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Data Sufficiency HELP! is DS Pill from GMAT Pill any good?

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infinite87
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Data Sufficiency HELP! is DS Pill from GMAT Pill any good? [#permalink] New post   01 Sep 2015, 20:43
Hello,

I just took the GMAT today and scored a 660 (Q42 and V38). In my practice CATs all my Quant scores were 48 or 49. Verbal never reached beyond 34, but I guess the GMAT does not test much idioms now which is why I got a better verbal score on the real thing.

My main issue is data sufficiency. I am very good at problem solving, but with data sufficiency I get suckered into the traps or proceed with guessing. This is really getting in my way to achieve a 700+ score. I know for a fact that Q42 is not representative of my math skills, I have always aced math in school and even with GMAT I can do it with PS questions but data sufficiency is really bothering me.

I have been looking at the GMAT Pill DS course, is it any good? what are other options to work specifically on Data Sufficiency questions? I need to improve in this particular part only and I can easily score above 700. I already scheduled my test for 5th of October, which gives me exactly 5 weeks(more than enough time for me to work on something).

All responses would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Infinite
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Re: Data Sufficiency HELP! is DS Pill from GMAT Pill any good? [#permalink] New post   01 Sep 2015, 22:47
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Hi infinite87,

With a Q42, you ARE likely losing out on a lot of 'strategy' points (primarily in DS, but you're likely also making some minor mistakes in PS questions). Thankfully, DS is as predictable and standardized as any other part of the GMAT, so you CAN train to score higher.

How long did you study before this attempt?
What materials did you use?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
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Re: Data Sufficiency HELP! is DS Pill from GMAT Pill any good? [#permalink] New post   02 Sep 2015, 00:08
I studied for about 3 months earlier this year and then had to take a 45 day break because I picked up some college classes. I think that was my biggest mistake because with GMAT constant practice is essential. After that I had about 28 days till my GMAT and I believe I screwed up the Quant because of that. Nevertheless, I have 5 weeks now and I signed up with GMAT Pill for their DS Pill course.

You're right I might have made some mistakes with PS as well. I studied using Manhattan guides and then drilled questions on the forum. I am now using official guide and DS pill for data sufficiency and focusing on my weak areas for DS and PS as well which include: Number properties, mixture problems, probability and combinations, coordinate geometry, advanced inequality and absolute value type questions.
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Re: Data Sufficiency HELP! is DS Pill from GMAT Pill any good? [#permalink] New post   03 Sep 2015, 22:53
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infinite87

Data sufficiency on the GMAT is tricky, and requires one to be very clear in their thought process. It is very easy to slip up. As you go through practice problems, analyze the type of mistakes you are making and internalize them. Fortunately, GMAT structures most of their DS questions in one of many standard ways, and with enough practice you will be able to spot the pattern.

One strategy you can take is to always ensure that you have specific hard examples whenever you claim insufficiency, meaning if a questions can be answered as Yes or No, then put those examples on paper, the same is true for value questions. I see a lot of students brush DS statements on the surface and claim insufficiency without showing concrete examples. This will help you not miss a lot of the problems, as you get more experienced this becomes less of an issue.

Cheers,
Dabral
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Re: Data Sufficiency HELP! is DS Pill from GMAT Pill any good? [#permalink]
03 Sep 2015, 22:53

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