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14 Apr 2020, 19:01
| FROM Magoosh Blog: GMAT Canceled? You Can Take it At Home |
 Magoosh will update this post as more information becomes available. Latest update: April 14, 2020 Due to the new coronavirus, many of you have had your in-person GMAT exams canceled. Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), the makers of the GMAT, announced that they have launched their Interim GMAT Exam, allowing students take an online GMAT exam at home. When Can I Take At-Home GMAT Exam? The GMAT Online Exam is available for registration as of April 14, 2020! The online GMAT will be available to take 24 hours a days, 7 days a week, with available slots beginning April 20, 2020 until June 15, 2020. Who’s Eligible? GMAC plans to release the interim GMAT option to anyone in a market impacted by COVID-19. The exceptions are Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Slovenia, and mainland China due to IP and/or regulatory restrictions. How Similar Is the Interim Exam to the Regular GMAT? The at-home exam will be cheaper, coming in at $200 USD for registration, where the in-person exam registration costs $250 USD. There will be no AWA section. That feels like a substantial change in that you have thirty fewer minutes of testing. That’s 16% of your would-be total test-taking time! The test will still have the Quant, Verbal, and IR sections, with the same amount of questions and time available as the in-person exam. That is, there will still be:
Taking the online exam will not count towards a student’s 12-month and lifetime GMAT limits. Usually, students are only allowed to take the GMAT no more than 5 times in a 12-month period, with a lifetime availability of 8 total GMAT exams possible. That said, students may only take the online exam once. Regarding check-in protocols, the GMAC has said, “The check-in and security protocols will be modified to accommodate online delivery and remote proctors will be used to manage test integrity.” While we don’t know the specifics, we do know how the GRE is approaching at-home testing: recording your face via webcam and your screen as well as mandating specific equipment and set-up requirements. I wouldn’t be surprised if the at-home GMAT requires similar measures and requirements. TL;DR
If you’re finding yourself with an interest in applying to business school, having more free time on your hands to take the GMAT, and you have a private space at home where you could take a test, you may want to consider it. You’ll potentially be able to practice in the exact same environment as that of test day, and you’ll have a test that is thirty minutes shorter than the in-person GMAT. We’ll update you as we learn more, so keep an eye on this blog. In the meantime, if you’re still studying, you can use our GMAT prep product, which has been used by over 50,000 students. You can also read the full announcement on the GMAC website here. The post GMAT Canceled? You Can Take it At Home appeared first on Magoosh GMAT Blog. |
16 Apr 2020, 14:01
| FROM Magoosh Blog: GMAT Geometry Practice Problems |
 GMAT Geometry problems test your spatial reasoning ability. Can you look at a diagram of points, lines, and/or circles and extract the essential details that lead to a correct answer? If you answered no, well, have no fear! After reading this post, learning the fundamental geometry formulas, and working through these practice geometry questions, you will have the tools you need to succeed on test day! How to Use Geometry Formulas [*]GMAT Geometry Practice (Problem Solving Questions)[*]Additional GMAT Geoemtry Practice (Data Sufficiency Questions)[/list] memorize a bunch of formulas. By themselves, formulas cannot guarantee you a great score on the GMAT Quant section. You also need to know when and how to apply the formulas. Furthermore, it’s rare that a problem would require only a single formula to solve it. Most often, you’ll need to put a few different formulas together like pieces of a puzzle. The best problem-solvers take a goal-oriented approach. In other words, start with what you need to solve. Then work backward, identifying what info would be useful to get to that goal. In addition, you need to keep in mind the given info, both from the diagram and also from the question statement. Use that to build a bridge to your goal. This post walks you through the most important formulas for GMAT Geometry. The purpose here is just to help you review—so click on the links to learn more about the material. Then, you can try out your skills on a set of geometry practice questions. Detailed solutions are given at the very end. Ready? Let’s go! geometry formulas. For example, this diagram shows all of the possibilities involving a line crossing two perpendicular lines.   For more review on lines and angles, check out our post on Angles and Parallel Lines on the GMAT and our video lesson Geometry: Lines and Angles.  Triangles – Part I[/b] and Right Triangles. And even more resources can be found here:
Regular Polygons[/b]. GMAT Geometry: Circles and Angles[*] Slicing up GMAT Circles: Arclength, Sectors, and Pi[/list] GMAT Math: 3D Solids[*]GMAT Math: Advanced Geometric Solids[/list] Geometry Data Sufficiency Problem 1[*]Geometry Data Sufficiency Problem 2 [*]Geometry Data Sufficiency Problem 3[*]Geometry Data Sufficiency Problem 4[*]Geometry Data Sufficiency Problem 5[/list] Conclusion GMAT geometry doesn’t require a huge number of sophisticated formulas. If anything, you should focus more on improving your geometry strategies, particularly how to use diagrams to your benefit. What is the diagram is telling you: What assumptions can you make? What shouldn’t be assumed? Can you use estimation? Our video lessons on geometry strategies and estimation will help you build those skills! If you made it to the end of this post, then kudos! Hopefully, you can take what you’ve learned here and apply it to ace the GMAT Quantitative section! The post GMAT Geometry Practice Problems appeared first on Magoosh GMAT Blog. |
18 Apr 2020, 15:01
| FROM Magoosh Blog: MBA Admissions in the Time of COVID-19 |
 If you’re wondering what is going to happen to the application process when applicants can’t sit for exams or attend admissions interviews in person due to the new coronavirus, you’re not alone! The application process is changing quickly due to COVID-19. Programs are taking different approaches, leaving a lot of people wondering what to do. You should pat yourself on the back for applying during a time when everything is changing! To help you create a game plan, we’ll highlight some of the biggest trends. Let’s go through some info to give you some more ideas about what to expect. More of a visual person? We interviewed an MBA admissions expert with 15+ years of experience getting students into their dream schools. The video is coming soon, but we can give you a sneak preview! It will include these three key points:
How can I take the GRE or GMAT if test centers are closed? The GRE is online. ETS has been offering an at-home option for test-takers since early April and it’s available to all markets except China and Iran. You’re in luck if you’re a GMAT-taker! The at-home exam went live on April 14, 2020. It appears that there are a few changes:
What about those needing special accommodations? If you require any special accommodations (usually medically related), be sure to call in to ETS or GMAC to reserve a testing date, rather than booking online. What if my testing center hasn’t closed? While it’s possible to schedule an online exam anyway, it would probably be ideal to sit down with a proper writing pad and 10-minute breaks in a test center (if safe, of course)! This is up to your personal preference as well. However, if the center closes and your test is canceled, then we recommend going online and booking the at-home exam. Is one test preferred above the other? The short answer: not really. There are some programs that only accept the GMAT, but they are becoming rarer by the year. COVID-19 has not changed this part of the admissions process. Is the score requirement postponed? For the most part, yes. Most programs will allow an application to be submitted followed by a score later. Be sure to utilize the essay in your application to mention that you will be sending the GMAT later. However, on the finer details, we’re going to have to defer to “it depends,” which can be frustrating for someone when they’re trying to make a plan, but we’ll explain why we say this. Each program is going their own way and the changes are happening fast! For example, Kellogg is waiving the need for the GMAT/GRE altogether for Round 3 while other universities are extending the deadline for the test (or all of Round 3) into the summer. Conversely, some universities, like Stanford, are sticking to their original deadlines and not making exceptions. At the bottom of this resource, we’ve linked to some of the most commonly-searched programs, which is a good starting point. What if someone took the GMAT/GRE and didn’t like their score? Should they submit an application without mentioning it and just retake the exam? It’s fine to just say you’ve taken the test before and submit your score. They’re going to see it anyway! You could indicate on the essay that you’re planning on retaking it to get a higher score. You can even indicate whether you’ve been testing higher on practice exams, showing that you’re reasonably expecting a better score. Then, of course, try your best to do so! Can I take the EA (Executive Assessment) online? GMAC is opening up registration for the EA at the end of April. If the GMAT registration is any indication, there will likely be multiple time slots from which you can choose. Other Changes to MBA Admissions We’ve listed some trends and topics that may be top-of-mind, but will defer to links to programs’ websites so you can get the most up-to-date information when it comes to their new requirements and information. Should applicants consider Round 3? The conventional wisdom has been to beat the GMAT and then ideally apply for Round 1 or 2, but COVID-19 has introduced a lot of exceptions to this rule. Typically, anticipation of harder times in the jobs market (e.g., 2001 or 2008) has led to increased applications to graduate programs. Professionals who have lowered expectations of near-term career prospects often think about pursuing an MBA while they wait out the difficult times. Consider this time: if medical professionals are correct that a vaccine might be ready in 12-18 months, then a two-year program doesn’t seem like a bad idea for a lot of soon-to-be applicants! Now, at Magoosh we’re not medical professionals, so we have no idea whether that medical timeline is accurate or not, but we can reasonably expect Round 1 for 2021 entry to be more competitive than it would have normally been! This means Round 3 (for 2020 entry) has become the exception; it’s looking less competitive than Round 1 or 2 in the autumn (for 2021 entry). Many applicants don’t prefer an online semester and are deferring their entry, opening up new spots in the process. On top of that, schools are extending their deadlines into the summer, and many are showing extra leniency when it comes to deadlines for the exams themselves. That doesn’t mean that you have to apply now, of course, but it means that those who are already in the middle of studying might want to weigh their options! Virtual Events, Interviews, and (Possibly) Online Semesters In the past year, interviews with alumni or staff (and accepted-student ceremonies and orientations) have been in-person. Most programs have found ways of doing this over the phone or virtually using video conferencing software. There are only a handful of universities that have considered online semesters so far. We list a fair amount of links to universities below, but we encourage you to keep an eye on your chosen programs. University of Arizona, for example, has already made it clear they are going entirely online for the near future. We expect in the coming months to get a lot more clarity, as many universities would prefer not to do so unless it’s necessary. Links to Commonly-Searched MBA Programs’ COVID-19 Responses Remember when we said that programs and their requirements are changing rapidly? We recommend bookmarking the pages that are most relevant to your applications. Here are the official links to their information pages.
MBA Admissions During COVID-19: Conclusion Programs are often changing requirements and shifting deadlines, so it’s not going to be easy to apply in these times. However, the fact that you’re researching this right now means that you’re willing to try to find a way to develop in spite of the difficulties. Pat yourself on the back! Are you applying for business school right now? What challenges have you encountered? Comment below! The post MBA Admissions in the Time of COVID-19 appeared first on Magoosh GMAT Blog. |
25 Apr 2020, 14:01
| FROM Magoosh Blog: GMAT Data Sufficiency – Tips and Practice Problems |
 The GMAT Quantitative section contains two types of questions, Problem Solving and Data Sufficiency. On the GMAT, the format of each Data Sufficiency problem is the same: you’re given a question and two statements. It’s up to you to decide whether the statements give you enough information to answer the question. You don’t need to give the answer to the actual question. You just have to decide whether either statement (or both statements) gives data that is sufficient for finding an answer—hence the term data sufficiency! What is GMAT Data Sufficiency? The Data Sufficiency (DS) section is extraordinarily apt for the GMAT, as it tests uniquely managerial skills. It’s often more about logic and critical reasoning than deep mathematical knowledge or ability. On the GMAT Quantitative section, you get 62 minutes for 31 questions—of these 31 questions, approximately 11-13 will be Data Sufficiency questions. Furthermore, there are two kinds of data sufficiency question: Yes/No and Value questions. We’ll see plenty of each type in the practice problems below. Each practice problem illustrates an essential tip for success. So let’s get started! The following six tips will help prepare you for these uniquely challenging problems. GMAT DS Tip #1: Memorize the Answer Choices The answer choices always consist of the same five options in the same order. You should memorize these now!
GMAT DS Tip #2: Consider the Statements Separately For GMAT Data Sufficiency problems, you first have to consider whether each statement, by itself, is sufficient. Only if both statements are not sufficient separately would you consider the sufficiency of the information in the combined statements. One common mistake is to carry over information from Statement (1) into Statement (2). You have to “wipe the slate clean” after looking at Statement (1). Helpful strategy: Consider whichever statement is the simplest first. That’s because the GMAT loves making Statement (1) a huge, complicated, juicy statement and Statement (2) something incredibly brief. If that’s the case, consider Statement (2) first. Practice Problem If \(x^2(y – 3) = 0\), then what is the value of \(y\)? (1) \(y^2 – x= 0 \) (2) \(x= 7 \) A. Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but Statement (2) alone is not sufficient to answer the question asked. B. Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but Statement (1) alone is not sufficient to answer the question asked. C. Both Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question asked; but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient. D. EACH statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question. E. Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient to answer the question asked, and additional data specific to the problem are needed. Click here for the answer B. Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but Statement (1) alone is not sufficient to answer the question asked. While Statement (1) is not really that complicated, Statement (2) is as simple as it gets. So let’s start there. If you know that \(x = 7\), which is of course nonzero, then \(x^2\) is also nonzero. Thus, the other factor \((y – 3)\) must be equal to 0. From there you can find the value of \(y\) (which will be 3; not that you really need that value to answer the problem). So, Statement (2) is sufficient. That helps you to eliminate a bunch of choices (see GMAT DS Tip #3). Now let’s go back to Statement (1). Forget any values of \(x\) or \(y\) from the previous work. If \(y^2 – x= 0 \), then \(x = y^2 \). Substitute this expression into the given equation: \( (y^2)^2(y-3) = y^4(y-3) = 0 \) So, does that tell you what \(y\) is? Well, not exactly. Here, \(y\) could be either 0 or 3. So Statement (1) is not sufficient by itself. GMAT DS Tip #3: Smart Elimination GMAT Data Sufficiency problems test your logic skills as well as mathematics. Let’s look at a flowchart to help land on a correct answer. This is based on examining Statement (1) first, but a similar flowchart would apply if you looked at Statement (2) first instead.  So let’s talk about the choices, starting at Statement (1).
