3 things to avoid when studying for the GMAT in 2025!

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In this video, I discuss the 3 things to avoid when studying for the GMAT focus exam in 2025!

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Script:

Mistake #1: Treating the GMAT Like a College Exam

Back in college, you probably got away with last-minute cramming and still pulled off decent grades. You could memorize formulas, regurgitate definitions, and grind through an all-nighter with a few gallons of coffee or energy drinks. But the GMAT is a completely different beast. It’s not about memorization—it’s about pattern recognition, logic, and problem-solving under intense pressure.

Here’s what makes it tricky: the GMAT is adaptive, meaning it adjusts the difficulty of your questions based on how well you’re doing. The better you perform, the harder it gets. That means brute-force studying won’t cut it. You can’t just memorize a bunch of formulas and expect to ace the Quant section. And you definitely can’t just ‘wing it’ with Verbal if you’re not naturally strong in that area.

The best scorers don’t just know the material; they understand how the test is designed. Instead of grinding through endless practice questions, focus on understanding why you’re getting questions wrong. For every mistake, ask yourself:

Mistake #2: Ignoring Your Weaknesses

Most people naturally want to stick with what they’re good at. If you have a finance background, you probably enjoy the Quant section and dread the Verbal. If you’re more of a writer, you might ace Reading Comprehension but struggle with Data Sufficiency. The problem? The GMAT is all about balance.

A perfect Quant score won’t save you if your Verbal drags your overall score down. And vice versa. Business schools don’t just look at one section—they evaluate your total score, and a weak area can bring down your percentile ranking dramatically.

So instead of dodging your weak spots, attack them early. If a certain section makes you break out in a cold sweat, put in the reps until you start seeing patterns.

One of the best ways to improve quickly is to focus on high-impact topics. In Quant, mastering Number Properties and Algebra will take you much further than spending weeks obsessing over Combinations and Permutations. In Verbal, improving your understanding of parallelism and modifier errors will give you more bang for your buck than worrying about obscure idioms. Prioritize the areas that will give you the biggest score jump.

Mistake #3: Burning Out Before Test Day

Finance people love to grind—we treat work, networking, and even studying like a 24/7 hustle. But here’s the problem: if you study for six months straight without a break, you’re setting yourself up for burnout. The GMAT isn’t just about how much you know—it’s about staying sharp under pressure.

I’ve seen too many people spend months drilling practice problems, only to crash and burn on test day because they were mentally exhausted. If you’re averaging a 720 on practice tests but get a 660 on the actual exam, that’s not a skill issue—it’s a burnout issue.

Smart GMAT prep is like training for a marathon:

You need high-intensity sessions mixed with recovery periods. You should practice under test-day conditions to build stamina. You have to manage stress and anxiety so you can perform when it counts.

Here’s what you should do:
Simulate the real test
Pace yourself
Get your timing down
Take care of yourself

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