Most standardized tests have an essay component, and in this episode of The Dominate Test Prep Podcast we cover the 10 most important things you should do when crafting your essay response to ensure that you get a high score on test day -- perhaps even a perfect one!

You can listen to it here:

We start by explaining what the graders are looking for. Once you know the components of a high-scoring essay, you can craft your strategy for writing an effective essay yourself. Knowing is half the battle, as they say.

Then we go through 10 tips for helping you get a perfect essay score and discuss:

• The importance of understanding the question prompt and answering all aspects of it (with examples);
• What you should do during the first 5 minutes before you start writing;
• The role of a clear thesis sentence and where it should appear in your essay;
• How to organize your essay for maximum effectiveness;
• Where you should pull your...

Applying to top graduate and business schools is a competitive affair, with qualified applicants from around the world vying for just a handful of spots each year. The difference between getting accepted and not comes down to your ability to highlight your personal, academic, and professional assets in a way that sets you apart from the pack. While some candidates choose to do that on their own, many turn to admissions consultants for help.

Is working with an admissions consultant right for you?

That's what we explore in Episode 23 of The Dominate Test Prep Podcast with the help of Barbara Coward, founder of MBA 360° Admissions Consulting. Barbara worked as an application reader at Johns Hopkins University before starting her consulting practice, so she has experience in the industry from both side.

You can listen to our full conversation here:

Specifically, Barbara and I discuss:

• One of the biggest mistakes candidates make on their applications that...

It has been said that while it is wise to learn from experience, it is wiser to learn from the experiences of others. If you want to get a feel for what business school is really like before embarking on the journey yourself, why not pick the brain of someone who has gone before you?

That's exactly what we did in Episode 22 of The Dominate Test Prep Podcast. We caught up with Sam Klein, a current second-year MBA candidate at the Duke Fuqua School of Business, and asked him everything from what he thinks helped him stand out during the admissions process to what has been the most impactful part of his business education, and everything in between.   

You can listen to our full conversation here: 

Specifically, Sam and I discuss:

• Why this aerospace engineer decided to switch careers and go back to business school
• Why Sam chose the GMAT over the GRE
• How to answer the "Why business school?" question on your application
• How the expected ROI factored...

In the immortal words of Bob Dylan, "The times, they are a-changin'."

Yesterday, the GMAT went online.

Several weeks ago, the GRE went online.

The LSAT will be rolling out its online version, LSAT Flex, next month.

Now, these at-home editions are temporary solutions to assist students trying to meet application deadlines while test centers are closed due to the coronavirus outbreak. But who knows, maybe they'll stick around permanently if all goes well.

Regardless, many of you will end up taking your exam from the comfort of your own home in the coming weeks, and I want to help you optimize that experience.

Here are three prep tips specific to the at-home testing experience that I believe will put you in the right frame of mind to do as well as possible when taking your exam online:

In many ways, taking your test at home is a positive. It's your home, after all. It's familiar. It's comfortable.

But that increased comfort level can also work against you if you're not careful.

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A new online version of the GMAT exam is scheduled to go live later this month to give students an alternative testing option in regions where test centers are closed because of COVID-19.

The GMAC is hosting a free webinar on Friday, April 17, 2020 at 12:00pm ET to tell you all about it.

Reserve your spot here:

Specifically, the webinar will cover:

• Alternative exam structure and scoring
• Test registration pricing and process
• Computer requirements and test security
• Test preparation requirements (don't worry, we've got you covered here at Dominate Test Prep!)

This is your chance to get all of your questions about the at-home GMAT directly from the makers of the exam.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT today!

First, the LSAT went online.

Now, because of COVID-19, it's coming to your home... literally.

Called "LSAT Flex," the newest at-home version of the LSAT is being unveiled in May 2020 to provide a testing option for students whose April LSAT was cancelled because of Coronavirus.

So what's different about LSAT Flex, what are its Pros and Cons, and how should you prepare for it?

Our resident LSAT expert Dave Hall has all of those answers for you in the short video above.

(Hint: For the test preparation piece of things, not much changes. And don't worry, we've got you covered!)

Enjoy!

An MBA isn’t an MBA without return on investment. It’s one of the main reasons that students pursue the degree. The difference between pre- and post- MBA can be a surge in salary, a new role and career path, and an extended network of talented professionals.

To learn more about how to determine the ROI from your MBA degree, join BusinessBecause and Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian University (TCU) on Thursday, April 9th 2020 for a live webinar, 'What is the Return on Investment from an MBA?'.

Date: Thursday, April 9th, 2020

Time: 16:00 pm GMT / 12:00 pm EST / 09:00 am PT

Webinar Duration: 45 minutes (including 15-minute Q&A)

During the webinar you will learn from experts Sierra Dunaway, Innovation Manager, Sabre Corporation and Ed Riefenstahl, Director, Experiential Learning, both from the TCU Neely School of Business, and Dennis Mullahy, Chief Supply Chain Officer from Macy's Inc, to find out the ROI of an MBA. 

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The best way to learn what business school admissions officers are looking for is to ask them!

So that's exactly what we did.

In this episode of The Dominate Test Prep Podcast, we sat down with Lauren Sutherland, Associate Director of Admissions at the Duke Fuqua School of Business, and discussed a wide range of admissions-related questions including:

• What differentiates Duke Fuqua from some of the other top business schools
• How a school's ranking should factor in to your decision of which school(s) to apply to and other considerations you should weigh as well
• The value of Duke's "25 Random Things" essay for enabling you to showcase what makes you a unique and desirable candidate
• What makes someone stand out during the application process -- and dealbreakers to avoid!
• The benefits of the 2-year, full-time MBA as compared to online, part-time, or executive programs
• How to maximize your business school experience once you're on campus

You can listen to our full conversation...

There's no doubt about it, a lot of logical reasoning is necessary to do well on the LSAT. Between the logic games and logical reasoning questions, you need to be able to think critically and quickly identify logical fallacies if you're going to get a high LSAT score.

The good news is that critical thinking can be learned. It can be taught.

And here's more good news for you. Upwards of 35% or more of the LSAT questions you'll encounter on test day require your understanding of what is called conditional logical. It's a very precise pattern of reasoning that, once you learn to detect it and execute it properly, can enable you to get a lot more right answers on test day -- and to do so more efficiently.

Given that, wouldn't you agree that it's worth investing a little time to master this important skill?

Of course it is. And here's the best news for you. Our resident LSAT guru, Dave Hall, just released this short 19-minute video breaking it all down for you. In this video you'll...

As with most industries, the standardized test and college/graduate admissions industries continue to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. With exams being postponed, test centers closing, and admissions deadlines being pushed back, test takers face a new level of uncertainty as they're preparing for test day and thinking about their futures.

In this episode of The Dominate Test Prep Podcast, we address those challenges head-on, help you make sense of the current landscape, and empower you with practical next steps as you're preparing for your standardized test. You can listen to it here:

Specifically, we lay out a game plan for test-takers who fall into each of these four categories:

1. Category 1: Candidates who weren't scheduled to take their exam for a few months anyway
2. Category 2: Candidates who have had their test date pushed back because of cancellations or test center closures
3. Category 3: Candidates who are trying to decide whether to reschedule their...