Improve Quant

Question

Hi Everyone,

I have been reading a lot of stuff on here for the past couple of months. Today, I finally felt the need to shout out to all you legends out there and seek your valuable advice since Ive realised you guys happen to have mastered the art 'beating the GMAT'! Ive taken a few mock tests and happen to score consistently around 28-32 mark on Verbal and 31-42 Mark on Quant. Now 31 on Quant is bad bad. Verbal by no means is impressive either but Quants been eating me from the inside. I've already studied for 3 months and tried the following:

1. OG 12th Edition
2. MGMAT Guides (Didn't try the advanced chapters)
3. MGMAT CAT1:550
4. MGMAT CAT2: 580
5 GMATPrep1: 530
6. GMATPrep2: 610

I have realised I can't finish the questions in time and have to guess on the last few questions in quant. Verbal was the same before but its getting better.

As I said, my main concern is quant. Are there any private tutors out there that can guide me in the right direction. I am a hardworking individual but if left unguided I have a tendency to work ONLY hard and not smart which is bad! So need a mentor I think. Who would you guys recommend (if you would at all). And what else do you think I could do to improve my verbal score. Presently, the marks stand as follows on my last test Q41 V31. This is the first time I got a 41. I would like to be able to score Q47-49 and 35+ on Verbal consistently. e. Just need some guidance from you legends? Help needed please!

WoundedTiger · Answer

Well a private tutor should definitely suite you...Here are some links on what some experts have to say ** how-to-improve-your-quant-from-q44-to-q50-141670.html *** gmat-prep-software-analysis-and-what-if-scenarios-146146.html#p1171779 patterns-among-those-who-scored-750-what-did-they-use-157979.html Check out what if scenarios as it provides you with good insights to the exam. If your Math score is in 30-40,you defintely need to work on basics. You may also want to check GMATCLUB math book

aashu4uiit · Answer

I suggest you check the following website , helps a lot in understanding how go do question quickly.

gmatquantum <DOT>com/og13th/

1. Also do GMAT CLUB MATHS book

1) GMATCLUB Quizzes. One can start with 500 level questions initially and move to middle level and subsequently highest level.
2) Jeff sackmann's challenge sets. Soembody who is already scoring around 40 in quant won't require the basic one. The eight challenge sets are divided topic wise and they have mostly 600-700 level questions.So after the end of each topic, for eg geometry, one can make sets of 20-30 questions and do them timed using a timer.
3) For GMAT, the best resource is gmatclub, check out these links again the questions are level and category wise, exactly what we need.

KUDOS >>>>> PLEASE

avik629 · Answer

Hey abrax,

Why don't you post a screenshot of your Quant review of your latest GMATPrep test. I want to see the error spread.

Regards,

Avik.

erikvm · Answer

I keep hearing this, and I really dont know how to apply this to myself. I also, score around Q35-39 and cant seem to improve. Whenever I go back to basics I just sigh. I dont need know for the fourth time how to solve x + 4 = 14. I get those fundamental facts, but here on the GMAT PS section, I cant solve more than 30% of the questions - somehow I get thrown off and really don't grasp the actual question. Once I do check the solution, it's quite clear. Any suggestions?

alexau · Answer

The most important part of doing practice questions is reviewing them when you are done. While you may just think "Ok, I need to go rewatch a video." It is important to understand not only how to get to the correct answer, but also why that logic is correct and why the other answers are incorrect.

When you get a question wrong, I would recommend trying it again before looking at the answer. Now that you have a 1/4 chance, do you look at the problem any differently knowing an answer (and a tempting one) is off the board? If its a DS question, Did you think both were sufficient? Did you think only one was sufficient?

To improve, its about going beyond rewatching concept videos (while that is important as well).

Based on your quant scores, it may be beneficial to go and make sure you have a proper foundation for each quant concept. This may mean rewatching a few hours of videos just to get everything into your head again or reading a math book. From there you can start to analyze your quant mistakes and track which areas are your weakest.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi erikvm,

What type of note-taking do you do? Do you write the question down so you KNOW what you're solving for? Do write down a formula before you use it or do you just write numbers on the pad?

The type of problem that you're describing might come down to your "mechanics" - the physical work that you choose to do (or not do). Usually, taking MORE notes makes the task easier.

For example: Find the height of a triangle with a base of 8 and an area of 56.

How would you go about answering this question? What steps would you take?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

erikvm · Answer

Thanks for the tips. I'll definitely try the not looking at the answer if I get a question wrong and try again. I've just recently started watching Khan Academy, which happens to be really great - got any other good conceptual videos I should watch?

Well, I actually keep an error log in excel where I mark red for wrong and green for right on every question I do. If I get a question wrong I put a flag on it and write a tiny comment on what to remember for this specific question - sure - this gives me an understanding of that specific question, but then I hit another question and I usually get it wrong too.

Regarding your question on the triangle. Since I happen to know the formula for area for triangles, I'd do the following steps:

B*H/2 = 56 
 B*H = 112 
 8 * something is 112 . -> 112/8 = H

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi erikvm,

In your last post, you mentioned how "since you happen to know the formula...." you would write it down. Are there formulas that you DON'T know or other math knowledge (rate formulas, math rules, Number Properties, etc.) that you don't think you know enough about?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

erikvm · Answer

Absolutely. Functions for instance. I have a really hard time actually grasping the concept. Even though I get the basics "Okay, you put something in and get an output" - when it comes to harder questions, its just words. I don't understand it. For instance, this one: the-function-f-is-defined-for-each-positive-three-digit-100847.html I just sit here, staring at the words, with no idea on how to approach it

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi erikvm,

One of the things that you should probably factor into your studies is the frequency with which any concept (or group of concepts) will show up on the GMAT. I agree that the Function question that you linked to is "thick", but as a category, you'll likely see just 1 Function question on the GMAT (and it probably will NOT be as difficult as the one you linked). Getting 1 tough function question wrong on Test Day won't kill your score, so you have to factor that into your 'psychology' - it's okay to get tough questions wrong. You're not supposed to get overly emotional about it though, since there are LOTS of questions that you CAN get correct and you need to stay calm and focused enough to really nail those gettable questions.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

erikvm · Answer

Thanks for the tip. What categories do you suggest I put heavy focus on?

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi erikvm,

A big chunk of your Quant questions are going to be about Algebra (and Algebra-based math impacts a number of other questions that are not strictly Algebra questions). Broader Arithmetic and Formula usage (including Geometry formulas) are also layered throughout the Quant section. Number Properties show up often (especially in DS questions, which you will also see a LOT of on Test Day). Rates and Ratios also show up repeatedly. Since these categories represent the BIG points on Test Day, you should be spending far more time on them than on the rarer categories.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

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