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by Rich Cohen [email protected] www.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.
GMAT Apps are NOT Recommended During Your Studies
Hi Rich,
I am looking for extra materials to help my studies. Are there any good apps for GMAT?
Alan
Hi Alan
While there are a number of GMAT apps online, I don’t actually recommend that Test Takers use any of them. Beyond the lack of actual usefulness of many apps, there’s a ‘physical component’ to properly training to face the GMAT that apps don’t account for. When studying with online materials, the most realistic way to work is on a desktop computer (and barring that, a laptop computer set at eye level with a peripheral mouse). Doing practice questions off of an app is not realistic relative to the ‘mechanics’ of Test Day (nor is interacting with an app in general) – how you sit while taking the GMAT, the text font/size/placement on the screen, how you have to physically go about answering the question, etc. are all specific details that impact your performance a great deal over the course of a 4-hour Exam. Using an app won’t properly train you for any of those aspects of Test Day.
Using ‘Bunching’ to Quickly Solve Certain Arithmetic Questions
Dear Rich,
How are we supposed to answer questions that ask for large sums or products like this one?
The sum of the first 50 positive even integers is 2550. What is the sum of even integers from 102 to 200 inclusive?
A. 5100
B. 7550
C. 10100
D. 15500
E. 20100
There's a math pattern called "bunching", which can also be used to answer this question.
Since we're dealing with the EVEN integers from 102 to 200, we have a total of 50 numbers (there are 100 integers from 101 to 200 and half of them are even).
Adding the biggest (200) and smallest (102) gives us 302
Adding the next biggest (198) and next smallest (104) also gives us 302
This pattern continues with each ‘pair’ of numbers.
With 50 numbers, we have 25 pairs. Each pair = 302
25(302) is approximately 25(300), which = 7500
There's only one answer that's close to 7500
Final Answer: B
Using LSAT Material During Your Studies Can Actually Be Harmful
Rich,
I scored 500 on my first gmat, but I want to score 650+. I am thinking about using lsat materials to help with verbal. What do you think?
Clinton
Hi Clinton
GMAT RC and CR prompts are based on a limited number of question types and are written in "GMAT style." Studying LSAT questions will expose you to question types that DO NOT occur on the GMAT as well as patterns/logic that you will NOT see on the GMAT. By studying with LSAT materials you will end up wasting lots of valuable time on concepts that you will never see on Test Day. In addition, you’ll be committing to memory patterns/ideas/logic that you won’t ever use on the GMAT. Ultimately, you'd be better served by focusing on just GMAT material.
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
