Want to achieve your dream GMAT score? Here are 5 ways to make that goal a reality.

1. Target your weaknesses but reinforce your strengths.

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” -Aristotle

If you’ve taken the GMAT before, make sure you’re not just going through the motions with your studying. Target your weaknesses for the most efficient score increase. If you are performing well in Reading Comprehension but having trouble with Data Sufficiency, for instance, focus primarily on Data Sufficiency (while periodically reviewing reading comprehension). If you are having trouble with Reading Comprehension, study strategies that help you determine the main idea, purpose, attitude, and structure of whatever article you are given.

The harder you concentrate on your weaknesses, the faster you will see tangible improvement. At the same time, remember to keep the big picture in mind: harness your strengths and maintain your mastery of areas in which you excel. Confidence is another important factor: if you are able to answer several questions correctly in a row, it will decrease your stress level during the exam.

2. Get at the root of the problem.

If you are getting almost every question wrong for a specific question type, try going back to the basics. Review underlying question patterns and trap answer choices, then clear your head and take a break. This way, you’ll return to the question type with new knowledge and renewed energy. Be sure to take the time to read each question carefully; you may be surprised at the extent to which mistakes can be avoided by truly understanding what each question is asking.

You can learn quick tricks to help increase your score, but these strategies will be most effective when combined with long-term study. To improve your verbal score, for instance, it may be helpful to start reading high-caliber magazines. To improve your quantitative ability, begin by re-familiarizing yourself with the fundamentals: number properties, basic geometry, arithmetic, and algebra. You may not see results immediately, but short-cuts (which are crucial if you want to have enough time to complete the exam) often involve a familiarity with numbers that can be cultivated over a long period.

3. Improve your endurance.

A week or two before the exam, consider taking three or four practice CATs to gain familiarity with the feel of the exam. This will help acclimate you to the level of mental and physical endurance required. Also don’t blow off the AWA section during your practice CATs; even if you find writing easy, the section adds an extra hour to the exam, which might erode your concentration if you don’t account for it during practice.

4. Improve your pacing.

Try to get a sense of your pacing and timing across different sections–Critical Reasoning, Sentence Correction, Reading Comprehension, Data Sufficiency, Problem Solving. If you’re spending 2 minutes per question in Data Sufficiency, for instance, study short-cuts and move more quickly through these questions. If you’re getting early, easy questions wrong due to carelessness, read these questions more carefully and stay attuned to details.

5. Don’t expect the “perfect” test.

However much you prepare, there may still be something unexpected about the questions you encounter. To avoid getting stumped, make sure you understand concepts when tested at the most basic level and recognize these same concepts in more sophisticated situations that require multiple steps and complex reasoning. This way, you will not be fazed if you encounter a variation on the familiar. Also know that you do not have to answer every single question correctly even to score an 800; the test will increase in difficulty the better you perform, so expect it to feel like an “uphill” climb.

If all your GMAT prep so far has consisted of drills — Data Sufficiency drills, Sentence Correction drills, Problem Solving drills — then it’s time to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Yes, drills can help improve your skills, but if you want to reach your goal score as efficiently as possible, you should also be looking at your timing and general strategy.

Check out these 6 timing and strategy tips guaranteed to jump-start your GMAT prep.

1. Don’t double check–just move on if you know you’re right.

Question difficulty can rise steeply, so you will need all the time you can get near the end. This means you should not waste any time confirming and double-checking your answers if you’re 95% sure about a choice. To the extent that you can minimize lengthy work on your scratch-paper, you’ll be able to shave key seconds off of your performance which could make the difference between seeing and not seeing the last two or three questions.

2. Look for short-cuts, but only on math!

Short-cuts are crucial if you want to have enough time to complete the entire exam, and they often involve a familiarity with numbers that can be cultivated over a long period. So develop a common sense about numbers and learn how to estimate answers without using arithmetic. Also learn how to plug-in values to test out answer choices and how to eliminate choices that are obviously wrong.

3. Read actively.

Although GMAT passages are seldom longer than 400 words each, they can feel longer because of obscure subject matter, convoluted syntax, compressed organization, and hard vocabulary. The key is to understand these challenges and expect to encounter them. Expect that you’ll be asked about MAPS, the “main idea,” “attitude of the author,” “purpose of the passage,” and “structure” of the passage. While you read, make note of anything which seems relevant to these areas, as this will make the questions easier for you to answer later. Do not try to memorize all the facts and details that are presented to you; instead, focus on understanding the conceptual skeleton of the passage and how ideas relate to each other logically.

