2 Months to go Need Help!

Question

Hi

My name is Akhilesh and I have planned to take the GMAT this July'11. I need some help from all the forum members.

As for my background, I just graduated with BMS (BBA) degree from Mumbai University and start preparing for GMAT right from the next day of my exams. As for my skills, mathematics has been one of my favorite subjects and haven't faced much problem in it. But have been completely out of touch for the past 3-4 years.

I have been preparing for almost a month now and have almost got over with Quants, with 2-3 small topics left. But my dread is DS and Inequalities.
I joined a coaching class, but haven't been too satisfied with it. Their material is also sub-standard from what I have seen.

BTW my target is 750 - wont stop till I get there.

My materials include -
OG 12
RS Aggarwal - renowned book for aptitude tests in India
Coaching Class books - which have mixed content for GRE-GMAT.
Manhattan Strategy Guides 4th Edition - all 8
Powerscore CR Bible
Random Content from different websites.

I have planned to take RC 99 and SC Grail after reading many good reviews about them.
Also to get additional GMAT problems practise - I plan to take the OG Verbal and Quant review 2nd edition.

I have taken 3 mock tests till now, just to get a slight idea of GMAT questions:

10-4-11 MGMAT CAT- 410 (Q24-V22)   I randomly took it, was absolutely unprepared and DS owned me.
27-4-11 MGMAT CAT 2 - 420 (Q 39)   DS got me
4-5-11 MGMAT CAT 3 - 450 (Q 45)   DS got me again

So, My question is - 
1)Are the books RC99- SC Grail worth the purchase even though I have Manhattan Guides ?
2)Where should I practise DS from - I got almost 12-15 questions in every CAT and I want to master it.
3) Any other good books which I am missing out - I dont mind spending time since I aint working and am only concentrating on GMAT.

This portal has truly motivated me, hoping to get good responses.
Cheers!

hopalong · Answer

start with mgmat guides. its impressive that you improved your quant score so much without effort... strange, but impressive.

akhileshgupta05 · Answer

Well like I said I have been slogging for almost a month, I finished rs aggarwal but what I really need to work on is DS, where should I practise that from?

Posted from my mobile device

KarishmaB · Answer

Check out some articles on Veritas blog that talk about how to handle DS questions. Many of them discuss inequalities questions too. https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/2011/02 ... or-beware/ https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/2011/01 ... t-above-i/ https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/2010/10 ... er-pulled/ https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/2011/01 ... -part-iii/ https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/2011/01 ... edore-did/ We have a book exclusively for DS. You can check it out at: https://www.amazon.com/Data-Sufficiency- ... 093&sr=1-1 It discusses strategies to handle DS and the common pitfalls. Mind you, it does not focus on just 'Math', it focuses on how to handle the Math in the DS format. Finally, the trick is to play it cool. You have a worthy opponent in a DS question. Don't be in a hurry to steamroll over it. Take your time, analyze each statement and then both together if needed. Steal time from the PS questions to allot a little extra to the DS questions.

akhileshgupta05 · Answer

Sounds great will definitely check it out.

Posted from my mobile device

therock · Answer

Would definitely recommend RC99 for additional RC practice. Some of the passages are a little off and some answers vague, but overall I think it really prepares you well for the RCs that appear on the GMAT. If you are finding Manhattan SC difficult to absorb then the SC Grail would be a great buy since it is much easier to understand. It is also a good book if you want to quickly revise the SC concepts tested on the GMAT. However, it doesn't offer anything that the Manhattan SC doesn't have, so if you are comfortable with Manhattan SC then skip this. Or just buy both the books, they are quite cheap anyway. I think first the OGs. While the PS questions in the OGs are lousy, I think they have decent DS questions, specially the later ones. I think you are good to go. :-D

All the best!

akhileshgupta05 · Answer

okay.. sounds good... thanks for the good response man.
+1 Kudos to you

144144 · Answer

Karishma - is there any way to use the graph system when we have inqualities with |x|?

it is a very good and intuitive way to solve this kind of question. but i want to understand in what questions exactly its rly usable.

thanks.

I would be happy to know how u solve this question.

4. Are x and y both positive?
(1) 2x-2y=1
(2) x/y>1

thanks.

akhileshgupta05 · Answer

This once is not that difficult, question is x,y>0 ?

2. X/y>1 we cab deduce that both x and y have the same sign and x is more than y. But insufficient since they be positive or negative.

1. 2x-2y=1
or, x-y=1/2
by plugging in values we can see this constraint is valid only when x>y and both are positive or y>x both negative. But it doesn't say which one. So insufficient .

Combining both we know now x>y hence positive and answer is C. Combined sufficient

Posted from my mobile device

KarishmaB · Answer

The post https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/2011/01 ... h-to-mods/ discusses how to graph mods and use them in questions. Though it doesn't include inequalities, the concept doesn't change. Let me know if you have any specific questions in mind. As for this one, 4. Are x and y both positive? (1) 2x-2y=1 (2) x/y>1 Statement 1: Draw the line 2x-2y=1. You see that the points lie in the 1st, 3rd and 4th quadrants so x and y can be both positive, both negative of x positive y negative. Not sufficient alone. Statement 2: x/y > 1 implies that x and y should have the same sign and absolute value of x should be greater than y. Not sufficient alone. Using both together, look at the diagram. Ques6.jpg x and y have the same sign in the 1st and 3rd quadrants but absolute value of x will be greater than that of y only in 1st quadrant. (Slope of the line is 1 so x and y co-ordinates increase by the same amounts. In first quadrant, x is 1/2 more than y at every point. In third quadrant, y is 1/2 more than x - considering absolute value - at every point) In first quadrant, x and y are both positive to it is sufficient. Answer (C)

144144 · Answer

amazing. so simple when u understand how to work with it... need to practice it more. +1

thanks karishma

KarishmaB · Answer

I am glad you are finding it useful. Once you get the hang of it, it takes moments to get the answer in most cases! Keep practicing. Also, let me add here that all these concepts will come in handy while doing MBA and in your job too. A lot of things will be obvious and intuitive to you once you understand these basics. Getting a feel for Math gives you a lifelong edge. Anyway, enough of gyan!

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