Practice tests are an essential part of GMAT prep—but are you using them the right way?
In Week 5 of our Summer Prep Series, GMAC Zach is joined once again by GMAT expert Hailey Cusimano to explore how candidates can make the transition from learning GMAT concepts to performing under test-like conditions.
They discuss why a practice test should be treated as data rather than a verdict on your readiness, when to start taking official practice exams, and how to practice pacing without burning through your limited supply of full-length tests. Hailey also breaks down some of the most common pacing mistakes—including obsessing over a two-minute-per-question benchmark, spending too much time on difficult questions, and unnecessarily double-checking questions you've already solved efficiently.
Plus, Zach and Hailey dig into the mental side of the GMAT: how momentum can affect your performance, why trying to predict the scoring algorithm can work against you, and how deliberately introducing manageable stress into your practice can make test day feel more familiar.
And if you're following the series, get a practice test ready: next week, Zach and Hailey will walk through how to actually review one.
About Hailey:
Hailey Cusimano is a 99th-percentile performer and a self-proclaimed standardized test nerd. Drawing from her years of experience as an instructor, she knows how to assess students' main obstacles and strategize accordingly, maximizing efficiency in short study windows. Plus, her enthusiasm is infectious, and most students find studying with Hailey actually becomes—dare we say—fun.
Helpful Resources:
Menlo Coaching: https://menlocoaching.com/
Register for the GMAT: https://www.mba.com/exams/gmat-exam/register
5 Traits of Successful GMAT Test Takers: https://tinyurl.com/insidethegmat
Purchase GMAT Official Prep: https://www.mba.com/exams/executive-assessment/prepare
Key Takeaways:
- Your practice test is data—not a verdict. A practice test isn't simply there to tell you whether you're "ready." It can reveal how you behave under pressure, where your pacing breaks down, what strategies survive under time constraints, and where your prep should go next.
- Don't wait until you feel 100% ready. Waiting for near-perfect accuracy before taking a practice exam can leave you "treading water." Once you've built a reasonable foundation and can learn constructively from your mistakes, practice tests themselves should become part of the learning process.
- Pacing does not mean spending two minutes on every question. Different questions deserve different amounts of time. Instead of constantly calculating your time per question, Hailey recommends thinking more broadly about high-value versus low-value time across the section.
- One difficult question can create a pacing snowball. Spending three or more minutes fighting with one problem may not just hurt you on that question—it can force you to rush several questions afterward. Recognizing sunk-cost thinking and knowing when additional time is no longer adding value are critical GMAT skills.
- Structure gives you something to fall back on under pressure. You can't eliminate every stressful moment from the GMAT. You can develop question-solving routines, pacing checkpoints, contingency plans, and even a consistent pre-test routine so your brain has something familiar to rely on when stress arrives.
- Stop trying to figure out how well you're doing during the exam. The apparent difficulty of the questions you see isn't a reliable way to judge your performance. Hailey has seen candidates mentally give up on sections they later discovered were among their strongest performances. Your job is the question in front of you—not reverse-engineering the scoring algorithm.
- Practice being imperfect. You can miss questions and still perform extremely well. Aiming to feel 100% confident about every answer can actually hurt performance if it causes you to overinvest time. Even strong candidates should have strategies for making a thoughtful, educated guess when necessary.
Chapters:
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and episode overview
02:54 Contextualizing practice test data
05:46 Balancing confidence and pacing in practice tests
09:07 The importance of review and reflection
12:14 The mental game: stress and momentum
14:56 Practical tips for consistent practice habits
18:08 Overcoming perfectionism and all-or-nothing mindset
21:07 Benchmarking and adjusting pacing strategies
23:56 The value of review and reflection
27:11 Understanding and managing the scoring algorithm
30:04 Preparing mentally for test day challenges
31:02 The importance of a structured routine
31:52 Handling the mental game and stress management
33:05 Avoiding all-or-nothing thinking in pacing
34:01 Using review to inform pacing adjustments
34:55 The role of contingency plans in test strategy
35:49 Common mistakes and how to correct them
36:49 The importance of resilience and grit
38:11 Final tips for test day readiness
38:51 Upcoming episode preview and closing remarks