Here’s a Magoosh video that you might find useful: Data Sufficiency: Eliminating Answers. Practice Problem Let’s try out our elimination strategy! Click on this practice problem from Magoosh. The solution follows. Click here for the answer D. EACH statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question. Consider Statement (1) first. Suppose there are \(x\) widgets, and the price of each one is \(p\). From the given information, then we know that \(xp = 480\). Statement (1) can be interpreted mathematically as follows: \(x(p-2) = 480 – 160\), or \(xp-2x = 320\) Since we know the value of \(xp\), the above equation can be used to solve for \(x\), and then you can derive \(p\) directly from the fact that the product is 480. Ok, so Statement (1) is sufficient. Thus, we can eliminate three choices, B, C, and E! Next, look at Statement (2). This one can be translated into mathematics as follows: \(x(p+1.50) = 480 \cdot 1.25\), or \(xp+ 1.5x = 600\) It’s a similar situation, and we’d easily be able to solve for both variables. This is enough to narrow down the correct answer. GMAT DS Tip #4: Avoid the Temptation to Calculate the Answer GMAT Data Sufficiency is all about the question, “Could you find the answer?” Suppose the prompt is “What is the value of \(x\)?”, a standard DS problem. Now maybe in the course of solving this problem, you get to a step like \(23x^3 + 144 = 5670\). The apprentice problem-solver with poor managerial instincts will dutifully work through the several steps necessary for finding the actual value of \(x\)—without access to a calculator, mind you. On the other hand, the master GMAT test-taker would realize: “From that equation, I could solve for the unknown if I wanted to.” That, in and of itself, answers the sufficiency question right there, and that’s all you need to do! The actual value of \(x\) is irrelevant. Practice Problem Try your hand at this question. Click here for the answer D. EACH statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question. First, the given information is very helpful. If we let \(x\) stand for the number of visitors on day 1, then on day 2 we’d have \(x + 3\), and day 3 would be \(x + 6\), etc. By the time day 7 rolls around, there would have been \(x+18\) visitors. Statement (1) tells you the total number of visitors. Avoid the temptation to solve an equation here. All you need to know is that \(x + (x+3) + (x+6) + \cdots + (x+18) = 126\) is an equation in a single variable. Even better, it’s a linear equation, which is guaranteed to have a solution. It doesn’t matter what the solution actually is; Statement (1) is sufficient. Similarly, Statement (2) boils down to the equation, \(x+18 = 3x\)—also quite solvable. Both statements are sufficient individually. GMAT DS Tip #5: Focus on Sufficiency On the GMAT test, Data Sufficiency problems may be quite misleading, especially those of the “Yes/No” variety. As discussed above, you’re not looking for the answer, but rather could you find the answer? And sometimes that answer is “no.” Practice Problem Is \(t < 0\)? (1) \(4^t\) is an integer (2) \(4t^2 + 8t = 0\) A. Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but Statement (2) alone is not sufficient to answer the question asked. B. Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but Statement (1) alone is not sufficient to answer the question asked. C. Both Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question asked; but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient. D. EACH statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question. E. Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient to answer the question asked, and additional data specific to the problem are needed. Click here for the answer A. Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but Statement (2) alone is not sufficient to answer the question asked. Statement (1) would imply that \(t = 0, 1, 2, 3, \ldots\) (remember, negative exponents would give fractional values). In others words, \(t\) is decidedly NOT less than 0. But that shows Statement (1) to be sufficient to answer the question. For Statement (2), let’s do a little factoring. \(4t^2 + 8t = 4t(t + 2) = 0\) So we can see that \(t=0\) or \(t = -2\). Since there are two possibilities, one of which is less than zero (-2[/latex]), and the other not less than zero (0), Statement (2) is insufficient. GMAT DS Tip #6: Testing by Plugging in Numbers Caution: There are more numbers than just the natural numbers, a.k.a. the counting numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on. People often forget that a “number” could be positive or negative or zero, could be a fraction, could be a square root, could be \(\pi\) or some other decimal, etc. The possibilities are literally uncountable! The GMAT loves to test number properties, and one of the greatest pitfalls you could make is to think of “\(x\)” as only a natural number when you go to answer the question. Practice Problem Is \( x \geq \dfrac{1}{x} \) ? (1) \(x\) is positive. (2) \(|x| \geq 1 \). A. Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but Statement (2) alone is not sufficient to answer the question asked. B. Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but Statement (1) alone is not sufficient to answer the question asked. C. Both Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question asked; but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient. D. EACH statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question. E. Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient to answer the question asked, and additional data specific to the problem are needed. Click here for the answer C. Both Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question asked; but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient. This one is definitely tricky! Don’t try to solve anything algebraically; that may lead you astray. Instead, let’s pick some good numbers to plug in each statement. Let’s start with Statement (1). Plugging in a typical positive number such as 1 or 2 results in a correct inequality. For example, \( 2 \geq \dfrac{1}{2} \). But be careful! What about numbers that are positive fractions? What about \( x = \dfrac{1}{3} \), for instance? \( (1/3) \geq \dfrac{1}{(1/3)} =3\) would yield an untrue statement! Therefore, Statement (1) is not sufficient to answer the question. Ok, so what about Statement (2)? The absolute value gives it away. Think about both positives and negatives here. You already know that a positive number like 2 leads to a true inequality. What about \(x=-2\)? \( (-2) \geq \dfrac{1}{(-2)} = -0.5\) This is a false inequality! So we have two opposite conclusions, meaning that Statement (2) is also insufficient. Well, if you’re following along using the flowchart from GMAT DS Tip #3, you may realize that we still need to check one more thing. Are the two statements TOGETHER sufficient? If \(x\) is both positive (Statement (1)) AND has absolute value \(\geq 1\) (Statement (2)), then there is enough to prove the given inequality to be true for all such \(x\). Conclusion and More Data Sufficiency Practice! GMAT Data Sufficiency problems can be very challenging. However, if you keep the six tips above in mind, you’ll be well on your way to higher and higher GMAT scores on test day! Try out these additional practice problems from Magoosh!
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26 Apr 2020, 21:01
| FROM Magoosh Blog: 3 Month GMAT Study Schedule (Verbal Focused) |
 If you want to prepare for the GMAT in three months and you need to boost your verbal score, you’ll need a strong GMAT verbal study plan to help you get there. With that in mind, Magoosh’s experts have put together this plan to help you figure out how to study GMAT verbal! Not only will this GMAT verbal study plan help you to get organized, but it will also take you through the major content areas of the test in depth, from Critical Reasoning to Sentence Correction to Reading Comprehension. Ready to dive in? Getting Started [*]The GMAT Verbal study plan: [/list] GMAT Diagnostic Test.
FAQ: Will this study plan prepare me for excellence in both Verbal and Quant on the GMAT? Because I am assuming you have a strong math background already, this verbal study plan covers all the Verbal lessons in Magoosh twice. It also includes, as an essential part, a significant amount of reading. If you follow all parts of this plan diligently, all the information you will need for an elite score will pass before your eyes. How well you do will depend on everything you bring: how quickly you learn, how deeply you remember, how well you assimilate and integrate, how astutely you discern connections, how diligent you are, how conscientious you are, and how dedicated you are. See this blog for more about getting the most out of the GMAT verbal study plan.
OG2020. If you are going to buy a new guide, get that one. If you happen to own either the OG2019, OG2018, OG2017, or even the previous OG2016, then it would be no problem using either of those with this study guide.
[*]A Premium subscription to Magoosh [*]The Magoosh mobile app for your iPhone or Android [*]The Magoosh GMAT eBook [*]The Magoosh GMAT Math Flashcards [*]The Magoosh GMAT Idiom Flashcards [*]Three volumes of the 10-volume Manhattan GMAT series. These books are about the best material available in hard-copy print form. The volumes you should get for this GMAT verbal study plan are: Critical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, or Sentence Correction. The primary reason you are getting this volume is to get the code in the inside back cover: that code will give you access to one MGMAT online GMAT CAT, which you will take later in this GMAT verbal study plan.
