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Going to do it this time

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jpr200012
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Going to do it this time [#permalink] New post   10 Jun 2010, 01:37
I'm wanting to go back to school to earn a Ph.D. I need 80% in one section. On the plus side, I get to just skip the essay. On the negative side, I'm way off!

I registered and didn't prepare. On a practice test I got around a 470 (q: 30%, v: 20%). I crammed for 1 week doing problems in the 1012 PR book. I mainly did the quant problems. I read through the strategies it gave for verbal, but didn't work but a few problems. The night before the test I realized I had screwed up! I frantically worked through the diagnostic quant PS part. I ended up going to bed thinking more sleep would help. I took the test and went up to around 540 (q: 40%, v: 40%).

I have the option to take the GRE or GMAT. I did a GRE practice test and did better on it. I think it may be a little easier than the GMAT for quant. However, I just want to do the GMAT since it has pissed me off!

The 1012 PR really helped me get used to the wording of the problems. I made so many stupid mistakes initially. I learned to read the question first and then write down everything I need to work the problem. This has cut down on the errors a lot. I started out really good on the test, but at the halfway point in time... I was about 8 problems behind. I tried to speed up, and it seemed like the problems were getting tougher. I wasn't familiar with some problem types around this time, and felt like I was missing a bunch in a row.

I can make sense of the quantitative principles better than the verbal. I'm planning on only preparing for the quant part of the test. I got the MGMAT 8 book set, and the Foundations of Math book, and Companion to the OG by Manhattan. I haven't had to use the Foundations or Companion book yet, but maybe they will be helpful if I get stuck.

So far I've gone through the Number Properties and Fraction/Percent/Decimal books. I am really kicking ... now! Before the MGMAT books, I was missing about half the problems. I work the end of section part of the MGMAT books, and then work in QR and OG books the problems it lists. The MGMAT books are fantastic. I think I was stronger at PS before, but I'm actually about even on DS now. It feels great to work through a set of problems in OG and get them all right :) I still miss a few, but my mistakes are way down and I'm really understanding why I was wrong now. I'm also keeping track of my wrong answers in Excel to compare if I work through multiple times.

My plan has been look back at the sections I did the day before. I work the end of section problems in MGMAT, and then the problems in QR and OG that I missed. Next, I try to cover at least 1 section per day. Today I covered 3 and did really good. Today I missed 5 out of 48 questions from QR and OG.

I haven't decided on when I will take the test again. This is just a post for me to publicly state my intentions so I can reread this later if I get discouraged!
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Re: Going to do it this time [#permalink] New post   21 Jun 2010, 14:43
I think the Number Properties book from the MGMAT set is awesome. The advanced section of it is really helpful. I just went back and did their short challenge set and missed only 1 in PS and 1 in DS from the QR and OG books.

I can't believe this but, I can actually work through the DS questions a lot faster than PS now! When I started, I hated the DS questions, because they took too much time and seemed to difficult.

It is really hard to resist doing a test in GMATprep. I want to know how I would do, but I don't want to waste the tests. I plan on taking it once I get through all 5 books.
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Re: Going to do it this time [#permalink] New post   21 Jun 2010, 20:04
I'm doing the same thing you are doing too. Those MGMAT guides are great, but I am still having trouble with number properties they are tough. Took me a while to get through that book.
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Re: Going to do it this time [#permalink] New post   21 Jun 2010, 21:41
Yes, it took a lot of time! FDP seems to be going quicker though.
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Re: Going to do it this time [#permalink] New post   22 Jul 2010, 15:03
I had to take a break during a move. Some of the Number Properties are sketchy. I got the FDP stuff down still. I think I've learned two important lessons:

1) Review a little bit of past stuff every day! Even if it seems simple today, you may forget it tomorrow.
2) Investing the time to go through explanations (even on right answers) is worth the additional time. Getting the right answer on a practice problem isn't enough. If you have to screw around and try different strategies or plug-in numbers, it is worth learning the "right" way to do the problem. It will save you time in the future.
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Re: Going to do it this time [#permalink] New post   26 Jul 2010, 02:22
I've found two extremely satisfying things when studying for the quant section.

1. Going back and working previously missed problems, and getting them right while completely understanding how to work them.

2. Solving 700-level questions on the first try.
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Re: Going to do it this time [#permalink] New post   30 Jul 2010, 07:18
I'm wrapping the Equations, inequalities & VICs book. I took the first practice test in GMATPrep and made a 44 on the quant section. I found the list of scores to percentiles at: https://www.mba.com/mba/TheGMAT/GMATScor ... gMeans.htm - so I still have a way to go. It looks like right now I need to get to a 48.

