Five Essential GMAT Study Tips. If you're planning  to get an MBA, the first thing you'll need to do  
Five Essential GMAT Study Tips. If you're planning  to get an MBA, the first thing you'll need to do  

is beat the GMAT. This is a challenging hoop  to jump through. But the GMAT can be beaten.  
is beat the GMAT. This is a challenging hoop  to jump through. But the GMAT can be beaten.  

And studying well for the GMAT will not only  help you get a top score - it'll also help you  
And studying well for the GMAT will not only  help you get a top score - it'll also help you  

build valuable skills for your future business  studies. So what do you need to succeed on the GMAT?  
build valuable skills for your future business  studies. So what do you need to succeed on the GMAT?  

Here are 5 tips and tricks that can help  you on test day and beyond. Study Tip One:   
Here are 5 tips and tricks that can help  you on test day and beyond. Study Tip One:   

Use Official Prep Materials. Test prep  materials from the makers of the exam -  
Use Official Prep Materials. Test prep  materials from the makers of the exam -  

the Graduate Management Admission Council are  absolutely essential to successful GMAT prep.  
the Graduate Management Admission Council are  absolutely essential to successful GMAT prep.  

These official materials are must-haves for  your GMAT prep because the exam has a highly  
These official materials are must-haves for  your GMAT prep because the exam has a highly  

specific, frequently updated format. No other  third-party source of GMAT prep is guaranteed to  
specific, frequently updated format. No other  third-party source of GMAT prep is guaranteed to  

capture the feel of the real exam as completely as  materials from the actual makers of the test. GMAC  
capture the feel of the real exam as completely as  materials from the actual makers of the test. GMAC  

offers official materials through its test prep  website, MBA.com. Official prep resources include  
offers official materials through its test prep  website, MBA.com. Official prep resources include  

GMAT's free question sets for Verbal, Quantitative,  Integrated Reasoning, and its official AWA practice  
GMAT's free question sets for Verbal, Quantitative,  Integrated Reasoning, and its official AWA practice  

web page. You'll also want to purchase the latest  edition of the GMAT official guides and other  
web page. You'll also want to purchase the latest  edition of the GMAT official guides and other  

official prep materials offered by GMAC. Study  Tip Number Two: Choose Unofficial Prep Materials  
official prep materials offered by GMAC. Study  Tip Number Two: Choose Unofficial Prep Materials  

by comparing them to the real thing. The more  steady resources you have for GMAT preparation,  
by comparing them to the real thing. The more  steady resources you have for GMAT preparation,  

the better. So you'll definitely want to use some  third-party GMAT content. But be a smart consumer  
the better. So you'll definitely want to use some  third-party GMAT content. But be a smart consumer  

there are many GMAT prep materials out there  offered through numerous publishers and websites.  
there are many GMAT prep materials out there  offered through numerous publishers and websites.  

You should only use non-GMAC materials that  measure up well to the real exam. If you're having  
You should only use non-GMAC materials that  measure up well to the real exam. If you're having  

trouble determining whether an outside resource is  true to the exam itself, check out reviews of prep  
trouble determining whether an outside resource is  true to the exam itself, check out reviews of prep  

books and websites (like the ones we have on the  Magoosh blog), and consult forums such as GMAT Club  
books and websites (like the ones we have on the  Magoosh blog), and consult forums such as GMAT Club  

and the Beat the GMAT Forums. Study Tip Three: Watch  The Clock. Pacing is very important on the GMAT,  
and the Beat the GMAT Forums. Study Tip Three: Watch  The Clock. Pacing is very important on the GMAT,  

