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Yeah, true. I think 80% is to understand the problem. Then, chances are that you have sold something similar in the past. Sometimes the problem can boil down so such a simple solution that it makes me laugh! (usually that's Bunuel's solutions
)
I do believe that revision is good, however I find myself sometimes
remembering the problem and hence the solution rather than checking if I understand the
methodology.
Yes, remembering problems you have solved before can happen if you have solved a lot of GMAT questions. This is especially true for Verbal. However, there is a big advantage to be gained from reviewing questions you have solved in the past:
1. Even if you got the question right the first time, make sure you got it right for the right reasons, and that it was not just a lucky guess.
2. This point applies especially for SC - you may have eliminated an answer option because of a very obvious SVA error. But there maybe other more subtle issues with the same choice. When you review this question, make sure you know everything that is wrong with each answer choice. This learning will come in handy in future questions.
3. If you got it wrong, then make sure you understand the delta between the answer choice you picked and the official answer - this delta is what you need to remember the next time you see a similar question. And you will certainly see a similar question - the GMAT is a very pattern-based test.
So if you are looking at questions you've previously solved and you remember the answer, go through the motions anyway. The idea is to get the maximum value out of every single official question that is available.
Gowri N Kishore
Verbal Specialist
CrackVerbal