I think I may start doing practice tests every week or so now. During this test, I started out good, and then freaked out when I got some hard problems. I started to think I was doing horribly. I was thinking all my studying had not paid off at all! I started to question what I was going to do since the MGMAT books weren't helping. I decided to complete the test, but kind of gave up on some problems. Then I got on a roll and got the last 6 out of 7 right.

I missed 13 out of the 37 questions. I think what really killed me was that I had 3 misses in a row twice (19-21, 28-30).

Anyways, I now have some confidence I can do this. I've actually made real progress :)
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Re: Going to do it this time [#permalink] New post   30 Jul 2010, 08:21
I feel even better after reviewing the test. I missed 6 out of 6 geometry questions :) That actually makes me happy since I haven't got to that review book yet! Chance for improvement!
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Re: Going to do it this time [#permalink] New post   12 Aug 2010, 23:49
Originally, I tried solving everything algebraically. I've learned that is not always the fastest way to solve problems. It takes a lot of practice, but I am starting to recognize when to plug numbers. If the algebra steps are simple and fast, it seems best to use them. As soon as it gets messy or you are not sure what to do next, don't feel bad about trying out some numbers. Using a combination strategy seems to work great and is faster on some problems.
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Re: Going to do it this time [#permalink] New post   15 Aug 2010, 18:14
I was really worried about the Geometry part of the test. That worry has passed now. After taking trig and a bunch of calculus, I was worried because there is SO much to know about triangles and circles! The GMAT tests a VERY small knowledge of these shapes.
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Re: Going to do it this time [#permalink] New post   17 Aug 2010, 15:50
Ugh, another 44. Felt rushed, because I got interrupted for about 4 minutes during the test. May take another one when I'm *sure* I won't be disturbed.
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Re: Going to do it this time [#permalink] New post   19 Aug 2010, 06:39
GMAT Club test should be of great help..
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Re: Going to do it this time [#permalink] New post   19 Aug 2010, 14:03
Great going. I am doing the Number properties book now. Paralelly doing Powerscore CR as well.

Once I am done with Number properties, I will start with the Inequalities book.
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Re: Going to do it this time [#permalink] New post   19 Aug 2010, 23:48
I took another GMATPrep test and got a 49. I think I may be ready for the real thing...
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Re: Going to do it this time [#permalink] New post   02 Sep 2010, 03:55
Took a break, and just started working on the Word Translations book. Still have a few chapters to go in it. Figured I'd try another test, and I made a 46. I had missed 3 questions in the first 18, and then started to panic because my timing was slow. I missed 19 and 20, 24 and 25, 30 and 31, and then (probably really bad) 33 through 36.

The good: I improved 2 points from my previous 44's. The 49 I got was probably not accurate because there were some questions I had seen before.

The bad: Still need to get to 48. These last few points seem really hard to improve.
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Re: Going to do it this time [#permalink] New post   02 Sep 2010, 06:32
jpr200012,
Each time, are you taking the GMATPrep quant test alone? Which practice source are you using to test your quant skills.

Thank you.
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Re: Going to do it this time [#permalink] New post   03 Sep 2010, 00:01
I'm just using the GMATPrep software so far. I've had pretty good luck with not getting previously seen problems. The last test I did, I got 1 problem I had seen before. I started the test on MGMAT's site, but haven't completed the first one. I got all the books, so I have a bunch of additional tests and practice problems. Once I finish the Word Translations book I will decide if I will continue there. I'm hoping after finishing this book I can get up to 48 and just go take the test. If not, I may move on to MGMAT practice tests and the GMATClub tests.
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Re: Going to do it this time [#permalink] New post   20 Sep 2010, 00:26
I've taken a break from studying. We had our second child two weeks ago :) I started practicing again a couple of days ago. I did three MGMAT tests online and scored 48, 47, and 46. I swear those tests seem harder than GMATPrep. It is cool how it shows in the review what level the questions were during the test. Maybe the reason they seem so hard is that the majority of questions are 700-800 level!
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Re: Going to do it this time [#permalink] New post   20 Sep 2010, 00:27
One thing that bothers me about MGMAT test is that if you start out good you are in the 700-800 level after 2 questions. In GMATPrep, it seems it takes 4 or 5 questions before you start getting the tougher questions. I'm hoping this practice will be enough to get me to >=48.
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Re: Going to do it this time [#permalink] New post   20 Sep 2010, 01:04
jpr200012 wrote:
I've taken a break from studying. We had our second child two weeks ago :) I started practicing again a couple of days ago. I did three MGMAT tests online and scored 48, 47, and 46. I swear those tests seem harder than GMATPrep. It is cool how it shows in the review what level the questions were during the test. Maybe the reason they seem so hard is that the majority of questions are 700-800 level!


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Re: Going to do it this time [#permalink]
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