The Dominate Test Prep Podcast

This show is designed to take the guesswork out of preparing for your standardized test and equip you with practical how-to's for getting more right answers on test day, successfully navigating the admissions process, getting accepted to your dream school, and succeeding in the classroom. Our episodes deliver expert advice from the industry's top test prep instructors and admissions consultants as we endeavor to prepare you for success not only on test day, but also in your future profession and life beyond. Oh, and did we mention that we have a lot of fun? You will too, as we embark on this important next chapter of your education together. Thanks for listening!

72. Is Random or Block Practice Better for Test-Day Results?

What is the best way to practice for your standardized test? It seems like a simple and straightforward question, but in reality there are a lot of different ways to structure your study sessions. The two most effective are block training, where you focus on one topic at a time until you master it, and random training, where you work on multiple disciplines within the same practice session. Is one method more effective than the other for your test-day results? In this episode, Brett sheds lig...

06-30
20:35

71. GMAT, GRE, or EA for Business School?

When you're applying to business school, you will almost certainly have to take one of these standardized tests as part of the application process: the GMAT Exam, the GRE, or the Executive Assessment (EA). The question becomes, which one? In this conversation excerpted from Brett's recent appearance on MBA Waves, Brett breaks down the key differences between the three exams, explores which exam is best for which type of applicant, discusses the mindset you should adopt when starting to prepa...

11-19
01:00:23

70. Bye-Bye Logic Games: Preparing for the New-Look LSAT, with Dave Hall

June 2024 was the last LSAT with Logic Games. Love 'em or hate 'em, Logic Games were a huge part of the LSAT exam and a right of passage for many a law school candidate — and they are no more. RIP, Games. So what does this mean for you? What does the new version of the LSAT look like moving forward? How should you prepare for it? With Logic Games being replaced by a second Logical Reasoning section, how can you learn to love LR and get a great score on test day? We're joined by LSAT expert Da...

06-27
38:48

69. Psychometrics of the GMAT Focus Edition

On February 1, 2024, the “old” GMAT is going away and the new GMAT Focus Edition is the version of the business school entrance exam that MBA hopefuls will take as part of the admission process moving forward. In this episode we take a deep-dive look a the new GMAT exam from a psychometric standpoint, meaning the intellectual abilities and skills GMAT Focus tests and the psychological traits built into the makeup of the exam. Specifically, we analyze the GMAT Focus Edition on five fron...

01-22
44:07

68. Demystifying the New Digital SAT, with Mike Bergin

The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), the granddaddy of all standardized tests, is finally joining the digital age. International students have already been able to take the SAT on a computer; as of March 2024, the new Digital SAT will permanently replace pencil-and-paper exams worldwide. The SAT is evolving — and that's a good thing says Mike Bergin, President & Owner of Chariot Learning. Mike joins this episode to help us prepare for this brave new world of college admissions testing. W...

11-20
46:46

67. What to Look for in a Tutor, with Mark Skoskiewicz

There are a number of ways to prepare for your standardized test, one of which is to hire a tutor. Is going the tutoring route right for you? If so, how can you choose a tutor that’s the best fit for your particular learning style? In this episode we explore key aspects of effective tutoring with MyGuru founder Mark Skoskiewicz. Specifically, we discuss: The type of student tutoring is ideally suited forThe type of student who might be better off with a course, self-study, or another form of...

06-01
46:26

66. My MBA Journey as a Mother and International Student, with Yurany Hernandez

Getting an MBA is challenging under the best of circumstances. When you’re a mother of two, that adds an extra layer of complexity. And if you choose a business school in another country where classes are conducted in your non-native language? Well, some would say you’re a glutton for punishment! But that’s exactly the path that Yurany Hernandez chose — and she has found the experience to be incredibly rewarding. Yurany, who hails from Colombia and is finishing up her degree at NYU Stern Sc...

04-25
39:32

65. Initial Thoughts on the New GMAT Focus Edition, with Barbara Coward

Big changes are coming to the main standardized test you need to take when applying for an MBA, and we're here to break it down for you. Specifically, the GMAC announced that it will be replacing the GMAT, which has been the gold standard exam for students pursuing an advanced business degree for nearly 70 years, with a new version of the test called the GMAT Focus Edition. We're joined in this episode by Barbara Coward, founder of MBA 360 Admissions, to dissect this monumental news. Specific...

03-12
41:04

64. The Secret to Growing Past a Prep Plateau

It's common to hit a plateau as you're preparing for your standardized test. Your momentum stalls, your practice test scores stop going up, and no matter how much you keep studying, you don't seem to be making any progress. The key to getting un-stuck so that you can get off your prep plateau and continue growing toward your goals lies in the "Growth Formula" as laid out by Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness in Peak Performance. In this episode we dissect their formula and reveal what may just...

