Going Beyond Tips & Tricks with Brian Prestia, Reason Test Prep
Release Date: 04/01/2026
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“Anxiety and excitement are chemically the same reaction — context changes how we interpret it.” What actually separates top GMAT performers from everyone else? In this episode of Inside the GMAT, GMAC Zach sits down with Hailey Cusimano, Director of Tutoring at Menlo Coaching, to unpack the five traits she's observed that that drive GMAT success. Through the lens of curiosity, balance, consistency, resilience, and flexibility, Hailey explains why the GMAT is less about memorization and more about critical thinking, self-awareness, and intentional preparation. Whether you’re just...
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English Proficiency & the MBA: Inside the Duolingo English Test with Elie Bechara
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Going Beyond Tips & Tricks with Brian Prestia, Reason Test Prep
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“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 , 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...
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EA Prep Week 10: Test Complete! The End of an EA-ra
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"The score isn't the end. It's just the starting point." After ten weeks, GMAC Zach has finally taken his EA exam! In this candid debrief episode of Inside the GMAT, Zach sits down with instructor Stacey Koprince from Manhattan Prep to break down his real testing experience—from last-minute rescheduling to test-day distractions and everything in between. Zach walks through how he handled each section, what threw him off (including a chaotic testing environment and a few “wait, is this a typo?” moments), and where his strategy held up—or didn’t. Together, they unpack the psychology of...
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The Case for Reasoning Skills in the Age of AI with GMAT Buddy's Ayham Shakra
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"Lose the urgency. Accept the learning process.” In a world where AI can generate answers instantly, what actually sets great decision-makers apart? In this episode of Inside the GMAT, GMAC Zach sits down with GMAT tutor and founder of , Ayham Shakra, to unpack the real skill behind success—not memorization, but reasoning. Ayham explains why the GMAT isn’t a math or English test, but a training ground for structured thinking: the ability to filter noise, identify patterns, and make decisions under pressure. Together, they explore why so many test-takers struggle, how...
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How to Eliminate Careless Mistakes on the GMAT
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“You should actually get a little bit excited when you make a careless mistake—because you’re about to get better.” Everyone makes careless mistakes on the GMAT—even well-prepared test takers. In this episode of Inside the GMAT, GMAC Zach sits down with Manhattan Prep instructor Stacey Koprince to break down why these mistakes happen and what you can actually do to prevent them. Stacey explains the critical difference between a true knowledge gap and a careless mistake—and why the latter is often the easiest type of mistake to fix. Instead of beating yourself up when you spot...
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EA Prep Week 9: Exam Day Tips and Listener Q&A with Stacey Koprince, Manhattan Prep
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The Data Insights Deep Dive with Sergey Kouk of Admit Master
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“This section isn’t just about getting into business school — it’s about being ready once you’re there.” Host GMAC Zach welcomes back GMAT expert Sergey Kouk from for a deep dive into one of the most anxiety-inducing parts of the exam: the Data Insights section. Together, Zach and Sergey demystify what Data Insights really tests, why it matters for business school and recruiting, and how test-takers should approach it strategically rather than emotionally. Sergey explains how the section builds on the former Integrated Reasoning questions, why Data Sufficiency now plays a...
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EA Prep Week 8: What Goes Up...Might Come Down Ft. Stacey Koprince, Manhattan Prep
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“This is why you take practice exams. So that you know what you DON'T want to do on test day.” Practice tests don’t always move in a straight line—and this week, GMAC Zach finds that out firsthand. After hitting a personal high on his previous EA exam practice exam with a 155, his latest score dips slightly, sparking an honest conversation about score fluctuations, confidence traps, and what really causes plateaus during EA prep. Joined, as always, by Stacey Koprince from Manhattan Prep, they unpack why the third practice exam is such a common stumbling point, how overconfidence can...
info_outline“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:
- 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.
- “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.
- Strategy should come before content: Top performers learn how to approach problems first, then layer in content—not the other way around.
- 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.
- Precision matters more than you think: Success—especially in verbal—comes down to noticing small differences in language and meaning.
- Data Insights is really a time management test: The challenge isn’t just solving problems—it’s identifying what matters quickly and ignoring noise.
- 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.
- 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