When you sit for the test you'll be given many  rigorous, demanding, multi-step academic tasks  
When you sit for the test you'll be given many  rigorous, demanding, multi-step academic tasks  

and a limited amount of time to do them. Learning  the content of the exam is very important, but  
and a limited amount of time to do them. Learning  the content of the exam is very important, but  

it's only half the battle. If you develop the math,  verbal, writing, and reasoning skills you need on  
it's only half the battle. If you develop the math,  verbal, writing, and reasoning skills you need on  

the test but don't learn how to use these skills  quickly, you'll still find yourself missing a lot  
the test but don't learn how to use these skills  quickly, you'll still find yourself missing a lot  

of questions for lack of time. So include plenty  of pacing practice as part of your overall test  
of questions for lack of time. So include plenty  of pacing practice as part of your overall test  

prep. Study Tip Four: Train Yourself to do things in  your head. Mental math is very important to pacing  
prep. Study Tip Four: Train Yourself to do things in  your head. Mental math is very important to pacing  

and accuracy on the exam's Quantitative and  Integrated Reasoning sections. And really,  
and accuracy on the exam's Quantitative and  Integrated Reasoning sections. And really,  

this kind of mind-work is really important as you  practice for every section of the exam. For Verbal,  
this kind of mind-work is really important as you  practice for every section of the exam. For Verbal,  

learn to read with minimal note-taking. Note-taking  is important, but overly heavy note-taking can slow  
learn to read with minimal note-taking. Note-taking  is important, but overly heavy note-taking can slow  

you down and even distract you. And for AWA, focus  on ways to simplify your pre-writing. The more you  
you down and even distract you. And for AWA, focus  on ways to simplify your pre-writing. The more you  

can hold your essay in your mind, the quicker  you'll be able to start typing your AWA essay  
can hold your essay in your mind, the quicker  you'll be able to start typing your AWA essay  

into the exam computer. Do not rely on heavy notes  and elaborate outlines as you practice for the AWA.  
into the exam computer. Do not rely on heavy notes  and elaborate outlines as you practice for the AWA.  

Study Tip 5: Practice Visual Literacy. The  ability to read symbols, graphs, tables,  
Study Tip 5: Practice Visual Literacy. The  ability to read symbols, graphs, tables,  

and charts is called "visual literacy". And this kind  of reading ability is very important to the GMAT.  
and charts is called "visual literacy". And this kind  of reading ability is very important to the GMAT.  

In GMAT Quant, you'll be expected to read  geometric figures, coordinate plane plots,  
In GMAT Quant, you'll be expected to read  geometric figures, coordinate plane plots,  

and interpret other math graphics with ease.  And you'll need to be comfortable using both  
and interpret other math graphics with ease.  And you'll need to be comfortable using both  

established notational symbols for advanced math  and strange symbols created just for the exam. Also  
established notational symbols for advanced math  and strange symbols created just for the exam. Also  

remember that GMAT Integrated Reasoning requires  an even higher level of visual literacy than math.  
remember that GMAT Integrated Reasoning requires  an even higher level of visual literacy than math.  

In the IR section, you'll need to simultaneously  look through multiple complex charts and tables  
In the IR section, you'll need to simultaneously  look through multiple complex charts and tables  

to gather data. So be sure to really practice  visual literacy skills during your GMAT prep.  
to gather data. So be sure to really practice  visual literacy skills during your GMAT prep.  

Time yourself to see how quickly you can read,  interpret and extract answers from visuals in  
Time yourself to see how quickly you can read,  interpret and extract answers from visuals in  

GMAT Quants and Integrated Reasoning.  And try to have fun with visuals too--   
GMAT Quants and Integrated Reasoning.  And try to have fun with visuals too--   

peruse infographic websites like Information  Is Beautiful. Take some time to really play with  
peruse infographic websites like Information  Is Beautiful. Take some time to really play with  

visual literacy too- the GMAT makes up its own  imaginary math symbols, and you should too. Think  
visual literacy too- the GMAT makes up its own  imaginary math symbols, and you should too. Think  

of a particular math function that doesn't have  a symbol and invent one for it, applying the new  
of a particular math function that doesn't have  a symbol and invent one for it, applying the new  

symbol to practice equations, that you come up with  on your own. If you're feeling really ambitious you  
symbol to practice equations, that you come up with  on your own. If you're feeling really ambitious you  

can even make your own coordinate plane graphs and  geometric figures. Those are our top 5 essential  
can even make your own coordinate plane graphs and  geometric figures. Those are our top 5 essential  

GMAT study tips! Don't forget to like, comment,  and subscribe for more GMAT prep tips and advice.
GMAT study tips! Don't forget to like, comment,  and subscribe for more GMAT prep tips and advice.