Invest 30 seconds...
...for what may lead to a life altering association!
Help Line
- +91.8800.2828.00 (IND)
- 1030-1830 Hrs IST, Mon-Sat
- support@expertsglobal.com
Test-taking discipline is just as important as concept clarity when it comes to performing well on the GMAT. Many students focus only on academic preparation but forget that the GMAT is a test of both knowledge and strategy. The following video highlights vital aspects such as handling the first ten questions with care, knowing when to move on from a problem, and understanding that a difficult test is often a positive sign. To make the most of your GMAT preparation, it is important to develop a sound test taking strategy for the GMAT. In this article, we discuss some useful tips that can assist you in navigating the GMAT exam day, smoothly.
Remember that GMAT is an adaptive test, which means that the difficulty of the questions you receive in a section depends on how you perform on that section. If you get the first few questions incorrect, the algorithm starts giving easier questions to you, and it then becomes difficult to lift your score on that section through such easy questions. Every question matters on the GMAT, but the first few questions matter a little more for setting the difficulty level. Therefore, tell yourself that you will try your best to do well in the first few questions of every section.
At the same time, you must also understand that when you perform well in the first few questions, you will receive more difficult questions later in the section. To tackle those difficult questions properly, you need adequate time. Therefore, while it is important to score well in the first few questions, it is equally important to avoid overspending time on them, so that you have enough time left to handle the later, more difficult questions in the section.
At the start of the actual GMAT, the exam may feel a bit more difficult or even slightly different from what you experienced during practice. This is absolutely normal. Often, it simply means that you are doing well and the GMAT’s algorithm is throwing difficult questions at you. Else, it may be the exam stress, the butterflies that come with a high stakes test. In such moments, tell yourself to just hang in there, keep doing your bit, and trust your preparation. Take the exam one question at a time, without trying to judge the overall difficulty or your performance. Gradually, you will feel more settled, your mind will steady, and the test will start feeling normal to you. Once you slip into that familiar rhythm, the exam will begin to resemble the many GMAT practice tests that you have already handled!
While you are on the test, it is important to avoid examining how well you are doing. Refrain from this analysis entirely. In fact, remind yourself to avoid such thinking even during the breaks. This type of self assessment does not lead to any meaningful gains and may only increase stress, which can quietly affect your performance in the later parts of the exam. The correct approach is to treat the GMAT as a sequence of individual tasks. Take the test one question at a time and focus on giving your best to the problem in front of you. As you keep moving with this steady mindset, you will find that all the pieces come together. Question by question, section by section, your efforts will accumulate into a strong overall performance, without the distraction of constant self evaluation.
You will often hear stories about how a difficult reading comprehension set or a multi source reasoning set ruined a friend’s overall GMAT score. You must ensure that you do not let this happen to yourself. On any question, if you have spent more than two minutes and are still unsure, it is time to make an educated guess, mark the question for review, and move on. Do not get trapped in the sunken cost fallacy. Remember that you can score well on the GMAT despite getting a few questions incorrect. However, you must make sure that you complete every section and are able to give every question a fair attempt, because many easier questions ahead in the section are waiting for you. Besides, remember that on the GMAT, the penalty for not completing a section is steep. Remember that on the GMAT, you can score well, even in the 100th percentile, despite getting a few questions incorrect.
On the GMAT, it is important to remember that the penalty for leaving any questions unattempted is more steep than the penalty for getting them incorrect. This single fact makes the completion of every section absolutely essential. You must approach each section with the clear intention of reaching the final question and ensuring that no item is left unanswered. If you find yourself running short of time despite trying your best throughout the section, the wiser approach is to use the last few moments to make educated guesses on the remaining questions. Even if those guesses turn out to be incorrect, the resulting penalty will still be significantly lighter than what you would face for leaving questions unattempted. The GMAT scoring structure rewards completeness, and your strategy must reflect that reality.
The discipline you build while learning to take the GMAT well is the same discipline that strengthens every step that follows, whether it is your GMAT practice, MBA applications process, or the demands of an intense business school classroom. There will always be moments when a question feels unfamiliar, when time seems short, or when self doubt begins to whisper. In those moments, the habits you cultivate here matter. You learn to breathe, to focus on the next step, to trust your preparation, and to keep moving with a steady mind. The MBA admissions process will ask for the same clarity and calm, and life will present its own versions of high pressure sections where you can only do your best and move forward. If you can stay centered through the rhythm of this exam, you are already learning how to navigate larger challenges with purpose and composure.
