INTERLEAVING vs BLOCKING

Question

Dear Fellow members and experts,

Hello. I took the test recently and scored a 660 (Q42, V39). I plan to take the test in about 2 months. The reason I wrote this post is to understand the difference between the 2 oft-cited study techniques: Interleaving vs Blocking.

Now, BB (Club founder and guru) mentions here https://gmatclub.com/forum/should-i-ret ... 83339.html that you should find a study pattern that you are comfortable with i.e. If you are a single tasker - focus on quant/verbal first for the first few weeks. Then, put your attention on the other area and do a deep dive. Consider joining a study group here on GMAT Club. Some thrive in collective environment. Do not move on until you feel comfortable with the section and you feel you understand the entire section in your book.

But, some expert articles mention that you should interleave your studies.

Now, I'm slightly confused. I have always been a single tasker: I focus on one task and try to complete it thoroughly before moving on. What should I do?

Try interleaving OR continue with focused practice and plug in my weaknesses?

Would really love to get advice from experts on this.

Thanks in advance.

Parth Jain

zimou13 · Answer

Blocking versus interleaving was manipulated within subjects (Experiments 1-3) or between subjects (Experiment 4), and participants' pronunciation proficiency was later tested through multiple-choice tests (Experiments 1, 2, and 4) or a recall test .

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi parthjain68,

To clarify - when you say you "took the Test" are you referring to the Official GMAT or a practice CAT? Assuming that this 660/Q42/V39 is an Official GMAT Score, it's right around the 80th percentile - so it could be enough to get you into your first-choice Business School. If your goal is to score significantly higher, then your focus should be on the Quant section.

Before I can offer you the specific advice that you’re looking for, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

Studies:
1) How long have you studied?
2) What study materials have you used so far?
3) How have you scored on EACH of your CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?

Goals:
4) What is your goal score?
5) When are you planning to (re)take the GMAT?
6) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
7) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

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

parthjain68 · Answer

Dear EMPOWERgmatRichC

Thanks for replying to my post.

I am referring to the official GMAT test. Yes sir, it is around 78th percentile. My goal is to score significantly higher because I believe that Q42 is not reflective of my Quant reasoning ability and that I can do better on the Quant section.

1. I have studied for 6 months.

2. For Quant, I have used only Manhattan Guides and OG.

3. A. I took a GMAT prep test before starting my preparation. I scored 500 (Q29 V30).

B. I took MGMAT CAT before starting my preparation. I scored 540 (Q37 V27).

C. I took Princeton CAT one month into my preparation. I scored 700 (Q44, V43).

D. I took MGMAT CAT 2 20 days before my official exam. I scored 650 (Q41 V38).

4. Goal score is a 720.

5. I'm planning to re-take within the next 55 days i.e. by mid-June.

6. I'm planning to apply by October 2018 - starting with ISB.

7. I plan to apply to ISB (India) and HEC, Insead and LBS.

Thanks a lot for helping me.

Parth Jain

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Parth Jain,

Raising a 500 to a 660 is a significant achievement - and you're closer to a 720+ than you probably realize. That having been said, your recent Quant Scaled Scores (Q41 - Q44) are the types of Scores that a 'math thinker' would earn. It's important to note that the Quant section of the GMAT is NOT a 'math test' - it's a 'critical thinking test' that requires lots of little calculations as you work through it. To score at a much higher level in that section, you need to become more of a 'strategist' and less of a 'mathematician.' Many Test Takers who use a 'book heavy' study approach end up getting 'stuck' at a particular score level - and since your Quant studies have been book heavy, it's likely that this has happened to you. This is meant to say that you'll likely end up needing to invest in some new, non-book resources that emphasize Quant Tactics over just doing lots of math. Since your recent Verbal Scaled Scores are all really strong, you wouldn't necessarily have to spend too much time to keep those Verbal skills sharp, but you shouldn't avoid studying for the Verbal completely during the next phase of your studies.

1) Going forward, how many hours do you think you can consistently study each week?

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

parthjain68 · Answer

Dear  EMPOWERgmatRichC

Thank you for replying to my post. I've taken a break from work for the next 2 months. I can put in the long hours, if required.

I'll make a conservative guess and say that I will consistently be able to clock around 7 hours a day for the next 45 days.

Thanks a lot in advance.

Parth Jain

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Parth Jain,

It's great that you have all of that potential study time, but you likely won't need 45 days - and you won't need to study 7 hours a day - to hit your Score Goal. That having been said, your improvement will be based heavily on how 'flexible' of a thinker you are. You have studied a certain way for 6 months - and if you continue to study in that same way, then you will likely score at the same general level. To raise your Quant Scaled Score (and your Overall Score), then you have to train to 'see' (and respond to) the Quant section in different ways.

Based on everything that you've described, I think that you would find the EMPOWERgmat Quant Score Booster to be quite helpful. Most of our clients complete that Study Plan in under a month, so the time commitment wouldn't be too intense. We have a variety of free resources on our site (www.empowergmat.com), so you can 'test out' the Course before setting up an account.

If you have any additional questions, then you can feel free to contact me directly.

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

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