[*]A journal or notebook (yes, a physical hard copy item) [*]The one online forum: GMAT Club These are great places to ask questions about anything GMAT related, or simply to check out the discussions and see how others are preparing. [*]Outside reading material: We recommend outside reading, over and above any GMAT-specific materials, because a habit of reading is one of the best ways to improve your GMAT verbal score across the board. In particular, for non-native speakers, a habit of outside reading is essential for mastering the GMAT Verbal section. It’s very important for non-native speakers to push themselves to read material as sophisticated and challenging as they can handle. Read the Wall Street Journal and the business section of sophisticated newspapers such as the New York Times and the Washington Post. Force yourself to read articles discussing topics with which you are unfamiliar. Read periodicals, such as the Economist magazine and Bloomberg Businessweek; the Economist magazine is a particularly sophisticated source and it would be good to read this at least a few times a week. For more suggestions on what to read, see: GMAT Reading List. For more on how to use outside reading to prepare you for the GMAT, see: How to Improve your GMAT Verbal Score [*]Magoosh’s Complete GMAT Guide: This comprehensive web-based guide to the GMAT gives you the quick but useful overview you need to understand this test. You’ll see how the GMAT is designed and scored, what skills it tests, how to find and use the best GMAT prep, and how to study for GMAT test sections. [*]A guide to GMAT Practice Test Resources: This page includes instructions on where to find good full-length GMAT practice tests, and how to take practice tests and incorporate them into your studies.[/list] Optional Material Nova’s GMAT Math Prep Course: As explained in this review, this book is purely a collection of practice problems. Because the individual days in this GMAT verbal study plan are already busy, I did not assign any problems from this book. If you find you have some additional time, and would like to challenge yourself with more math practice, then by all means, get this book, and you will have math practice problems to your heart’s content. If you can do everything in this book, in addition to all the math problems included in this GMAT verbal study plan, you will able to handle anything the GMAT Quant section throws at you. whole set of MGMAT books: I would recommend this if you imagine that you will have a great deal of extra time and would like to devote that time to studying more high-quality resources. A quicker and cheaper way to get the six MGMAT practice tests would be to pay $50 to buy the 6 MGMAT Practice GMAT CATs by themselves.[/list] the test-maker’s website and read about the structure of the GMAT. Click on each subsection on that page to read about the individual sections.[*]Take the Diagnostic Test, found toward the beginning of the OG. Grade it, but you don’t have to read through all the explanations today. If you did much much better than you expected in either math or verbal, you may choose to re-evaluate which version (A, B, C, D) you are following.[*]In the Magoosh GMAT Idiom Flashcards, start learning the cards in the first deck, the Basic I deck. Spend 10 minutes with these cards.[*]Read the blog article GMAT English.[/list] Week One, Day Two
Week One, Day Three
Week One, Day Four Week One, Day Five Week One, Day Six Week Two Week Two, Day One Week Two, Day Two Week Two, Day Three
Week Two, Day Four
Week Two, Day Five
Week Two, Day Six
Week Three Week Three, Day One
Week Three, Day Two
Week Three, Day Three
Week Three, Day Four
Week Three, Day Five
Week Three, Day Six
Week Four Week Four, Day One
Week Four, Day Two
Week Four, Day Three
Week Four, Day Four
Week Four, Day Five
Week Four, Day Six
Magoosh GMAT Idiom Flashcards, start learning the cards from the third deck, the Advanced I deck. Spend 10 minutes with these cards.[*]In the MGMAT Volume 8: Sentence Correction, read Chapter 1, doing any practice problems in that section and taking notes on anything new.[*]Spend at least one hour on the outside reading of your choice. Pay attention to sentence structures. Pay attention to arguments. Pay attention to main ideas & roles of paragraphs.[/list] Week Five, Day Two
Week Five, Day Three
Week Five, Day Four
Week Five, Day Five
Week Five, Day Six
Week Six Week Six, Day One
Week Six, Day Two
Week Six, Day Three
Week Six, Day Four
Week Six, Day Five
Week Six, Day Six
Week Seven Week Seven, Day One
Week Seven, Day Two
Week Seven, Day Three
Week Seven, Day Four
Week Seven, Day Five
Week Seven, Day Six
Week Eight Week Eight, Day One
Week Eight, Day Two
Week Eight, Day Three
Week Eight, Day Four
Week Eight, Day Five
Week Eight, Day Six
Magoosh GMAT Idiom Flashcards, continue reviewing the cards from all four decks. Spend 10 minutes with these cards.[*]In the MGMAT Volume 6: Critical Reasoning, read Chapter 6, doing any practice problems in that section and taking notes on anything new.[*]Spend at least one hour on the outside reading of your choice. Pay attention to sentence structures. Pay attention to arguments. Pay attention to main ideas & roles of paragraphs.[/list] Week Nine, Day Two
Week Nine, Day Three
Week Nine, Day Four
Week Nine, Day Five
Week Nine, Day Six
Week Ten Week Ten, Day One
Week Ten, Day Two
Week Ten, Day Three
Week Ten, Day Four
Week Ten, Day Five
Week Ten, Day Six
Week Eleven Week Eleven, Day One
Week Eleven, Day Two
Week Eleven, Day Three
Week Eleven, Day Four
Week Eleven, Day Five
Week Eleven, Day Six
Week Twelve Week Twelve, Day One
Week Twelve, Day Two
Week Twelve, Day Three
Week Twelve, Day Four
Week Twelve, Day Five
Week Twelve, Day Six (if this is NOT the day before the real GMAT)
this post. [/list] The post 3 Month GMAT Study Schedule (Verbal Focused) appeared first on Magoosh GMAT Blog. |
29 Apr 2020, 18:01
| FROM Magoosh Blog: Algebraic Equations with Fractions on the GMAT |
 Algebraic equations with fractions, more formally known as “rational expressions,” appear in some of the most challenging GMAT algebra questions in the Quant section. These are called “rational” in the sense of “having to do with a ratio”, as the word is used in the phrase “rational numbers“. Click here to go straight to the practice problems. Thoughts on Algebraic Equations with Fractions First of all, to understand this stuff, you should be clear on the basic rules of fractions: how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide them. If you can’t do this basic arithmetic with numerical fractions, it will be very hard to do it with algebraic rational expressions! Some further tips: 1. Suppose you have an equation involving one or more algebraic rational expressions. Suppose you are asked to solve for values of the variable. It’s important to note that any value of the variable that makes any individual denominator equal to zero cannot possibly be a solution of the equation. This can be a powerful tool in “which of the following could be a solution” question, because usually you can immediately eliminate a few answers right away, which sets you up very well for backsolving or solution behavior. 2. When adding or subtracting rational expressions, as when adding or subtracting ordinary fractions, we must find a common denominator to combine. We must do precisely the same thing with rational expressions. Here are a couple examples of this process. Example #1  Example #2  3. Whenever you have just one algebraic fraction on one side of the equation equal to just one algebraic fraction on the other side of the equation, then you can cross-multiply. If either side has more than one fraction, added or subtracted, you would have to combine them, via the previous hint, before you are ready to cross-multiply. 4. If the whole equation has only one or two denominators, you also can simply multiply every term on both sides by the denominators. That can be a very efficient way to get rid of all the fractions in one fell swoop. For example, the equation:  can be simplified by multiplying each term by (x – 2) —- with the fraction, it cancels the denominator, simply leaving the numerator. x(x – 2) = 2(x – 2) + 1 If we were to multiply this all out, we would get a quadratic that we could solve. 5. One could always use a direct algebraic solution: that may be efficient or that may take several steps and be time-consuming, even if you know you are doing. Remember that backsolving may be quicker. For a compound fraction (a big fraction with a little fraction in the numerator or denominator), it may well be quicker to step back and perform a more holistic solution, looking at what must be true about each piece: I demonstrate this in the solution for practice problem #2.  The two sides are not equal, so (B) can’t be the right answer. At this point, we pretty much know that (C) must be the answer, but it’s always good to verify that it works.  Both sides are equal, so x = 0 satisfies this equation. Therefore, answer = (C).  Show Answer and Explanation Rather than do a ton of algebraic re-arranging, let’s think about this. We have 3 divided by (something) equals 1/2. This means, the “something” must equal 6. That immediately produces the much simpler equation:  Answer = (A) 
(B) one (C) two (D) a finite number greater than two (E) infinitely many Show Answer and Explanation Multiply all three terms by x and we get  This equation is unfactorable. It is not a perfect square. Think about its graph, which is a parabola:  When x = 0, y is negative, and when x = 2, y is positive. Therefore, the parabola intersects the x-axis twice, which means the equation has two real solutions. Answer = (C). BTW, this is a special mathematical equation. One solution is the Golden Ratio, and the other solution is the negative reciprocal of the Golden Ratio.  Show Answer and Explanation This is an easy one to solve. Subtract 2 from both sides:  Now, add 3/y to both sides. Because the two fractions have the same denominator, y, we can just add the numerators:  Answer = (E) 5. As y increases from y = 247 to y = 248, which of the following decreases? 
