omnxbeast wrote:
Hello All,
I am engineering major from HYPSM, who scored an 800 on the SAT/36 ACT math. While GMAT math is undoubtedly different, I feel extremely confident in my mathematical abilities, yet cannot finish or even score well whatsoever. Is there some approach that I am missing? I admit that I have not prepped extensively, but I have taken 4 practice tests (3MGMAT, 1 GmatPrep) and carefully reviewed answers and my score is not really improving (45/46 ish e.g. 60th percentile).
Is it possible I am approaching questions totally wrong? All of the answers show detailed step-by-step solutions - is that not how you should solve problems in practice, because if so I have no idea how you ever finish. Specifically, the data sufficiency -- looking at my test report every one of the questions which took me 3 minutes or more is a DS question. How do you solve DS quickly and accurately
Thank you.
Dear
omnxbeast,
I'm happy to respond.
Yes, the GMAT Quant section is a different beast. You are in good shape as a starter, because of your strong math background, but it's important to understand what makes the GMAT different.
One big difference is the Data Sufficiency question format. This is NOT to be underestimated. It is not enough simply to know the rules, any more than knowing the rules for how the chess pieces move makes you a chess master. See the blog article:
Because you have a mathematical mind, over time you will learn more about the subtleties of this question format.
Another concerns the way the GMAT asks question. The GMAT Quant is not so much interested in straightforward "
do you know this math fact?" kinds of questions. They are much more interested, especially on more advanced questions, in framing a question in an offbeat way, so that it takes time to decipher what to do. Sometimes, the way the question is framed suggests one solution method, a step-by-step plodding method that would be long & tedious, but if you are creative enough to see another perspective, you realize you can solve the problem in seconds without any calculations. See:
Pay attention to what that article say about left-brain vs. right-brain perspectives.
I will say, many explanations to practice questions are awful. Even in the
GMAT OG, the questions are among the finest standardized test questions on the planet, but the explanations are at a significantly lower level of quality ---in fact, some are atrocious. I would say: come here to GMAT Club. Just about every math question in the
OG and on GMAT Prep is already posted here: always search carefully for a question before starting a brand new thread with a math question. Find where the question is discussed and see what the experts say. Bunuel the super-genius comments on almost every math thread. You are also more than welcome to solicit my input, using the "mention this user" button.
When you read an answer, be concerned less with the step-by-step part. You probably can do that already. The left-brain question is usually "
what should I do?" and this question is not necessarily the question you should be asking. The right-brain question is "
how should I look at this problem? how should I frame this situation?" In many problems, once you frame the problem in the right way, what to do becomes obvious. Many explanations don't address this explicitly, and you are left to infer it from their approach. If you ask experts on GMAT Club about this, that's an excellent question that experts will be happy to discuss----
why did you decide to approach the situation this way rather than that way? That's where you need to focus, because the leading edge of growth for you. You know the math. You need to work on how to analyze the problems as a skilled problem-solver, discerning which approaches are more advantageous at any one time.
My friend, I have great hope for your progress. Please let me know if you have any further questions.
Mike
This is an extremely helpful and appreciated post. I just found this forum and there is quite an expansive amount of information - it is quite overwhelming. The resources and advice you shared are a great starting point. I will see what I can do. Thanks!!!