dont understand questions

Question

So before attempting the diagnostic test, I just did the MATH review from the free GMAT prep software.
When the time came to attempt the questions from official guide review 2016, I got so confused! I thought I had gone over each and every concept carefully and even wrote notes from the beginning for each question.

I just did 10 questions from quantitative sectio . My problem is, I dont really have a strategy to answer the questions. How do i know its a probability question? or an arithmetic question? which formula to apply or which concepts to use? Seems like each question can be attempted in more than 1 way.
For example, for question 5 from the review, which is about finding radius of the cylinder, the review has used the VOLUME of cylinder formula to solve the question but going back to the prep software, there is no volume formula formula mentioned, atleast not the pi r square height one. so what do i do in this case? how do i learn which formula needs to be used for which question?
I have made sure my concepts are clear but when its time to answering questions, I'm completely lost.
Whats the best way I can prepare myself for the MATH section of GMAT?

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ccooley · Answer

First of all: you're going to be fine! This isn't an unusual position to be in. Actually, by recognizing that 'picking a strategy' is one of your weaknesses, you're miles ahead of a lot of people who focus too much on the content and not enough on how/when to apply it.

thank u so much!!that surely helps

If you genuinely understand the concepts, your next step is to start tracking when to apply each of them. I recommend starting a 'when I see this, do this' spreadsheet, or a set of flashcards. In one column, you'll keep a list of 'clues' that you see in Quant problems. In the other column, you'll keep a list of 'what to do'.

For instance, that radius problem you're talking about. The 'when I see this' column might say 'I know the volume of a cylinder, but I want to find the radius' (assuming that's what the problem was about). Then the 'do this' column would say, 'calculate the radius using the volume formula, which is...' etc.

This article goes into a lot more detail. It's technically a GRE article, but it applies equally to the GMAT: https://www.manhattanprep.com/gre/blog/ ... e-problem/

Also, whenever you do a GMAT problem, review it! And don't ever just read the explanation. In fact, when you start to review a problem, you shouldn't even look at whether you got it right, at first. Instead, try it again without a timer, and use your notes if you need to. Take all the time you need, look things up, and see if you can get it right on your own. That trains your brain to 'struggle through' tough problems, rather than just having the information fed to you by the explanation. Think of explanations as a last resort!

jonmarrow · Answer

thank u so very much- that really helps me a lot- im buying MGMAT book and im going to be studying the books now

dont understand questions

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