GMAT Verbal feels a little pointless. After all, isn’t it true that you either “know it or you don’t”? As it turns out, that’s not really true—although the GMAT definitely tries to make it seem that way! Read more

GMAT Quant might be frustrating, but at least there are rules! Verbal, on the other hand… well, I’ve had some arguments with the GMAT over what the right answer to a GMAT Verbal problem should be. You probably have, too. Or, you’ve wondered what makes this Verbal answer choice “more right” than that Verbal answer choice. After a lot of years and a lot of GMAT Verbal problems, here are my thoughts. Read more

When you think about studying for the GMAT, how do you feel? Determined, excited, and curious? Or anxious, exhausted, and resentful? Do you avoid studying, then beat yourself up over it later? Are you getting less and less out of each study session? Are your practice test scores in a downwards spiral? You might be struggling with GMAT burnout. Read more

The GMAT will never lie to you. But, it doesn’t always tell you what you really want to know. The GMAT is a little bit like my friend in this exchange:

Me: “What do you think of this outfit?”

My friend: “Well, it’s very… creative.” Read more

GMAT Critical Reasoning is repetitive. The arguments in GMAT Critical Reasoning problems might be dressed up differently—one is about local politics, another is about business—but, under the surface, the arguments use the same tricks over and over again. If you learn to spot these tricks, you’ll also learn to spot the right answer. (You’ll also start poking holes in every argument you hear, which is a great way to make new friends.) Read more

Over the last two articles, I analyzed what we know about missing GMAT Quant questions and missing GMAT Verbal questions. As it turns out, you can miss a lot of questions on the GMAT. Getting a lot of wrong answers doesn’t guarantee you a bad score—and getting a lot of right answers doesn’t guarantee you a good score. Read more

In this series of articles, we’re trying to answer an age-old question: “How many questions can I miss on the GMAT?” If you missed the introduction to this project, or the data on missing Quant questions, check out this article first! On the Quant section, you can miss a lot of questions and still get a fantastic score. But is that true for GMAT Verbal questions as well? Read on to find out. Read more