Is that possible to score 700 skipping all Probability&Combinatorics?

Question

Hi, there!
I am so afraid of this topic (in the subject), so I decided to call for your experience. I anyway will aim at 700 target score, so I am wondering is there any way to go around these difficult, to put it mildly, topics without mastering it?))

Thanks!

AjiteshArun · Answer

P&C is not one of the major topics tested on the GMAT, so your plan could work.

However, are you sure that this is not just a mental block? The GMAT doesn't test advanced concepts, and not all P&C questions are tough. Take one of the official practice tests and check your scores there. If you are really struggling with quant, feel free to focus on other, more important topics. Just keep in mind that it makes sense not to leave any major weaknesses in your prep if you're aiming for a score of 700 (or more).

rohan2345 · Answer

Hi Hugo1987,

Welcome to GMATCLUB! Though there is no defined number, one may generally encounter 1-3 questions of probability on his/her GMAT. Note that I have heard cases of test takers getting 5+ questions on their GMAT but it is certainly a bit rare. You may get 700+ score on GMAT without answering/guessing probability questions, though in this case I would recommend you to master all the remaining concepts and try to make minimum mistakes on the other questions.

Hop this helps. All the best!

gsmina · Answer

I wasted 3 days.. when I was thinking in same way then after reading many post at gmat club... I felt it is doable to understand P&C.

Dnt look down and pick manhatten strategy guide and look for some videos at internet ... once you will do this, you will complete the topic.

> foundation 
> type of questions in gmat 
> plan to handle each type 
> ?

That’s all.
All d best !

Posted from my mobile device

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi Hugo1987,

I don’t advise skipping any quant topics if you are shooting for a 700+ GMAT score. For some reason there is this notion that Combinatorics and Probability questions are only “700 level” questions. It’s quite possible that you could be asked a 500/600 level Combinatorics or Probability question, and if you don’t know how to solve those questions (because you never learned about those topics) then your quant score will take a significant hit. Meanwhile, what if you were to get four Combinatorics and Probability questions, and you had to skip them all? Once again, by doing so, your quant score would take a major hit.

Further, many Probability questions and most Combinatorics questions are rather straightforward to answer, and can be much easier to answer than say, a tricky DS question. So, avoiding those topics does not make sense. Probably, all that's going on here is that you are not familiar with how to answer questions of those types, while with some study and practice, you could master those types quite readily.

Overall your best bet if you want to score 700+ is to go into the GMAT “fully-loaded” with quant knowledge, so you that don’t find yourself in a position of having to skip easy and medium questions, because doing so can significantly negatively affect your score.

Feel free to reach out with further questions.

Good luck.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Hugo1987,

To answer your immediate question: YES - you can hit 700+ without answering the Probability and Combination questions correctly - but that does NOT mean that skipping those subjects is a good idea. Standard Probability, Permutation and Combination questions are actually fairly straight-forward questions (the math involved isn't that difficult), so you would end up potentially skipping past some 'gettable' questions if you were to proceed with that plan.

From your other post, I know a little bit about your prior studies, but 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? How many hours did you typically study each week?
2) What study materials have you used so far?
3) How have you scored on EACH of your CATs/mocks (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?

Goals:
4) When are you planning to take the GMAT?
5) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
6) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

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

Hovkial · Answer

You may get lucky and hit 700 without facing a single PC question. But if you are truly aiming for 700+, then you cannot afford not to know a topic. You must be absolutely prepared to face the entire content if you wamt to score 700+. You may also get PC questions that are easier (hence below 700).

The GMAT tests rather elementary concepts from PC, e.g., how to calculate probabilities, permutations and combinations. I believe that the questions from these topics are easier compared to the traditionally challenging subjects of arithmetic, algebra, geometry and some statistics. If you learn the basic concepts of PC and practice regularly, then there is no reason to fear this or any other topic. Again, the concepts are elementary.

It is my belief that there are multiple ways to hit 700. You may get "lucky" on exam day and not see a single PC question. I would advise not counting (pun not intended) on such possibilities. PC questions are few and far between (perhaps about 3-5), but they may show up in disguised forms that combine concepts from other subjects.

Lastly, do remember that the test is adaptive. If you flunk out on easy PC questions, your score may go down as the test gives you easier questions. So, do not plan to skip any topic. GL!

Hugo1987 · Answer

Hi, dears
Thank you very very much to all of you who managed to find a couple of minutes to write down the recommendations. 
So, I followed your advice and found it tremendously useful: The topic indeed is getable and watching some material on youtube I went through OG questions and solved them all without any mistakes (I mean those that are about Probability and Combinatorics)
But I realized that this topic need practecing rather regularly since strangelly enough but I seem to loose the sight of the concepts quite quickly.

Could You please support me on the following issue:
1. Has anybody tried E-gmat cource on SC? I am still struggling a bit with such a question type and wonder whther it is possible to boost this topic quickly. Could you please recommend some questions banks? (I have already tried Veritas)
2. One more topic I am fighting against is RC. Despite the fact that I scored 28 out of 30 on the Toefl reading before I started GMAT, when it takes to RC I am reading very slowly and answering correctly only 6 out of 10 usually. How to improve it? Where could I practice? 
3. I feel that my motivation is going down. I have been preparing for the GMAT for already 2 years and it seems an endless proccess. How to stir myself up for the final shot? Please help and give me some moral or mental whatever power...

Need tons of help) Thanks a lot!!!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Hugo1987,

Before you invest in any new study materials, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying so far and your goals:

Studies:
1) How many hours did you typically study each week?
2) What study materials have you used so far?
3) Over the last 3 months, how have you scored on EACH of your CATs/mocks (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?

Goals:
4) When are you planning to take the GMAT?
5) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
6) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

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

Gmatsaiyan · Answer

These posts should help:- https://gmatclub.com/forum/overview-of- ... 11809.html https://gmatclub.com/forum/the-ultimate ... l#p1613600

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