I struggle with CR and DS. Need help.

Question

Hi,
I have given a mock test from mba.com
My current score is 615 in focuses edition. 
I struggle with CR and DS. 
Which one do you suggest? EGMAT or Magoosh

focused*

I’m looking to understand basics of CR

EducationAisle · Answer

Since you mention CR as your specific area of concern, thought I would mention that our Critical Reasoning book  Critical Reasoning Nirvana  is perhaps the  only  book that offers a score improvement  guarantee .

After reading the book  twice  (yes! it's an  academic  book, and so must be read twice in all seriousness, to  reinforce  the concepts), you will start looking forward to solving CR questions!

If you want to  sample  a chapter before deciding to go ahead with our book, please DM me your mail-id (along with the chapter that you would like to sample) and we will be happy to send that chapter to you by mail.

p.s. The book is available on  Amazon  and  Flipkart .

smithgmat123 · Answer

Understand Question Types: Familiarize yourself with common CR and DS question formats.
Structured Approach: Develop a systematic method for tackling each type of question.
Official Materials: Use GMAT Official Guides and practice tests for realistic questions.
Timed Practice: Simulate exam conditions with timed practice to build speed and accuracy.
Review Mistakes: Analyze errors to identify patterns and areas needing improvement.
Focus on Weaknesses: Prioritize practice on topics where you struggle the most.
Use High-Quality Resources: Leverage reputable prep books, online courses, and forums.
Error Log: Maintain a log of mistakes to track progress and focus your studies.
Simulate Exam Conditions: Take full-length practice tests to build stamina and adapt to time pressure.
Seek Support: Engage with study groups or tutors for additional insights and motivation.

Gmat750aspirant · Answer

Egmat is good

NextstopISB · Answer

Go through Gmat Club custom tests filtering those topic

bhargavhhhhhhhh · Answer

Go through GMAT ninza youtube videos

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Since you are struggling with CR, I have some advice on how you can improve those skills.

To improve in CR, your first goal is to fully master the individual CR topics: Strengthen the Argument, Weaken the Argument, Resolve the Paradox, etc. As you learn about each question type, do focused practice so you can track your skill in answering each type. If, for example, you get a Weaken question wrong, ask yourself why. Did you make a careless mistake? Did you not recognize the specific question type? Were you doing too much analysis in your head? Did you skip over a keyword in an answer choice? Did you fall for a common trap? If so, how can you avoid the same trap in the future?You must thoroughly analyze your mistakes and seek to turn weaknesses into strengths by focusing on the question types you dread seeing and the questions you take a long time to answer correctly.

Another major mistake that people make when training for CR is that they answer practice questions too quickly. To correctly answer CR questions, you have to see exactly what is going on in the passages and answer choices, and you likely won't learn to do so by spending a few minutes per question. At this stage of your training, you may need to spend up to fifteen minutes per question, learning to see what there is to see. Here is a way to look at this process: If you get a new job in a field in which you are not experienced, you may not be as fast as the other people working with you, but you know you have a job to do. So, what do you do? You do the job correctly, if not as quickly as those around you, and you make sure that you learn all the angles, so that you do the job well. Rushing through the job and doing it incorrectly would not make sense. As you gain more experience, you learn to do the same job more quickly.

Think of CR questions similarly. Your job is to do what? To get through questions quickly? Not really. Your job is to get correct answers. So, first you have to learn to get correct answers, generally at least 10 to 15 in a row consistently, and more in a row would be better. Doing so is doing your job, and if it takes you fifteen minutes per question to get correct answers consistently, then so be it.

Only after you have learned to get correct answers consistently should you work on speeding up. Remember, working quickly but not doing your job is useless. Better to work slowly and learn to do your job well. You can be sure that with experience, you will learn to speed up, and then you will still be doing your job well, i.e., getting correct answers consistently.

Finally, a crucial aspect of correctly answering CR questions is noticing the key differences between trap choices and correct answers. Trap choices can sound temptingly correct, but they don't get the job done. The logic of what a trap choice says simply doesn't fit what the question is asking you to find. So, to find correct answers, learn to see the key differences between trap choices and correct answers.

Here's an article with some more advice:

GMAT Critical Reasoning: 8 Essential Tips

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

One thing you can try is including working with a study buddy. If you're strong in other areas, you could offer to help with those in exchange for help with CR and DS, ideally from someone who is strong in those areas. There's a study buddy thread on gmatclub you could check out/sign up to.

Critical Reasoning tips

Critical Reasoning tips

yc168 · Answer

You can take advantage of the free trial offered by both. See which one fits better with your learning style.
 
For CR, alternatively you can use books. Either Manhattan Prep or PowerScore are highly recommended on GMAT Club.

After learning the concept and strategies from the book for each question type, you can then practice CR questions from either OG or on GMAT Club  CR Forum . Thousands of questions are available.

ManifestDreamMBA · Answer

For CR would suggest to identify where are you faltering - identifying Q type, argument understanding/misreading, unable to understand logic or answer choices. You can then accordingly create a strategy to fix what needs most attention. Think of it like a chain - Do not proceed to next link unless you fix the issue at current link.

all the best!

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

When it comes to test prep resources, it’s important to find the one that best suits your learning style.

This article explains the different prep resources you can use:  GMAT Focus Study Resources: Your Guide

This article explains what to look for when choosing a prep course:  Best GMAT Focus Edition Prep Courses Online: What to Look For

Finally, most courses also offer free or low-cost trials so that you can give a few a test drive.

That said, regardless of which resources you decide to use,  I suggest that you thoroughly review your practice tests and practice sessions to identify the specific Verbal topics that are still giving you trouble (e.g., Inference CR questions and Main Idea RC questions). Then immerse yourself in all aspects of one topic at a time by answering a ton of questions related to that topic.

For instance, let’s say you struggle with Assumption questions in CR. First, immerse yourself in all aspects (e.g., definitions, techniques, strategies, etc) of this topic, and then focus solely on answering Assumption questions.

After each problem set, take the time to delve into your incorrect answers and what caused them:

Did you fail to consider a key aspect of the argument?   
  Did you fall for a trap answer? If so, what was the exact nature of the trap?   
  Did you misinterpret the given information or aspects of an answer choice?   
  Did you miss a key piece of information?

By meticulously analyzing your mistakes, you will efficiently address your weaknesses and, consequently, enhance your skills. This process has been unequivocally proven to be effective. Assumption questions is just one example; be sure to follow this process for all Verbal topics.  
 
Also, check out these articles: 
 
    How GMAT Students With a Growth Mindset See Their Mistakes   
    How to Score High on GMAT Verbal on the Focus Edition   
    GMAT Critical Reasoning: 8 Essential Tips   
    GMAT Reading Comprehension Tips: Top 8 DOs and DON’Ts

	Magoosh increases your score, guaranteed - 15% off ALL Magoosh GMAT plans with code GMATCLUB15 + Free GMAT Club Tests.
	Manhattan Prep: $79 Bonus Score Higher on Your GMAT Exam. Guaranteed.
	Target Test Prep - Save up to $325 $200 Discount + $79 Bonus GMAT Club Tests
	e-GMAT: 60% Off on GMAT Focus Get to 735+ from any starting point
	Experts' Global - ~~$1720~~ $960 End-to-End GMAT Prep + App Support: 150+ Videos, 2000+ Questions, 15 FLTs +
	GMATWhiz - $299 ~~$499~~ Experience the course through a free trial.
	GMAT Club Tests - Free Included with every course purchase of $149+ View all deals

I struggle with CR and DS. Need help.

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