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Courses and practice tests will only get you so far. What took me from 670 to 730 was by doing every single problem in the OG, in a very specific and methodical way.
I am sure you have heard that the OG is gold. If not, you heard it here. OG problems are a scarce resource: only 907. That's it. These are one of the few official sets of problems from the GMAC. Compare that it the near infinite number of problems from various unofficial sources for free or for fee that, while useful, will only take you so far. Treat the OG like the "bible" it is and watch your score soar to 720+.
Here is how:
FIRST: Get generally familiar with the test, problem types, commons questions, and a general understanding of the test material. Maybe even take a paid course like Master GMAT, or any number of other courses. There are other articles on this topic, check those out.
SECOND: Strengthen your weaknesses. Identify, then delve in to the topic specific books from Manhattan GMAT and/or Veritas. THEN do the real work...
When you are ready to use your scarce resource, go for it. The OG:
Think of the entire OG as a series of 40 mini-tests. Once or twice per day you will do one of these mini-tests. Do a cross section of problems; for each test do exactly 6 PS, 5 DS, 4 CR, 4 SC, and one RC passage. This should take approx 50 min, given 2 min for each Quant and 1:45 for each verbal problem. While you do these problems, you will time yourself with a stopwatch, and hit the lap button when you complete each problem. I used my iPhone and it worked really well. This piece is very important.
THEN, when you finish your test, check your answers and write your time next to each problem.
Then go through EVERY SINGLE PROBLEM, right or wrong. Make mental notes:
For questions you got right:
Did I actually get it right or was I lucky?
Could I have done this faster?
Could I have done this in a more reliable way?
If the question was worded differently, would I still have gotten it right?
For questions you got wrong:
Was it a stupid mistake? If so, how can I do the problem in a more reliable way? How can I make my notation better to avoid stupid mistakes? Use a chart? Formula? (For Quant)
Was it a conceptual mistake? Is this subject a weakness? Do I need to study supplemental material?
Could I have done this faster?
Could I have done this in a more reliable way?
If the question was worded differently, would I still have gotten it wrong?
Yes for every single problem!
THEN think through the timing:
Correct and under 2 min: These are your strengths, keep working to maintain or incrementally improve.
Correct and 2-3 min: These are trouble spots, you were right but too slow. Consider this a minor weakness. How can you get the answer faster?
Correct and over 3 min: Notable weakness. Don't forget that these are junior high style problems; almost anyone can get them right in 4 min. Re-look the foundation of the material, get a more in depth conceptual understanding of the subject matter.
Wrong and under 2 min: Probably a stupid mistake, take your time and read it through. Use your notation to avoid quick mistakes.
Wrong and 2-3 min: These are notable weaknesses, you were wrong and slow. Figure out why you got it wrong and why you were too slow: these are different questions with different answers and different solutions.
Wrong and over 3 min: Significant weakness. Go back to the drawing board and restudy the foundation of the material, get a more in depth conceptual understanding of the subject matter. Consider making a note of the Problem sub-type and skipping it altogether on the test (eg, immediately guess and move on) if you don't want to delve in to it.
All said and done every "mini-test" will take 50 min to solve, then and hour or longer to review. This is the level of discipline that most of us need to score 720+. Best of luck. Do this, with this level of detail and method. You will score a 720 or better.
The key, as you have heard before, is the review. Others have come up with similar techniques, this is my spin on it. The review of your work is exponentially more important than doing the problems. Doing 50 problems with great review is easily more valuable than doing 500 problems with no review. Try it and succeed.
I am sure you have heard that the OG is gold. If not, you heard it here. OG problems are a scarce resource: only 907. That's it. These are one of the few official sets of problems from the GMAC. Compare that it the near infinite number of problems from various unofficial sources for free or for fee that, while useful, will only take you so far. Treat the OG like the "bible" it is and watch your score soar to 720+.
Here is how:
FIRST: Get generally familiar with the test, problem types, commons questions, and a general understanding of the test material. Maybe even take a paid course like Master GMAT, or any number of other courses. There are other articles on this topic, check those out.
SECOND: Strengthen your weaknesses. Identify, then delve in to the topic specific books from Manhattan GMAT and/or Veritas. THEN do the real work...
