Can't see the paterns

Question

Hi GMAT Club community,

I'm doing the GMAT because I want to do an Msc. Last June I took the GMAT after several months of not a good study method and score a 570. If I could score between 600 and 650 it would be fine. I started study again in late August with MGMAT books. Following the GMAT prep guidelines from here I just dedicated this first month to quant (I'm still on it). I score Q40 on test day and a Q33 after begin to study again (two months later of the test day). After studying the 5 MGMAT books i took a Quant test ant score Q41, what was better than mi test day score, and only in 4 weeks. Now I'm a little stuck in quant because I'm a little bit lost on my study plan.

Reviewing mi quant exams i notice that my worst areas are algebra, FDP's and arithmetic (the 3 most important areas before word problems and the rest), so I dedicated my time in do exercises of DS and PS from 500 to sub700 level. In some topics as algebra I could notice that all the exercises are based in the same pattern but I could not for the other topics. My idea was to identify this patterns in order to study them and drill them doing exercises, but I have the feeling that I'm wasting my time doing exercises because I cannot notice any pattern.

Could you give me some advice or guidelines to improve my quant score and recognize the patterns on the questions? My idea of master a gmat topic is: Read the problem – Categorize them – Know the tools to solve them – Plan to solve – Solve. So let’s say I’m stuck between knowing the tools and planning to solve.

Thanks!

OptimusPrepJanielle · Answer

Hi Omidvc,

Your plan looks good and should be able to help you.
However if you have not taken any professional help and your scores have plateaued, I would recommend you to go for a preparatory course.
You can try most of the courses, including ours for free for some time.

Also, the scores that you have mentioned, are they from the GMAT Prep CATs?
You get the best representation og your standing through the GMAT Prep CATs.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Omidvc,

With a 570, you were actually closer to a 600+ score than you probably realized. With some broader changes to how you 'see' (and respond to) the GMAT, you could easily score 650+.

Based on what you've described, I think that you're treating the Quant section as if it were a 'math Test' - which it really isn't. There are a variety of Tactics, pattern-matching skills, etc. that you can use to score at a much higher level, but I'm not sure if you're properly practicing them right now.

1) When are you planning to take the GMAT?
2) How are you performing on your VERBAL practice?
3) When you scored 570, what were your Quant and Verbal Scaled Score?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Omidvc · Answer

Hi, thanks for the reply.

1) In late november.
2) I started doing only quant. I'm currently starting verbal. 
3) 40Q and 28V

Actually I'm scoring 43Q on MGMAT test. My goal on quant is to achieve 44Q.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Omidvc,

With a Q40/V28, you have a great opportunity to pick up points in BOTH sections. With a 600-650 score goal, there are lots of different score 'combos' that will put you in that range, so you don't 'need' a Q44. As it stands though, you should be able to hit that level (or higher), if you can minimize the little mistakes that you might be making. 
 
1) When was the last time you took a CAT? How did you score on that CAT (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Can't see the paterns

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards