Hi Guys,
I'd like to start off by thanking all the GMAT CLUB crew for all their efforts to simply share and teach each other. Its brilliant!
Now I dont wanna make this a debrief or long story about my struggles cause I havent yet cracked the GMAT but I have improved by a 110pts and I want to just share with you all my observations while studying for this test.
QUANT
Dont start off with the
OG questions (like most of us do) without memorizing each and every formula and concept related to GMAT math. Its a complete waste of questions cause these questions are such that for people with photographic memory(like me) are likely to start pointing out the answer second time around but technically you dont know how you get to the answer. All of us do this all the time!
In my experience GMAT math is almost entirely about how well you know your number properties, exponents etc. The stuff you will never need in your life ahead of you. However, it does give you a new way to think about numbers and patterns and the number line etc. So try and enjoy it and dont sit there saying I cant do it anymore blah blah. Keep at it!
Data sufficiency can really be a score lifter, if you figure out the tricks involved, GMAT CLUB will help you with all the different approaches.
Sometimes its good to see other approaches on solving questions, it increases your standard of thinking and broadens your approach. Isnt it all about that anyway? Gmat wants you to look at questions differently and wants you to change your typical school thinking into some thing that can adapt to new challenges.
VERBAL
SC
Initially try and break down sentences to each fragment and see if they all work together and by themselves too. Sounds wrong but in a way it works! Breaking down sentences helped me allot and by doing this again and again will train your brain to spot differences much faster without breaking a sentence out! You will reach a time where you can look at a sentence and know whats wrong with it.
CR
Keep at it always! do some everyday, and you can forget getting better at them if you dont use a timer. I can solve any CR question if you give me 5 mins plus, but on the real deal you dont have that kind of time! If you dont get it right within a minute and a half then consider it wrong. If you do some consistently everyday you will start picking up similarities and you will enjoy them. Beware though, there a tons of non Gmat like CR questions floating around and honestly they will only rack your brain but wont teach you anything new. So choose wisely.
RC
Read, read, read. I realised that since I suffer from ADD this is particularly difficult, you need to have presence of mind reading these comprehensions. I guarantee that if you read all the RCs well on the test you will crack at least 3 of the 4 RCs you will typically get.
Newspapers are great. Read them for half hr at a stretch, take a pen mark out words like connectors ,see comparisons, try to figure out conclusions, assumptions etc have fun with it!
Lastly, I want to just highlight the importance of time. Timing is everything. If you dont time yourself you can forget the GMAT. Dont give it if you are not prepared to time yourself. For the longest time I didnt time myself and suffered big time with a poor score. You have to get over the fear that there is a clock on your head, sometimes just knowing that time is ticking will hamper your performance. I noticed as well that when your short of time you mess up because you dont make the most of the little time you do have. Confusion and Panic sets in. Instead slow down for 2 seconds and get back again.
You will get many questions wrong through the test. Take it in your stride, and carry on! This test is considerate on that front at least!
As for me, I am getting back to studying! woohooo!
Enjoy studying!