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Re: Need Expert Reply: Discrepancy Answers PowerScore vs. MGMAT [#permalink]
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I agree completely with the previous comments about the accuracy of any test prep company's practice problems. Nobody can perfectly replicate GMAT problems except the GMAT (technically the GMAC). Test prep companies will teach you techniques and give you practice, but you have to realize that they don't fully reflect what you will see on the GMAT. Make sure you are spending enough time with GMAT problems and that you save these really technical questions like this one for actual GMAT questions (and recognize that you can find inconsistencies with GMAT problems as well).

To respond to your question directly, I want to point out that there is a material difference between both examples. The Powerscore example hinged on the word 'many' whereas the MGMAT example used the word 'most'. As the previoius poster states, using the word many simply implies a large number. Most, however, means a majority but NOT all. This is how you get different explanations on seemingly identical problems.

Neither of these problems perfectly represents what you will see on the GMAT, but there are lessons to be learned. For example, the GMAT likes to alter between comparative and absolute figures, or between comparatives and discrete numbers.

Use prep materials for what they are worth and make sure you spend plenty of time with GMAT problems.

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Re: Need Expert Reply: Discrepancy Answers PowerScore vs. MGMAT [#permalink]
KyleWiddison wrote:
To respond to your question directly, I want to point out that there is a material difference between both examples. The Powerscore example hinged on the word 'many' whereas the MGMAT example used the word 'most'. As the previoius poster states, using the word many simply implies a large number. Most, however, means a majority but NOT all. This is how you get different explanations on seemingly identical problems.


Another great point! I see what your saying here and it makes snese. I'm a little disappointed I didn't see that earlier.
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I have been worried about using any other source than GMAC [#permalink]
IanStewart wrote:
maxLRok wrote:

So, does "many didn't" imply that "some did?"
What should I take away from these examples? I was able to get to the correct answers but what if the question is way harder? How can I use this "many"/"some" rule.

Using PowerScore's logic would make MGMAT's explanation wrong. Right?


Technically I think the PowerScore explanation is correct. At least by my dictionary, 'many' just means 'a great number'. So if you know, say, that "many companies make a profit", that technically still leaves open the possibility that all companies make a profit. I think you can see why this interpretation is correct by imagining, say, an alien visiting Earth and observing a few cars, and saying "many cars have wheels". The alien is still leaving open the possibility that all cars have wheels.

But that is not the real issue. These kinds of technicalities are simply not what real GMAT CR questions ever test, and prep companies often make far too big a deal about these types of irrelevancies. I find the quality of official practice questions in Verbal to be vastly superior to any prep company questions, and I think with the examples you've posted above, you've illustrated perfectly why that's true. Neither of the questions you've posted is especially good (the GMAT would never use the double-negative that appears in answer A in the PowerScore question and would never have both of their answer choices A and B in the same question, and would never use the 'trap' that appears in the MGMAT question). You'll likely only develop a good feeling for the types of things the GMAT is looking for in must-be-true questions by working through real GMAT questions.


Hi,
In the Manhattan example, I don't understand why E is incorrect. And precisely going by the words, I don;t see why B is correct either.
Option B says

B. Some creative types are not less skilled at business than is the average white-collar worker WHO IS NOT CREATIVE.

The stimulus talks about white-collar people who have managerial skills and who don't work in a creative field(not white-collars who ARE NOT CREATIVE).

I narrowed down to B and E and chose E because of this.

To support option E, I would say that if business were a creative endeavor, then the creative types would succeed. Since it's not, the creative types generally fail.

IanStewart Please help with this one
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Re: I have been worried about using any other source than GMAC [#permalink]
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Re: I have been worried about using any other source than GMAC [#permalink]
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