(B) II only (C) III only (D) II and III only (E) I, II, and III Show Answer and Explanation As y gets larger, what happens to each one of these? For statement I, as y gets larger, the 2y gets larger. Since the subtracting 100 stays the same as the value of y changes, that makes no difference. This one increases as y increases, so it is not a correct choice. For statement II, as the denominator of a fraction increases, the value of the fraction overall decreases. When y increases, 50/y has to decrease. Again, adding 80 remains the same as y changes, so this doesn’t make any difference. This is a correct choice. For statement III, as long as y > 3, then y^2 – 3y will increase as y increase. That means the entire fraction decrease. We are subtracting 100 minus the fraction, and if the fraction gets smaller, then we are subtracting something smaller and therefore are left with more. This means the entire expression, the difference, gets bigger as y increase. This one increases as y increases, so it is not a correct choice. Answer = (B) You’ve reached the end of practice round 1! Grab a snack, get up and stretch, then get ready for practice round 2 for algebraic equations with fractions. Practice Round 2: Manipulating Algebraic Equations with Fractions This next set of practice problems and explanations takes you through a range of scenarios you might encounter on GMAT Math. If you’re looking to practice specific areas, feel free to jump around. But if you’re still struggling to apply what you’ve learned about algebraic equations with fractions to actual problems, be sure to tackle the problems and explanations in order.  Show Answer and Explanation Expressions Let’s begin with “Do what’s mathematically sound.” When you multiply through by a common denominator, you’re changing the value of every single term (except when the term is equal to zero or the denominator is equal to one). That’s okay when you’re dealing with an equation, so long as you do exactly the same thing to both sides of the equation, but it’s not okay when you’re asked to evaluate an expression. It may be tempting to multiply through by 10, the least common denominator, but that will yield an answer ten times too great. Instead, take a look at the answers to see what form they take, and manipulate the expression toward answers of that form. It looks as though we’ll want to get the m and n denominators together. We can accomplish this by giving them a common denominator. In this case, that means multiplying the term \( m/5 \) by \( 2/2 \), to get \( {2m}/10 \). Notice that this effectively multiplying \( m/5 \) by 1. The single most commonly useful way to manipulate an expression is to multiply it by 1.  Since the two terms now have the same denominator, we can join the numerators.  If it not clear how to translate that further, then rewrite it as,  Since 1/10=0.1, you can finally rewrite the expression in the useful form. 0.1(2m+n) Before we turn to the more interesting cases, let’s be reiterate explicitly the lessons we can draw from this example:
 Show Answer and Explanation Expressions Pt. 2 Because this is an expression rather than equation, we don’t have the option of multiplying through by a common denominator. What could we do? Well, as we saw in our last post, the single most commonly useful way to manipulate an expression is to multiply it by 1. But wait! Isn’t there a standard way to manipulate a compound fraction? Should we use that instead? Yep, and as we’ll see, that standard way to manipulate a compound fraction is just one way to multiply the expression by 1. You may remember that the standard way to divide by a fraction is to multiply by the reciprocal of that fraction; lots of American students learn this as “invert (the denominator) and multiply (by that inverse).” That mnemonic works well enough, but it may obscure the underlying logic. Let’s go ahead and manipulate for now, and then double back and tackle the underlying logic. Let’s rewrite the problem so that we’re multiplying the numerator (x/5) by the reciprocal of the denominator: \({x/5}/{10/y}\) becomes \({x/5} x {y/10}\) which in turn becomes xy/50. As with the problem from my last post, we’d better take a look at the answer choices to see what form our expression should take. We’re going to want it in the form of answers C, D, and E: a decimal fraction multiplied by the expression . If you can’t translate automatically, do it in stages: xy/50 \( {(1/50)}(xy) \) \( {(2/100)}(xy) \) (0.02)(xy) 0.02xy Remember that I wrote above that multiplying by the reciprocal (or “inverting and multiplying”) is just a special way of multiplying by 1? Let’s see why. Consider the general form \({a/b}/{c/d}\). We could simplify this fraction by multiplying by a special form of 1, \({d/c}/{d/c}\):  Of course, that’s the very same result that you’d get by going directly to “invert and multiply.” Fortunately, if you’re well-practiced with that maneuver, you don’t need to worry about the underlying logic during the test.  Show Answer and Explanation Equations This is where we turn from “Do what’s mathematically sound,” to “Do what’s useful.” When you’re solving an algebraic equation, what’s generally useful is to clear away all the grouping symbols, that is, the parentheses, division bars, and radical signs. Doing so allows you to move around the variables and constants in whatever way you like. There will be exceptions, but your default move when you see an algebraic equation with fractions should be to multiply every term by the least common denominator to clear the fractions, thus clearing grouping symbols. A Nice Efficient Solution Multiply each term by the least common denominator, 12x.  Next simplify each expression.  Once you’ve cleared the grouping symbols, you’re much more likely to be able to solve the problem. In this case, we’ll transpose, subtracting 3x from each side of the equation.  Finally , we’ll divide each side by 7 to get,  A Messy Solution that Invites Error I’ve often seen students tackle problems like this by treating the expressions on each side of the equal sign as inviolate. That is, many students begin by adding:  This might work out alright for you in the end—there’s certainly nothing in these operations—but it’s just not very useful. Another Solution that’s Not Quite As Messy The same is true to a lesser extent for the method that begins by transposing to isolate the x term:  If you followed this step by immediately clearing the fractions, no harm done. Unfortunately most people who begin this way instead proceed to simplify the left hand side of the equation:  Again, this could work out alright, but a surprisingly large number of people who start this way choose answer Take-Aways
4. Little Texas Drilling Company has three wells, each producing oil at a constant rate. Well A produces one barrel every two minutes. Well B produces one barrel every three minutes. Well C produces one barrel every four minutes. How many hours does it take Little Texas Drilling Company to produce 195 barrels of oil? (A) 2 (B) 3 (C) 4 (D) 18 (E) 180 Show Answer and Explanation Word Problems All the problems we’ve so far considered have presented as algebra. However, quite a few word problems translate into algebraic equations with fractions. In particular, some of the hardest work-rate problems become very easy if you can correctly translate them into algebraic equations with fractions, and then correctly solve those equations. A combined rate problem that asks about simultaneous action allows a nice shortcut. If every worker starts and stops at the same time or is working continuously for the duration of the story, we can simply add the various work rates together to determine the combined work rate. Be sure to express work rates as work/time, and be careful to use the same units throughout the problem. In this case, the rate for Well A is 1/2 (one barrel/two minutes), for Well B 1/3, and for well C 1/4. The combined rate is 195 barrels in x hours, which we can express as 60x minutes. All that remains is to solve for x. Multiply through by 60x to clear the fractions. 30x + 20x + 15x = 195 Combine like terms. 65x = 195 And divide each side of the equation by 65. x = 3 The answer, therefore, is (B).  (A) statement 1 alone is sufficient, but statement 2 alone is not sufficient to answer the question (B) statement 2 alone is sufficient, but statement 1 alone is not sufficient to answer the question (C) both statements taken together are sufficient to answer the question, but neither statement alone is sufficient (D) each statement alone is sufficient (E) statements 1 and 2 together are not sufficient, and additional data is needed to answer the question Show Answer and Explanation System of Equations Things can get a little more complicated in the Data Sufficiency format, because questions in that format often present us with systems of equations. It’s tempting to suppose that the correct answer is D, since the “if” statement provides one equation and each of the numbered statements provides an equation. However, it’s not the case that just any pair of equations yields values for two variables. The rule is that to solve for two (or n) variables requires two (or n) distinct linear equations. In this case, the equation xy=10 is not linear. Let’s suppose that you decided to start with Statement (2). Before solving algebraically for the values of the variables (which approach would require first constructing and then solving a quadratic equation), check whether simple integer values fit both Statement (2) and the “if” equation. After all, the GMAT usually uses pretty manageable values, and there are too many possibilities for the two relevant simple equations. In fact, it looks as though x and y could be 2 and 5. But which is which? Since y -x could be either 5-2 or 2-5, Statement (2) is not sufficient. Eliminate answers B and D. Statement (1) is more interesting still. In the last post in this series I wrote that when faced with an algebraic equation involving fraction, you should generally multiply through by the least common denominator to clear all the fractions. Questions which ask you for the value of an expression with more than one variable are sometimes exceptions. In this case, for instance, it’s likely easier to solve for y – x directly than for y and x separately. This means that rather than multiply through by 10xy to clear the fractions, we should manipulate the equation to isolate y – x.  Cross multiply the terms on the left-hand side of the equation.  Multiply each side of the equation by xy to clear the fraction on the left-hand side.  It looks as though our question, “What is y – x?”is equivalent to the question, “What is xy?” Since Statement (1) provides and answer to that question, Statement (1) is sufficient. The correct answer is (A). It turns out that many Data Sufficiency problems with systems of equations work just as this one did. If you want to try a practice question with explanation from our Magoosh GMAT product, give this a shot. http://gmat.magoosh.com/questions/137 Other than that, that’s all the practice questions we have for you! If you would like to express anything or ask for clarification, please let us know in the comments section below. The post Algebraic Equations with Fractions on the GMAT appeared first on Magoosh GMAT Blog. |
07 May 2020, 20:01
| FROM Magoosh Blog: GMAT Math – What Kind of Math is in the Quantitative Section? |
 What’s the biggest secret to GMAT math success? It’s simple! Identify and study the correct quantitative concepts, strategize for problem solving, and leave rote memorization at home. As you may already know, the two types of GMAT math problems are Problem Solving and Data Sufficiency, but what are the GMAT math topics you’ll see on test day? And which ones are the most important? The GMAT Quant section consists of 31 questions in 62 minutes. It’s an adaptive test, meaning that if you correctly answer a few questions, then the next one may be more difficult. Don’t let that worry you though! This is just how the test finds your math ability level. Furthermore, you’ll never encounter any questions that require more than a basic high school understanding of quantitative concepts. Generally speaking, the GMAT Quant section tests your abilities to analyze and problem-solve rather than any advanced knowledge of mathematics. Emphasis is placed on data interpretation, critical reasoning, and word problems. Here’s a great introduction to get you started – Intro to GMAT Math[/*] [/list] What kind of math is on the GMAT?[/*] [*]GMAT Quant Section Breakdown[/*] [*]GMAT Math Tips and Practice Problems[/*] [/list] Problem Solving and Data Sufficiency. Problem Solving problems are by far the more familiar: just work out the question and choose the correct final answer. But Data Sufficiency problems are at a higher level, literally! Instead of seeking an answer to the problem, you have to decide whether there is enough information to answer the problem in the first place. The Four GMAT Math Areas The quantitative knowledge necessary to ace the GMAT consists of basic high school mathematics.
