Failed Quant Miserably - Timing Strategy. Help!

Question

I took my first GMAT yesterday, and I'm so annoyed with myself! I made 49 on the Verbal section, but spent too much time on a couple of long-winded math problems in the beginning of the Quant. I knew how to derive the answers, but didn’t realize that the manual math calculations had consumed so much time. Also, I think the shorter 60 min test threw my timing -- my practice tests were the old 75 minute version. With fewer questions overall, I wasn’t able to spread the time deficit out as I had done in practice tests. I ran out of time and had to guess on the last 6-7 questions. As a result, I scored much, much lower on my math than I had in practice Q38   vs Q47. While the overall score is still very good (680), had I scored in math as I had in my practice tests, my overall score would have easily been 700+ !!!!!!.
 
My pride will not allow me to submit such a terribly low math score with my applications, so I'm rescheduling the test.

I know what I’m *supposed* to do, but it seems that my brain was too focused on performing calcs during the actual test to take notice that I was spending too much time on deriving an answer. Pointers for how you can assure that you behave the same way on test day as you do during timed practice?

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GyMrAT · Answer

Thats a fantastic Verbal score, Congratulations!! However the Quant score is not reflective of your ability, based on your practice test score.

Try reading the below articles, you may find them useful. 
 https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog/2016/08/19/everything-you-need-to-know-about-gmat-time-management-part-1-of-3/ 
 https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog/2016/09/19/everything-you-need-to-know-about-time-management-part-2-of-3/ 
 https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog/2016/10/18/everything-you-need-to-know-about-gmat-time-management-part-3/

It will be very insightful to know your prep strategy, if you could post a debrief. Many can learn alot from your prep experience.

All the best!!

Thanks,
GyM

dannythor6911 · Answer

What did you use to study before? Have you considered a tutor? Contact me at danthegmatman@gmail.com. Thanks

Fauxvirgo · Answer

- Took the quick “baseline” quiz on GMAT.com that said possible scores ranged from 680+
- Feeling pretty good about that assessment, I scheduled GMAT for 6 weeks in advance. 
- Used OG guide in conjunction with 4 week test prep class (16 hours of instruction)
- Performed all Quant problems in OG, noting misses or struggles, correlated to problem areas. Google searches and videos to self-study weak areas. 
-3 weeks before: GMATPrep Practice Test 1, Q43. Reviewed missed and struggle problems
- Purchased OG Quant book for more problems. Completed all and repeat targeting problem areas. 
1 Day Before - 2nd GMATPrep practice test, Q47

Day of: Q38 ?

FYI since my verbal scores have consistently been in the high ranges, I didn’t study beyond the classroom environment and checking misses on the practice tests.

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Fauxvirgo · Answer

I feel like I should also mention that I’m a returning student - my undergrad in mechanical engineering was completed in 2004. The fact that I completed my engineering math classes with As makes this failure simultaneously hilarious yet shameful. Lol. The math is not difficult, but finding the strategy for some of these concepts takes a bit of effort for me. I confirmed with my high school
Math teacher that I was never taught combinatorics and properties of numbers at the level presented on the GMAT, so I extensively studied these topics.

One question early on really tripped me up. It must have been a 700 level question or a “test” question, because there were 3 unknowns yet you could only derive 2 equations. The only way I could see to solve would be to manually plug integers in until you found a corresponding integer that worked, and that whole process was just way way way too time consuming. I’m pretty sure that’s the question that sunk me. I should have moved on as soon as I realized there was no easy way to solve, but I thought there may have been some insight to gain as I proceeded to do the math - like maybe the one of the unknowns might cancel out, and become irrelevant. But, nope.

I have two small children at home which makes finding dedicated study time difficult except for very late evening hours, so total hours invested in this is less than I would like - I’d estimate about 60-80 hours total.

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Fauxvirgo · Answer

OG books - see my response above. I haven’t considered a private tutor, primarily because a) I felt I would score well enough alone to not merit the expense, and b) time constraints due to childcare responsibilities.

Average admittance score for the area B schools is 620-650; if my math score weren’t so dismal, I’d be OK with the 680 total, since that combined with my 15 years of professional experience should make my application an easy admission.

However, I’ve always been a pretty good student, so there’s a large part of me that craves the high score I know I’m capable of!

