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AP U.S. History Stress Management

You can beat anxiety the same way you can beat the AP U.S. History exam—by knowing what to expect beforehand and developing strategies to deal with it.   Take a few minutes to think about what your sources of test-related stress are. The idea is to pin down any sources of anxiety so you can deal […]

GMAT Quantitative: Ratios and Proportions

A ratio is both a comparison and division, and can simply be treated as such. “The ratio of boys to girls is seven to two” can be expressed as the proportion: B/G = 7/2. Do with this what you like: 7G = 2B or B = 7G/2, whatever. Forget the “:” with ratios. GMAT writers […]

GMAT Verbal Study Plan for Non-Native Speakers

By far, the easiest and fastest way to learn English is to be a tiny baby growing up in an English-speaking environment. If you are reading this article, though, you are no longer in a position to take advantage of that opportunity, and will have to improve your English the hard way: practice. Not all […]

GMAT Sentence Correction: Choosing Between Similar Words

A common point of confusion among those studying for the GMAT—as well as the general writing public—is the difference between several sets of similar but different words (that vs. which, if vs. whether, between vs. among, like vs. as). Knowing which of these words to use in a given situation can often allow you to eliminate a […]

GMAT Quantitative: Solving Linear Equations with Unknowns

A linear equation is any equation where the highest power of the unknown, which I shall call x, is 1.  To illustrate more clearly with a few examples: x+1 = 4 10x = 3 x = 18 – 4x x2 + 2 = 2x and x3 = 8 are not linear equations because there are […]

GMAT Reading Comprehension: 4 Steps for Supporting Ideas Questions

Supporting idea questions ask about details directly stated in the passage. You can identify them because they will refer to only one part of the passage. These questions are different from main idea questions because supporting ideas questions ask about the points the author makes within the passage and do not ask about the passage as […]

3 Steps for GMAT Reading Comprehension New Situation Questions

Sometimes RC questions will ask you to take part of the passage and analogize it to a completely different situation. These questions are somewhat similar to Application questions. Improve your test scores in RC by following these three easy steps for this question type!   Let’s look at an example question: We can tell this […]

How to Use a Passage Map for GMAT Reading Comprehension

The first step of the Kaplan Reading Comprehension Method is to read the passage strategically. Kaplan students know that part of strategic reading is making notes as you move through the passage; this passage map is your guide through the passage.   In the map, note the purpose of each paragraph. What function does it serve? Why did […]

GMAT Quantitative: Distance and Rate Practice

This type of GMAT test question sounds like the beginning of a joke but leaves most students groaning in front of their computers: “A train leaves the station at 4:53am going east at 60mph. A second train….” These word problems are often long, confusingly worded, and just plain boring. The intimidation factor comes from not […]

GMAT Sentence Correction: Nouns

In every Sentence Correction question there will be at least one noun. You have been learning the basics of grammar and nouns since elementary school, but it never hurts to review. Let’s look at several different types of nouns you will encounter on the GMAT and how to correctly answer Sentence Correction questions when those […]