01-25
42:51

63. How Many Prep Resources are Too Many Prep Resources? [Mailbag]

It's easy to feel like more is better when it comes to preparing for your standardized test. More instructional videos. More practice problems. Another book. Another course. But the reality is that more is not always better on high-stakes exams, as it can lead to uncertainty -- and therefore wrong answers -- during the time pressure of test day. Instead, we explain in this episode why it's important to have "one voice" as you're learning the underlying content and test-taking strategies in ...

09-28
15:43

62. How to Read Faster Without Sacrificing Comprehension, with Bara Sapir

Performing well on your standardized test becomes a whole lot easier if you can read faster while retaining more of what you read. As guest Bara Sapir, developer of the MindFlow Speed Reading Program, explains, that's a skill that can be developed with improved technique and practice — and by letting go of some of the common "bad" reading habits that you've likely developed to this point in your academic journey. If you're eager to get a leg up on the reading comprehension portion of your ex...

08-29
38:15

61. Priorities if You're Short on Study Time [Mailbag]

It seems like there's never enough time to do all the things we want to in life. That can be especially true when it comes to preparing for your standardized test. You're busy: job, family, school, hobbies, etc. And yet, you need to carve out sufficient time to study effectively for your exam. But how? That's exactly the concern submitted by one of our students, Madeline, who wrote: "I am concerned about having enough time to study. I work full time (most weeks, more than 40 hrs a week)...an...

07-28
37:21

60. Why You Should Apply Round 1, with Linda Abraham

Graduate schools generally have more than one application deadline throughout the year, and when you apply often impacts your likelihood of being admitted. Indeed, it's more important than ever that you apply as early as possible in the admission cycle, according to Linda Abraham, founder of Accepted -- especially given the expected increase in application volume resulting from trends in the current economic landscape. In this episode, Linda elaborates on that thesis as we discuss: The disti...

06-28
30:09

59. Overcoming the Odds to Earn an MBA, with Darius Whitted

Darius Whitted was the first person in his family to go to college. Then, as if that weren't enough, he went on to earn his MBA from the Thomas School of Business at UNC Pembroke, graduating this Spring. Those accomplishments are impressive in their own right, to be sure. But what makes Darius's educational journey even more remarkable is that Darius has been paralyzed since the age of three. In this episode of The Dominate Test Prep Podcast, Darius shares his inspiring story of overcoming t...

05-26
27:45

58. Current Trends in Graduate Business Education, with Barbara Coward

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) recently released the results of its Prospective Students Survey 2022, a tool used to provide graduate business schools with critical insights into the decision-making processes of people currently considering applying to a graduate management education (GME) program. Many of the findings are valuable for applicants as well, as they shed light on current trends in the business school industry and paint a picture of the education landscape stude...

05-13
42:24

57. How to Prepare for the Executive Assessment

The Executive Assessment (EA) is different from other standardized tests in a number of important ways. As such, the way you need to prepare for the EA is distinct in several key respects as well. In this episode we highlight those unique aspects of the exam and lay out a game plan for preparing for the Executive Assessment, including: The "EA Success Triad" -- three interrelated components that are integral to studying effectively for the EA;Key differentiators between the Executive Assessme...

04-28
40:37

56. How to Use Practice Tests (and What to Avoid), with Vinay Narang

Love 'em or dread 'em, practice tests are an essential and invaluable part of preparing well for your standardized test. They reveal your strengths and weaknesses, help you hone your time management, get you comfortable with the testing experience, and so much more. Yes, practice tests are important -- but only if you use them correctly. In this episode of The Dominate Test Prep Podcast, we'll show you how. Joined by special guest Vinay Narang of GMAT Genius, we cover: The role that practice...

03-08
48:37

55. Key Differences Between the Executive Assessment and GMAT

Applying to business school? You'll likely need to take either the GMAT or Executive Assessment (EA) for admission. The two exams are similar in many ways, as the EA was developed by the same organization that created and administers the GMAT exam. But the EA and GMAT are also very different in several key ways -- and understanding those differences is crucial for you in deciding which exam to prepare for. In this episode we provide a brief history of each test so that you better understand ...

02-22
37:39

54. What to Do if You Get Stuck on a Question [Mailbag]

We've all been there: You're cruising along on your exam, slaying questions, feeling good, and then boom, you're presented with a question that you're not quite sure how to answer. Your mind goes blank. You can't figure out how to make inroads. You're stuck. So what do you do? You follow the 5-step game plan that we lay out in this episode to get unstuck on challenging questions. These tips and strategies won't guarantee that you'll get a right answer; some questions are just plain hard. Bu...

01-31
34:06

53. LSAT vs. GRE for Law School Admissions, with Dave Hall

The American Bar Association (ABA) made a major ruling earlier this month allowing law schools to accept the GRE in lieu of the LSAT for admissions decisions. While this opens the door to a larger potential applicant pool, there are a lot of factors you need to consider when determining whether to take the LSAT or GRE when applying to law school. To dissect this major announcement by the ABA and help you make the best decision possible for which standardized test to take, we're joined in th...

12-17
37:49

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