Advanced GMAT Quant from Manhattan GMAT

@ Gablaze23

Different perspective post exam: I took the real GMAT a couple of days ago -- scored Q50. My overall score was 760 (Q 50, V 44). I was always pretty strong in the verbal section (LSAT prep years ago and I write reports and grant proposals). But quant really scared me -- I invested a lot of time in the advanced quant book mainly because my first manhattan CAT quant did not go all that well.

Now what I realized is this (post real gmat and gmat prep practice) -- the manhattan quant questions are a lot of fun if you like solving difficult math problems. But they are not representative of the real deal. The real gmat questions are very elegant -- in that -- they are not HARD -- they are just *brilliantly* tricky. Manhattan problems take a long time to solve -- they require a lot of work. But the real gmat questions have this tone about them -- its so unique. Most of the problems on the real gmat can be cracked with a proper technique and an analytical approach -- you don't need to use fancy formulas or solve complex expressions and equations.
I am very pleased with my Q50 -- but I don't think the manhattan advanced quant guide helped me much. The real GMAT questions are very subtle -- they are not over powering. The best guide you can use is the GMATPrep software. Keep resetting this software and do every problem (there are plenty of problems in both the bins) on there. I could hardly complete the Manhattan quant sections -- but I completed my real gmat quant exam with 8 minutes to spare.

I am so impressed with the way the real gmat math people conjure up these simple yet elegant problems -- not overpowering but subtle. The manhattan advanced book does not mimic this tone.

Congratulations. What was your first MGMAT CAT quant score by the way? I am just curious.

I had 690 on the first MGMAT CAT. I think it was 43 or 44 in Q.

I am getting a flat grade of Q43 in my MGMAT too. I have taken 3 tests so far, Q45, Q43 and another Q43.

You said you would rather work with OG materials bec their style of questions are more elegant and whatnot, but do you think Manhattan GMAT materials prepare you in Math so much so that the actual GMAT will feel easier? Lol. I want to know whether in your opinion, I should still finish the Advanced Quant problem sets, which is another 150 numbers. Or should I just re-do my OG?

but do you think Manhattan GMAT materials prepare you in Math so much so that the actual GMAT will feel easier?

Does the Advanced GMAT Quant Strategy Supplement (Paperback) come with online access.

I just received the delivery of this book purchase by flipkart.com, India, but it did not have the online access code. Now when i spoke to flipkart, they say that the book may not come with an online access. Is that the case? Please let me know.

I am going to begin this book this weekend. Hope I learn lots of things and my strategies get better.

No the book does not comes with online access. Only basic 8 guides of Manhattan come with access to tests, the supplement guides do not.

What about online access to practice question and bonus drill sets (that is besides the tests) ?

Asher,

The Advanced GMAT Quant Strategy Guide does not come with access to the 6 Computer Adaptive Tests but it does come with Advanced Quant Practice Questions and an Advanced Quant Bonus Drill Set. See more here: http://www.manhattangmat.com/storeitems ... 0&catid=10

Best,
Matt Mapplebeck
Student Services Associate
Manhattan GMAT

This will be a good subject to get some other points of view.

I am sure there are people on both camps who swear by their experiences. There is one school of thought that says that if you practice on really hard stuff -- then you will ace the easy stuff. I am not so sure about this though. If you practice on really hard stuff -- you might miss the subtlety and minor twists in relatively easier questions (something GMAC does).

It's important to get the easy / medium questions right and make sure you avoid silly mistakes -- this will ensure that you maximize your score. I'm sure there are others who feel differently about this strategy than I do.

For example, I see a number of people on this forum practice LSAT CR and RC questions. I know a bit about the LSAT and although I took it 10 years ago not much has changed on the exam. And most of the guys doing the LSAT CR questions aren't the ones scoring V46 and V48 -- trying to get V51. A lot of the guys doing the LSAT CR and RC questions are the ones scoring V31 and V32 -- hoping that practicing the *tough* stuff from the LSAT is going to improve their score. I would do the exact opposite -- work on fundamentals -- such as finding the conclusion of the argument and understanding the underlying logic -- improving critical reading skills etc.