official GMATPrep tests 3 and 4, and the Official Guide for the GMAT Review so you don’t have to! Note, of course, that the figures below are estimates based on a large number of questions, and may not reflect the exact proportions on an individual test.  GMAT Quant conceptPercentage frequencyWhat's it about? Word Problems58.2%Interpreting the math in stories and descriptions Integer properties and arithmetic31.1%Interpreting the math in charts and tables Algebra16.3%Includes both “pure algebra,” and algebra as applied to other GRE quant concepts Percents, ratios, and fractions13.7% Two dimensional geometry10.6%Shapes, lines, and angles on the coordinate plane Statistics6.3%Shapes, lines, and angles not on the coordinate plane Powers and roots6.3% Probability and combinatronics5%Mean, median, standard deviation, etc… Inequalities4.7% Sequences3.2% Coordinate geometry2.9% Data interpretation0.9% Three dimensional geometry0.8% Functions0.4% Note: Some questions tested multiple concepts and were thus counted more than one time in more than one category. As a result, the percentages in the chart above add up to more than 100%. Here’s a video walking you through the solution.[/list] As you can see, this problem requires nothing but arithmetic and a little bit of critical reasoning. Since it’s a Data Sufficiency problem, don’t worry about trying to solve all the way to a numerical final answer. Instead, let’s go through each of the two statements one by one. First, what is given? There are 42 freshmen and seniors, but we don’t know exactly how many of each. Two unknowns, and one relation (equation). So we are looking for the statement(s) that can help to set up another equation if possible. Statement (1): Be careful, as the wording is tricky here. To say that the group has more than four times as many seniors as freshmen only allows you to set up an inequality (not an equation). It could be that there are zero freshman and 42 seniors, or 8 freshmen 34 seniors, or anything in between. Statement (2): By itself, this doesn’t narrow the field down either. Just saying that there are more than 7 freshmen leaves open all possibilities from 8 to 42 freshmen! But now look again at the conclusions of the two statements. Statement (1) gives you a maximum of 8 freshmen. That’s because 9 freshmen would leave 33 seniors, which is more than four times 9. And Statement (2) gives you a minimum of 8 freshmen (the first whole number more than 7). Thus, together Statements (1) and (2) are sufficient. Answer: C Both are sufficient, but neither one alone is sufficient. Tip #2 — Arithmetic Problems: Use Your Number Sense The key to arithmetic problems is to rely on your number sense and avoid common pitfalls. It takes 1 pound of flour to make \(y\) cakes. The price of flour is \(w\) dollars for \(x\) pounds. In terms of \(w\), \(x\) and \(y\), what is the dollar cost of the flour required to make 1 cake? \(\frac{xy}{w}\) \(\frac{y}{wx}\) \(\frac{w}{xy}\) \(\frac{wx}{y}\) \(wxy\) [/*] Click here for the answer! This is a typical problem dealing with units and ratios. Let’s use our number sense to quickly tackle this one. First, the fact that the price of flour is \(w\) dollars per \(x\) pounds, means that whatever the final answer is, the \(w\) and \(x\) need to be on opposite parts of the fraction. That’s because \(w\) per \(x\) means \(w/x\). So either that, or its reciprocal will be in your final answer. So that narrows it down to just two choices without much work! Either \(\frac{xy}{w}\) or \(\frac{w}{xy}\). Finally, the question is asking for the cost of making one cake. So let’s what happens if we allow \(y\) to vary. Suppose \(y\) is small, like \(y=1\). Then it takes a whole pound of flour to make just 1 cake. But if \(y\) is larger, say \(y=4\), then that same one pound of flour goes much further, bringing the overall cost down per cake. As \(y\) increases, the cost per cake has to decrease. That tells you immediately that \(y\) must be on the bottom of the fraction (in order to get that kind of inverse relationship). Answer: \(\frac{w}{xy}\) See, that wasn’t too hard, right? There are certainly other ways to work this kind of problem out. If you want to see more on this topic, here’s an excellent refresher for GMAT Quant: Rates and Ratios. Tip #3 — Algebra Problems: Try Backsolving or Picking Numbers Common strategies for algebra problems include backsolving and picking numbers. These techniques make it possible to solve a problem without actually solving it. In other words, you can avoid some of the heavy lifting of algebra if you can leverage the answer choices to your favor. Backsolving works by using the answer choices to work backwards. Often this means plugging in each numerical answer choice into given equations, but it can also sometimes be useful when the answers themselves are equations. Line \(k\) is in the rectangular coordinate system. If the \(x\)-intercept of \(k\) is \(–2\), and the \(y\)-intercept is 3, which of the following is an equation of line \(k\)? \(–3x + 2y = 6\) \(3x + 2y = –6\) \(3x – 2y = 6\) \(2x – 3y = 6\) \(–2x – 3y = 6\) [/*] Click here for the answer! The usual way you’d have to work this out in a high school math class would be to use a formula that gets you the equation of a line from the given intercepts. But we don’t have to remember any kind of formula if you simply backsolve from the answer choices. Take each answer in turn and see if it works. Very quickly you’ll see that \(-3x + 2y=6\) has the correct intercepts, and so it solves the problem! Answer: \(-3x + 2y=6\) Picking numbers is precisely that! It’s when you pick values for some or all of the variables in a problem, and work the problem with your choices. This often requires you to plug in your numbers into answer choices or Data Sufficiency statements to help eliminate choices. If \(3xm + 2ym − 2yn − 3xn = 0\) and \(m ≠ n\), then what is the value of \(y\) in terms of \(x\)? \(–\frac{2x}{3}\) \(–\frac{3x}{2}\) \(\frac{3x^2}{2}\) \(\frac{2x}{3}\) \(\frac{3x}{2}\) [/*] Click here for the answer! Want to avoid the algebra? Let’s pick some convenient numbers for the variables. Keep in mind that \(m \neq n\). So, let’s start with \(m=2\) and \(n=1\). Plugging those into the given equation, we get: \(6x + 4y – 2y – 3x = 0\), which simplifies to: \(3x + 2y = 0\) Now we could even plug in a number for \(x\) and work out \(y\) from that (to compare with the answer choices), but there’s no need on such a simple equation. \(2y = -3x \implies y = \frac{-3x}{2}\) Answer: \(-\frac{3x}{2}\) Tip #4 — Geometry Problems: Be Goal Oriented The hardest part about geometry problems is just knowing where to start. It helps to identify the goal and then try to work to fill in the gaps from your given information toward the goal. Think about these questions as you work out geometry questions on the GMAT Math section: What information do I have? Where do I need to end up? What info would be useful to bridge the gap? Are there any formulas that could help?  In the diagram, JKLM is a square, and P is the midpoint of KL. Is JQM an equilateral triangle? (1) \(∠KPQ = 90°\) (2) \(∠JQP = 150°\) A. Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but Statement (2) alone is not sufficient to answer the question asked. B. Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but Statement (1) alone is not sufficient to answer the question asked. C. Both Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question asked; but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient. D. EACH statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question. E. Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient to answer the question asked, and additional data specific to the problem are needed. [/*] Click here for the answer! What is given? JKLM is a square; P is the midpoint of KL. Where do I need to end up? Determining whether triangle JQM is equilateral or not. What info would be useful? Knowing all the angles, of course! Helpful formulas? We’ll probably need the fact that all angles in a triangle add to 180 degrees and properties of parallel lines cut by a transversal, because frankly those concepts seem to be important in almost every one of these kinds of problems. Let’s look at Statement (1). If angle KPQ is 90 degrees, then PQ would be parallel to KJ. That’s a great start, but doesn’t give enough info by itself to solve the problem. For instance, the angle JQM would vary depending on how long PQ is. Now consider Statement (2). By itself, having angle JQP is nice, but just not sufficient. What if point Q is left or right of the midline? We’d have no definite way of finding the angles of triangle JQM. However, if both Statements (1) and (2) are taken together, then you have KJ parallel to PQ, and angle JQP = 150. Then angle KJQ is equal to 30 (same-side interior angles). That makes angle MJQ equal to 60. But then because PQ is centered on the midline of the square, the other side is a perfect mirror image. And that gives you angle JMQ — 60 degrees as well. Finally, angle JQM must also be 60, and the triangle is guaranteed to be equilateral! Answer: C Both Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question asked; but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient. Tip #5 — Word Problems: Don’t Get Lost! Word problems tend to overlap with the other categories. These kinds of problems test your ability to assess a given situation, set up proper steps, choose the correct mathematical tools to solve the problem, and finally to obtain the best answer (or determine if it’s possible to do so, in the case of Data Sufficiency questions). It’s crucial that you don’t get lost. When you read a long word problem, jot some things down as you go. Pay attention to constants and constraints given in the problem. And identify your goal. When a large municipal water tank is empty, it takes a Type JQ pump, working alone, 72 hours to fill the tank, whereas as Type JT pump, working alone, would take only 18 hours to fill the tank completely. If the tank starts at half full, how long would it take two Type JQ pumps and a Type JT pump, all three pumps working together, to fill the tank? 4 6 9 12 24 [/*] Click here for the answer! Both are sufficient, but neither one alone is sufficient. There’s a lot to keep track of here, and some info is just not that important. For example, you don’t need to know that one pump is a “JQ” and other other is a “JT” pump, just that there are two types and they run at different rates. They could have been called “A” and “B” or “1” and “2” for all we care. But it is a good idea to jot down “JQ” and “JT” on your scratch paper to start organizing the rest of the data. The JQ pump fills the tank in 72 hours. How much water is that? We don’t know. But you can say it’s 1 tank worth. So write “1 tank in 72 hrs.” in your JQ column. Similarly, put “1 tank in 18 hrs.” in your JT column. Now, it goes on to ask about filling up a half-full tank. So, alone the JQ would take 36 hours. But we have two JQ’s, which by themselves would cut that fill time to 18 hours. Finally, the trickiest part, what happens when you add in the JT? By itself, it takes 9 hours to fill half the tank. Let’s bring in our number sense. Every time unit, the JQ’s are going to fill only half as much water as the JT, because the JT is pumping twice as fast. When the tank fills, two-thirds of the water was pumped in by the JT, and only a third of it by the two JT pumps. So either way you look at it, 6 hours are needed — either one third of 18 hours, or 2/3 of 9 hours. Answer: 6 Wrapping it All Up So now you know what topics to expect on the GMAT Math section! A few final words of advice: Know your fundamentals. Don’t try to do everything in your head, but instead write out your scratch work during the test. Lastly, be sure to get in plenty of practice, and learn from your mistakes. Official tests can be found here: Official GMAT Prep Tests 3 and 4. Good luck on test day! The post GMAT Math – What Kind of Math is in the Quantitative Section? appeared first on Magoosh GMAT Blog. |
28 Jun 2020, 15:01
| FROM Magoosh Blog: 2 Month GMAT Study Plan |
 When you’re preparing to take the GMAT, the most important thing to know isn’t about the test itself. Instead, it’s about your preparation: GMAT prep is a marathon, not a sprint! In this 2 month GMAT study plan, we’ll show you how to train for success. Think about it like this: if I want to run 26.2 miles, I can’t just strap on a pair of shoes and head out the door. Instead, I’d need to take a few months to build up a solid foundation to prepare myself. Though (thankfully!) the GMAT test is far less physically intense, you should think of preparing for the GMAT as a similar process. On GMAT test day, you’ll need to be “on” for three hours and seven minutes (not including the breaks), going through some of the most boring reading material you’ve ever seen. The good news, though, is that you can prepare! In this 2 month GMAT study plan, we’ll show you how. How to Use This Study Schedule [*]The 2 month GMAT study plan: [*]Test Day Preparation and What to Bring[/list] format of the GMAT right from the start. This way, you’ll know what to expect from your practice–like when you can use a calculator and when you can’t![*]You’ll see that early on in the 2 month GMAT study plan, you’ll take a diagnostic practice test. This will help you get an idea of your current strengths and weaknesses. You can get a rough GMAT score estimate here.[*]After you take a GMAT exam diagnostic, circle back to your practice test to look critically at what questions you got wrong and why. Categorize the incorrect questions: IR questions stumped you? Data sufficiency problems? Quant and Verbal issues? From there, break down what concepts were tested on the incorrect problems. Geometry? Idioms? That way, you’ll know where to focus your studies.[*]Separately from the diagnostic, identify your target GMAT score. This is likely closely related to your goals; check out GMAT scores for top business schools to zero in on your ideal range.[*]It’s a good idea to spend 60% of your study for the GMAT on practice questions in your areas of weakness. The remaining time should be spent watching the explanation videos and breaking down the reason that you’ve answered the questions incorrectly.[*]Ensure you mix up the GMAT practice questions and practice videos on each day’s list of tasks.[*]Avoid spending multiple hours sitting down and studying. A couple of hours a day is great! [/list]
If you happen to own either the OG2019, OG2018, OG2017, or even the previous OG2016, then it would be no problem using either of those with this study guide.
