The Reason Test Prep Blog

Welcome to the Reason Test Prep Blog. Over the course of decades tutoring the SAT, ACT, GMAT, and GRE, we’ve accumulated a lot of insight, and almost nothing pleases us more than sharing that knowledge with people who are hungry for it! 

A Lot of Letters

A Lot of Letters

My teacher posed the below question to our class on the last day of 5th grade. I remember puzzling over it and needing my father to help me solve it. Don’t cheat. Give yourself a chance. You can do this! What word has 1 n, 1 p, 2 l’s, 4 e’s, and 5 s’s?...

What Color is Your Hat?

What Color is Your Hat?

Three men, who are not wearing glasses, are placed in a room without mirrors. The men are told to close their eyes and then a hat is placed on each of their heads. The hat is either red or green in color. Once the hats are in place they are told to open...

Giving Away Money

Giving Away Money

This month is the first time we are introducing an official GRE question as our monthly brain teaser. The below question is yet another example of how reasoning often trumps knowledge on standardized tests and how the questions can sometimes resemble brain...

Drive Time

Drive Time

This month’s brainteaser is very conceptual and therefore does NOT require much time. Give it a try! You leave Atlanta at 8am on Sunday morning and arrive in Detroit at 8pm that same day. You take breaks on the 12 hour journey and you change speeds...

What’s the Word?

What’s the Word?

This month we come back to a challenge that favors the more “verbally-inclined.” Some of the below are pretty easy and some are hard…see how many you can get: Each phrase below consists of a number and the first initials of words. Supply the missing words to...

GMAT to GMAT Focus Score Conversion

GMAT to GMAT Focus Score Conversion

As we transition from the “classic” GMAT to the GMAT Focus, there’s bound to be confusion about the score differences since the two tests are scored on slightly different scales! Below we discuss the differences and some takeaways. GMAT Focus is on a New...

Interest Rate

Interest Rate

In this month’s “brain teaser,” we present an official GMAT question. While thinking about this question, it’s critical to remember/understand that the GMAT does not allow a calculator on the Quantitative Section, so this question must be able to be solved...

Gallon Containers

Gallon Containers

This month’s brain teaser is not so bad! Yes, it requires thought (reasoning!), but it is doable. Give it a try! You have a three gallon and a five gallon measuring device. You can fill the containers with water as many times as you like or pour...

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