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by Rich Cohen, [email protected] EMPOWERgmat.com
This series of emails and PMs focuses on situations that many Test Takers face during their studies. The names of the original posters have been changed to protect their identities.
CR Inference Questions are Sometimes Subtle
Hi Rich,
With this CR question, I’m having trouble understanding why Answer D is wrong:
Last January, in an attempt to lower the number of traffic fatalities, the state legislature passed its “Click It or Ticket” law. Under the new law, motorists can be pulled over and ticketed for not wearing their seat belts, even if an additional driving infraction has not been committed. Lawyers and citizens’ groups are already protesting the law, saying it unfairly infringes on the rights of the state’s drivers. Law enforcement groups counter these claims by stating that the new regulations will save countless additional lives. Which of the following inferences is best supported by the passage above?
• Prior to the “Click It or Ticket” law, motorists could not be stopped simply for not wearing a seat belt.
• The “Click It or Ticket” law violates current search and seizure laws.
• Laws similar to “Click It or Ticket” have effectively reduced traffic fatalities in a number of states.
• The previous seatbelt laws were ineffective in saving lives.
• Law enforcement groups, rather than citizens groups, should determine how to best ensure the safety of motorists.
Norman
Hi Norman,
GMAT questions are designed to have 1 correct answer and 4 incorrect answers. The incorrect answers are sometimes obvious and sometimes subtle, but the given information in the prompt is enough to figure out which answers are which.
Since this is an inference question, you'll need to spend a bit more time and energy on the details (since inference questions can sometimes be based on minor details that you might overlook).
The second-to-last sentence mentions that the new regulations will "save countless ADDITIONAL lives." Notice how this sentence is referring to some extra benefit, in excess of whatever existed before? Answer D tells us that the previous laws were "ineffective in saving lives." We don't know how effective the old laws were, we just know that the new law is supposed to save ADDITIONAL lives. Thus, D is not a proper inference.
The Value of Quant Tactics
Dear Rich,
I read thru the backup strategies in the MGMAT books and seem to understand them well. I am referring to backsolving, smart numbers, estimation, and number properties .I do not have them memorized. Is it important that I have these tricks memorized?
Oren
Hi Oren,
Many questions on the GMAT can be approached in a variety of ways, so it's beneficial for you to know more than one way to approach a question. In simple terms, you have two goals for any question that you're going to attempt to answer:
1) Get the question correct
2) Do so as quickly as possible
You can certainly use a "math" approach to answer most Quant questions, but in many cases, THAT way of thinking takes too much time to implement. That’s why you should keep an open mind to all of the various tactics that are available to you. Sufficient practice (including re-attempting past questions using different tactics) should help you to gain familiarity with all the options (and help you to figure out the right approach for any given question). You shouldn’t think of these approaches as “backup tactics” – they’re the keys to scoring at a high level on Test Day.
Taking CATs on a Regular Basis
Rich,
I’ve been gifted a lot of GMAT books to work with and I’m planning to signup with Empowergmat. My plan is to study hard for 2 months, then take practice cats during the last month. Do you have any tips to make my plan the most effective plan possible?
Patrice
Hi Patrice,
The EMPOWERgmat Course will teach you everything that you need to know to score at a high level on the GMAT, but you can certainly feel free to use additional practice resources if you choose. However, by not planning to take CATs throughout your studies, you have not given yourself any means to test your skills "along the way." Waiting until the final month to take practice CATs will likely be problematic. Your entire process hinges on perfect comprehension and perfect retention over the course of 2 months, without a way to gauge if what you’re doing is actually working. You should plan to take a practice CAT every week or two during your studies – doing so provides important information about your growing skills and how you handle the physical and psychological aspects of taking the test and your pacing.
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