When you are ready to use your scarce resource, go for it. The OG:
Think of the entire OG as a series of 40 mini-tests. Once or twice per day you will do one of these mini-tests. Do a cross section of problems; for each test do exactly 6 PS, 5 DS, 4 CR, 4 SC, and one RC passage. This should take approx 50 min, given 2 min for each Quant and 1:45 for each verbal problem. While you do these problems, you will time yourself with a stopwatch, and hit the lap button when you complete each problem. I used my iPhone and it worked really well. This piece is very important.
THEN, when you finish your test, check your answers and write your time next to each problem.
Then go through EVERY SINGLE PROBLEM, right or wrong. Make mental notes:
For questions you got right:
Did I actually get it right or was I lucky?
Could I have done this faster?
Could I have done this in a more reliable way?
If the question was worded differently, would I still have gotten it right?
For questions you got wrong:
Was it a stupid mistake? If so, how can I do the problem in a more reliable way? How can I make my notation better to avoid stupid mistakes? Use a chart? Formula? (For Quant)
Was it a conceptual mistake? Is this subject a weakness? Do I need to study supplemental material?
Could I have done this faster?
Could I have done this in a more reliable way?
If the question was worded differently, would I still have gotten it wrong?
Yes for every single problem!
THEN think through the timing:
Correct and under 2 min: These are your strengths, keep working to maintain or incrementally improve.
Correct and 2-3 min: These are trouble spots, you were right but too slow. Consider this a minor weakness. How can you get the answer faster?
Correct and over 3 min: Notable weakness. Don't forget that these are junior high style problems; almost anyone can get them right in 4 min. Re-look the foundation of the material, get a more in depth conceptual understanding of the subject matter.
Wrong and under 2 min: Probably a stupid mistake, take your time and read it through. Use your notation to avoid quick mistakes.
Wrong and 2-3 min: These are notable weaknesses, you were wrong and slow. Figure out why you got it wrong and why you were too slow: these are different questions with different answers and different solutions.
Wrong and over 3 min: Significant weakness. Go back to the drawing board and restudy the foundation of the material, get a more in depth conceptual understanding of the subject matter. Consider making a note of the Problem sub-type and skipping it altogether on the test (eg, immediately guess and move on) if you don't want to delve in to it.
All said and done every "mini-test" will take 50 min to solve, then and hour or longer to review. This is the level of discipline that most of us need to score 720+. Best of luck. Do this, with this level of detail and method. You will score a 720 or better.
The key, as you have heard before, is the review. Others have come up with similar techniques, this is my spin on it. The review of your work is exponentially more important than doing the problems. Doing 50 problems with great review is easily more valuable than doing 500 problems with no review. Try it and succeed.
11 Jun 2013, 14:18
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi Cush123, I think you're spot on with your comment that reviewing problems is the key to improving. I particularly enjoyed your line about "There is more value in reviewing 50 than doing 500 without review." This is completely true, and yet I keep having to tell students that doing hundreds of hours of problems doesn't serve them well. There is a finite number of problems you want to review, and if you understand those, you're ready for what the exam throws your way. After that the biggest difference will be mental agility on math to use different techniques (algebra, concept, number picking, etc) and ability to differentiate between subtle (but important) differences in verbal. This is where the exam becomes an art as much as a science.
The one thing I'll mention is that the strategy you outlined worked very well for you, it might not work as well for everyone else. Use it as guideline and adjust to what works best for you and you'll undoubtedly see improvement in your scores. The review is probably the most important part after learning the material. If you neglect this aspect of your prep, you're denying yourself a significant chance to improve your strategy and, ultimately, your score.
Hope this helps!
-Ron
The one thing I'll mention is that the strategy you outlined worked very well for you, it might not work as well for everyone else. Use it as guideline and adjust to what works best for you and you'll undoubtedly see improvement in your scores. The review is probably the most important part after learning the material. If you neglect this aspect of your prep, you're denying yourself a significant chance to improve your strategy and, ultimately, your score.
Hope this helps!
-Ron
16 Jun 2013, 10:17
Kudos
Bookmarks
VeritasPrepRon
Thanks Ron! I probably could have saved my self some headache if I had gotten more expert advice!
