"It's not about the rules and formulas—it's about the decisions you make in how you approach a question."

Most GMAT candidates start their prep the wrong way: by diving straight into content, formulas, and practice questions. But what if that approach is actually holding you back?

In this episode of Inside the GMAT, GMAC Zach sits down with Brian Prestia, founder of Reason Test Prep, to break down what the GMAT is really testing—and why success has far more to do with how you think than what you know.

Together, they explore the difference between memorization and reasoning, why "tips and tricks" can be misleading, and how top scorers approach questions with strategy, precision, and creativity. From quant to verbal to data insights, Brian shares how to rethink your prep, avoid common traps, and build the kind of problem-solving skills that drive real score gains.

If you've ever felt stuck despite studying hard, this episode will change how you approach the GMAT—and maybe how you think about problem-solving altogether.

About Brian:

Brian Prestia is the owner of Reason Test Prep and is an elite test-prep veteran with more than 20 years of experience preparing people for the GMAT and other standardized tests. He has scored in the 100th percentile of the GMAT and has tutored nearly 1,000 students from all corners of the globe. Brian has a passion for teaching and especially for getting students to think more critically, problem solve more creatively, and, most importantly, enjoy the lifelong process of learning.

Helpful links:

Reason Test Prep: https://reasontestprep.com

Register for the GMAT: https://www.mba.com/exams/gmat-exam/register

Purchase GMAT Official Prep: https://www.mba.com/exams/executive-assessment/prepare

Inside the GMAT/GMAC Zach on Substack: https://substack.com/@gmaczach

Key Takeaways:

1. The GMAT is a reasoning test—not a content test: Most candidates over-focus on formulas and rules, but the exam is designed to assess decision-making, logic, and problem-solving ability.
2. "Tips and tricks" thinking misses the point: Treating the GMAT like a game you can hack leads to shallow understanding. Real improvement comes from developing adaptable thinking skills.
3. Strategy should come before content: Top performers learn how to approach problems first, then layer in content—not the other way around.
4. There is always a definitively correct answer: Even in verbal, answers aren't subjective. If something feels ambiguous, it's a signal to refine your reasoning—not guess.
5. Precision matters more than you think: Success—especially in verbal—comes down to noticing small differences in language and meaning.
6. Data Insights is really a time management test: The challenge isn't just solving problems—it's identifying what matters quickly and ignoring noise.
7. Deliberate practice beats volume: Doing hundreds of questions isn't enough. Improvement comes from deeply analyzing how and why you solved (or missed) each one.
8. You don't always need full math to get the answer: Smart estimation, logic, and elimination can often outperform brute-force calculation.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to GMAT Strategies 04:09 Brian Prestia's Journey and Reason Test Prep 07:36 Defining Critical Reasoning and Problem Solving 10:05 Misconceptions About Test Preparation 15:38 The Role of Math in GMAT Success 18:30 Approaching Different Sections of the GMAT 22:48 Understanding Argument Strengthening and Weakening 24:14 Precision in Language and Its Importance 26:03 Time Management in Data Insights 32:01 Strategies for Data Sufficiency 37:54 Reorienting Your GMAT Preparation Mindset