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GyMrAT · Answer

The prep looks pretty neat. I suggest you to analyze your ESR, to get a better idea of your performance under actual exam conditions. It will help you to plug in holes in your timing strategy. Also i recommend more practice tests, to devise your own timing strategy. You can try some free tests from the below link or purchase the Manhattan Prep tests or GMAT club tests for Quant. The Manhattan Prep tests & GMAT club quant tests contain some of the hardest quant questions & are good to test your performance against some 700+ level questions under exam conditions. Manhattan tests come free with the purchase of one of their strategy guides. A good purchase will be the Advanced Quant Strategy guide by Manhattan Prep. https://gmatclub.com/forum/18-online-fr ... 57862.html Thanks, GyM

CAMANISHPARMAR · Answer

I really appreciate your modesty and candidness. I am confident that you will be a 99 percentile scorer without any help from anyone. Being a mechanical engineer I am sure you must have done higher level mathematics which is much above the level tested on GMAT. Its just that GMAT has its own ways of making easy questions slightly difficult. With more practice you should be just fine. As you have pointed out in your post you also have to back your preparation with proper strategy. We all learn from our mistakes. As someone has rightly said, ""Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall" I also have a two years daughter and I sometimes feel guilty that I am unable to give her much time since I have started preparing for the GMAT from past one month or so. I can completely understand your position. Kudos to you for being a wonderful mother and I am sure you will be a 99 percentile scorer soon!! All the very best in your journey & I am pretty confident that you will get your dream score soon!!

CAMANISHPARMAR · Answer

I have come across few questions for which you don't have to solve for each variable individually. For e.g. Try this question:- https://gmatclub.com/forum/amanda-and-t ... 43994.html I am just trying to help with a particular type of question which I came across and trying to bring home a point that the GMAT is actually trying to test you on your reasoning skills rather than how fast you are doing calculations. If you are spending too much time doing calculations it means that GMAT has trapped you and has made you do which it wanted you to do!! i.e. fall into a trap. There is always a smarter quicker way of doing the quant using reasoning and logic. Develop a habit of "let go" if you are not getting a question right. If your mind cannot "let go" then you might land into a problem. Even if you get 3-4 questions wrong then also you can score a Q50-51. GyMrAT has shared some very useful links in relation to time management. I am sure these should help you in improving your time management if you were already not aware about these techniques.

Fauxvirgo · Answer

Camanishparmar, I like your term “mind trap”! That’s exactly what happened, those tricksy devils! It’s hard to give up on questions you know you can solve. You’re right - I need to train to think of problem strategy first before blindly diving into calculations. In engineering, we are trained to not make too many assumptions. Wrong assumptions lead to simplified but flawed calculations. We prefer to allow the numbers to show what is and what is not possible. So... thanks for the insight. For the GMAT I need to reverse that logic and allow myself to reason first and calculate second.

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Fauxvirgo · Answer

GyM, you may be pleased to discover that I marched straight to Barnes & Noble and purchased the Advanced Quant book hours after my defeat. And I also purchased the Fundamentals of Math prep book as well - I figured the many drills on the fundamentals will make these calculations and problem strategy more natural and therefore quicker. I hope that makes identifying 700 level problem strategy quicker as well.

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CAMANISHPARMAR · Answer

Thanks for the compliment. You have to optimize and sometimes you have to "let go" in order to optimize. I am pretty sure had you "let go" in one minute on the question which consumed your maximum time then you would not have guessed on last 6-7 questions. Now you tell me what is better "skipping 1-2 questions" which you don't know how to solve "QUICKLY" or "attempting 6-7 questions" with your skill set and aptitude?

I am sure you have learnt it now (unfortunately through the hard way and in a real exam). If possible try to give more mocks this time around.

Your last sentence says "For the GMAT I need to reverse that logic and allow myself to reason first and calculate second.", I will add one more thing..."minimum calculations - which should not take more than 1 minute for doing so". If you are doing calculations for more than a minute on any questions then ask yourself are you doing it smartly or is this going to take a long time and spoil your whole exam. Try to reason out as much as you can before you get to the calculations and don't spend much time on calculations once you get there.

CAMANISHPARMAR · Answer

Last month this is the plan I used to complete this book:- MGMAT study plan.jpg Pls make a note of the following errata sheet for the advanced quant book or you will keep scratching your head while solving questions:- https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/erra ... quant-6ed/ I hope this helps you!! All the very best!!

CAMANISHPARMAR · Answer

This question is from the advanced quant book (page 136 of 405) .... I hope this helps

CAMANISHPARMAR · Answer

When are you taking your next GMAT? I don't think you need any help in Quant but will be more than happy to help you just in case if you need any.

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Failed Quant Miserably - Timing Strategy. Help!

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