4. Don’t take short-cuts in Critical Reasoning and Sentence Correction.

Certain test sections like CR and SC do not lend themselves well to short-cuts and skimming. You should approach these problems with an active, critical eye. You can’t trust your intuition with Critical Reasoning (it’s called “critical” for a reason) just as you can’t always trust your ear with Sentence Correction (some idioms you simply have to memorize). Even if you’ve always grasped grammar intuitively, it can be helpful to reacquaint yourself with the rules, so that when you see something your ear doesn’t recognize, you won’t be fazed. In other words, it can be beneficial to understand why something is wrong instead of just knowing that it’s wrong.

5. Know when to move on. Don’t expect the “perfect” test.

However much you prepare, there may still be something unexpected about the questions you encounter. It’s good to aim for perfection, but at the same time, recognize that however much studying you do, you won’t be able to eliminate the need to think on the spot. So don’t waste time with negative thoughts if you simply can’t get a question right or don’t know how to approach something!

Know that you do not have to answer every single question correctly even to score an 800; the test will increase in difficulty the better you perform, so expect it to feel like an “uphill climb.”

6. Finish the exam.

This could be the most important bit of advice we give you: finish the exam. You lose one point on your scaled section score for each question you do not answer. So if you were scoring a 41 on the math section and did not answer 2 questions, you would score a 39. Though it depends on the algorithm used to score your exam, this could mean the difference between, say, 58th and 52th percentile for the section.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just take a few months off work, find a few cozy coffee shops, and devote yourself wholeheartedly to studying for the GMAT? Unfortunately, sometimes forgoing that paycheck just isn’t an option. If you find yourself trying to balance GMAT prep with a rigorous full-time (or full-time plus) job, don’t despair. You can make it work!

Here are 6 tips to help you meet your GMAT goals — and keep your day job.

1. Start with a realistic plan.

Your first step is seeing where you stand. Take a full-length GMAT practice CAT under test-like conditions to get a realistic assessment of your skill set. The result of your diagnostic should be used to evaluate and better understand your strengths and weaknesses.

The diagnostic will also give you a better idea of how much time you’ll need to set aside for GMAT prep (this also depends on how many hours/week of study time you’ll be able to squeeze in around your work schedule). If you’re only looking to increase your score a few points, you may only need a month or so of prep work. If you’re looking for a bigger gain, don’t worry — it’s definitely possible, but it might take you a bit longer to get there.

2. Target your weaknesses.

You’ve scheduled precious time to study for the GMAT around your work hours — now make sure you’re making the most of that time. The more specifically you target your weaknesses, the faster you’ll see tangible improvement. Examine the results of your practice tests and problems carefully — if you consistently have trouble with Data Sufficiency algebra problems but always get Data Sufficiency probability problems right, don’t waste your time studying probability! Do enough review to maintain your strengths, but focus your attention predominantly on your weaknesses.

3. Don’t break study dates with yourself.

As Woody Allen put it, “80% of success is showing up.” Create a realistic schedule for yourself that takes into account your personal preferences. If you’re a zombie before 9 AM, don’t fool yourself into thinking you’ll be able to get up early and prep before work. Instead, set aside time during lunch, at night, or on the weekends. Experiment with different strategies to see what works best for you, and treat your “study dates” with yourself like you would a work meeting. Not showing up shouldn’t an option. Your discipline will be strengthened each time you don’t feel like studying but compel yourself to. Soon, you might start to enjoy your sessions or view them as a satisfying challenge, a way to “work out” your analytical muscles!

4. Be positive and keep the big picture in mind.

Let’s be real: working full-time and studying for the GMAT isn’t going to be a walk in the park. But don’t despair: it won’t last forever. Keep an inspirational quote or a picture of your dream b-school above your desk to remind you of your larger goals.

Stay positive about your GMAT skills too. While focusing on your weakest areas, you should also maintain your mastery of areas in which you excel. Confidence matters. Don’t get too down on yourself if you’re having trouble with a certain section or type of question — the more you practice, the better you’ll do.

5. Make it social (if that works for you).

Consider adding a slightly competitive or collaborative element to your GMAT preparation. Find a co-worker who’s also taking the GMAT — you know they’re out there! — and set up a weekly study group where you trade off running question drills. At the very least, social motivation may help you keep your study dates with yourself, just like a gym membership. And you may be able to share your strategies and frustrations with others.

6. Maintain momentum.

It’s good to aim for perfection, but at the same time, recognize that no matter how much studying you do, you won’t be able to eliminate the need to think on the spot and handle unfamiliar variations of familiar problems. Also recognize that the test gets harder the better you perform, so it will always feel like an uphill climb to some extent.

Don’t let small setbacks get you down. If you have an especially busy week at work and can’t get in your GMAT prep, don’t waste time beating yourself up. The sooner you start back up with your study plan, the sooner your days of GMAT prep will be done!