[*]Magoosh GMAT – sign up for the Premium subscription [*]A journal (paper or on the computer) – throughout this GMAT schedule, I will ask you to take notes. The actual act of writing or typing creates important links in your brain because you are using your hands. Even if you never have time to review what you have written, just the act of writing it will help you learn a little more deeply. [/list]
[*]Magoosh’s Complete GMAT Guide – This comprehensive web-based guide to the GMAT gives you the quick but useful overview you need to understand this test. You’ll see how the GMAT is designed and scored, what skills it tests, how to find and use the best GMAT prep, and how to study for each test section. [*]A guide to GMAT Practice Test Resources – This page includes instructions on where to find good full-length GMAT practice tests, and how to take practice tests and incorporate them into your studies.[/list] GMAT Club, online forum [*]Beat the GMAT, online forum [*]Magoosh GMAT Math Flashcards [*]Magoosh Idiom Flashcards [*]The Magoosh GMAT Diagnostic Test–a great tool to help you identify your strengths and weaknesses.[/list] Because this 2 month GMAT study plan is already filled to the brim with material, we do not include formal practice with the flashcards. If you find these helpful, please integrate work with them where you can. sign up here for a free trial! 12 math Problem Solving (PS) questions*[*]8 verbal Sentence Correction (SC) questions*[*]4 verbal Reading Comprehension (RC) questions*[/list] Upon completion of each Magoosh question, watch the video explanation following the question if you got the answer wrong. NOTE: when you do Magoosh practice questions, do not select individual topics that are familiar. When you learn a particular lesson, resist the urge to practice that material right there and then. This plan is based on the philosophy that you should see a random mix of topics every time you practice as you move through the OG. Yes, this means you will make some mistakes in the beginning, especially with topics you haven’t learned thoroughly yet, but if you study those mistakes carefully, that will prime your mind for understanding these ideas more deeply when you get to them in the lessons. Getting questions wrong at the beginning may seem frustrating, but remember that you are playing a “longer game”: the point is not instant success at the beginning, but building deeper understanding over time. Also, it’s important to get accustomed as soon as possible to the random mix of topics you will see, one after the other, on test day. 4) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Intro to the GMAT section:
Week 1, Day 2 1) In the Magoosh product, do:
2) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Intro to the GMAT section:
Under the Math Section:
Week 1, Day 3 1) In the OG:
3) Watch the following Magoosh videos:
Week 1, Day 4 1) In the OG:
3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Math section:
Week 1, Day 5 1) In the OG, do:
Note that not all the OG explanations are of high quality, and some are not good at all. As an alternative, for all the questions in the OG, you can see much better explanations in our video solutions. 2) In the Magoosh product, do: 3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Verbal section:
Week 1, Day 6 1) Go to the MBA website and download the free software. 2) Take the first full-length GMAT on the GMAC software. Go through the entire solution after you are done, taking notes in your journal on anything you got wrong. Older versions of the GMATPrep software (before version 2.5) do not include an AWA question. In that case, to simulate a full GMAT, begin by selecting randomly a prompt from the back of the OG, and then take 30 minutes to write the essay in a word processing program. Then, take the rest of the GMAT using that software. Shortly after you are done, check all your answers, and read the explanations of everything you got wrong and everything for which you were unsure. Write in your journal anything you need to learn from the mistakes you made. The essay you will either share with a trusted friend or mentor, or post in the online forums asking for feedback. See this blog for other options. As much as possible, try to mimic the GMAT conditions. Give yourself relatively short breaks in between sections. Only eat the kinds of snacks that you are planning to bring to the real GMAT. Note how your sleep the night before affects your work. Note how what you had for dinner the previous night and what you had to eat earlier that day affects your energy level and concentration. Write any observations in your journal. video solutions. 2) In the Magoosh product, do: 3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Verbal section:
Week 2, Day 2 1) In the OG, do:
3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Verbal section:
Week 2, Day 3 1) In the OG, do:
3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Verbal section:
Week 2, Day 4 1) In the OG, do:
3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Verbal section:
Week 2, Day 5 1) In the OG, do:
3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Verbal section:
Week 2, Day 6 1) Read the following Magoosh articles:
Now that you have this essay, what do you do with it? If you have a friend or mentor who is a gifted writer, see whether they would read the essay for you and critique it. Some folks hire a writing tutor specifically for this. If they are willing, you can show them the assessment criteria in the OG, and ask them to follow it. Alternately, you can upload your essay in the online forums and ask for feedback. See this blog for other options. 2) In the Official Guide, do one AWA Essay. 3) In The Magoosh GMAT eBook, read the AWA section. 4) In the Magoosh GMAT Idiom Flashcards, study the cards in the first deck, Basic I. 12 PS questions[*]8 CR questions[*]5 IR questions[/list] 3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Math section:
Week 3, Day 2 1) In the OG, do:
3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Math section:
Week 3, Day 3 1) In the OG, do:
3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Math section:
Week 3, Day 4 1) In the OG, do:
3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Math section:
Week 3, Day 5 1) In the OG, do:
3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Verbal section:
Week 3, Day 6 Take the second full-length GMAT on the GMAC software. Go through the entire solution after you are done, taking notes in your journal on anything you got wrong. Older versions of the GMATPrep software (before version 2.5) do not include an AWA question. In that case, to simulate a full GMAT, begin by selecting randomly a prompt from the back of the OG, and then take 30 minutes to write the essay on the computer. Then, take the rest of the GMAT using that software. Shortly after you are done, check all your answers, and read the explanations of everything you got wrong and everything for which you were unsure. Write in your journal anything you need to learn from the mistakes you made. The essay you will either share with a trusted friend or mentor, or post in the online forums asking for feedback. As much as possible, try to mimic the GMAT conditions. Give yourself relatively short breaks in between sections. Only eat the kinds of snacks that you are planning to bring to the real GMAT. Note how your sleep the night before affects your work. Note how what you had for dinner the previous night and what you had to eat earlier that day affects your energy level and concentration. Write any observations in your journal. 13 PS questions[*]8 SC questions[/list] 3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Verbal section:
Week 4, Day 2 1) In the OG, do:
3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Verbal section:
Week 4, Day 3 In the OG, do:
3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Verbal section:
Week 4, Day 4 1) In the OG, do:
3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Verbal section:
Week 4, Day 5 1) In the OG:
3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Verbal section:
Week 4, Day 6 1) Today, you are going to write another practice essay. From the Argument AWA prompts in the OG, pick another at random (or have someone pick it for you), and take 30 minutes to write an essay on the computer. If you can turn off spellcheck and autocorrect, do so, as you will not have that feature on test day. Now that you have this essay, what do you do with it? If you have a friend or mentor who is a gifted writer, see whether they would read the essay for you and critique it. Some folks hire a writing tutor specifically for this. If they are willing, you can show them the assessment criteria in the OG, and ask them to follow it. Alternately, you can upload your essay in the online forms and ask for feedback. 2) In the Magoosh GMAT Idiom Flashcards, study the cards in the second deck, Basic II. As time allows, review cards from the earlier Idiom deck. 7 DS questions[*]5 IR questions[*]8 SC questions[/list] 3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Verbal section:
Week 5, Day 2 1) In the OG, do:
3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Verbal section:
Week 5, Day 3 1) In the OG, do:
3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Verbal section:
Week 5, Day 4 1) In the OG, do:
3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Verbal section:
Week 5, Day 5 1) In the OG:
3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Verbal section:
Under the Math section:
Uncheck everything else and do the first six Multi-Source Reasoning questions, questions #1-6, setting yourself a 15-minute time limit. When you are done, go back and read carefully the full explanation for each question. Take notes on anything you need to remember. Week 5, Day 6 1) Retake the first full length GMAT on the GMAC software. Because the software has a larger question pool than the number of questions on each test, you will usually see many new questions as well as a few repeats (which are great for review). Older versions of the GMATPrep software (before version 2.5) do not include an AWA question. In that case, to simulate a full GMAT, begin by selecting randomly a prompt from the back of the OG, and then take 30 minutes to write the essay on the computer. Then, take the rest of the GMAT using that software. Shortly after you are done, check all your answers, and read the explanations of everything you got wrong and everything for which you were unsure. Write in your journal anything you need to learn from the mistakes you made. The essay you will either share with a trusted friend or mentor, or post in the online forums asking for feedback. As much as possible, try to mimic the GMAT conditions. Give yourself relatively short breaks in between sections. Only eat the kinds of snacks that you are planning to bring to the real GMAT. Note how your sleep the night before affects your work. Note how what you had for dinner the previous night and what you had to eat earlier that day affects your energy level and concentration. Write any observations in your journal. 13 PS questions[*]6 SC questions[*]5 IR questions[/list] 3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Verbal section:
Uncheck everything else and do the next six Multi-Source Reasoning questions, questions #6-12, setting yourself a 15-minute time limit. When you are done, go back and read carefully the full explanation for each question. Take notes on anything you need to remember. Week 6, Day 2 1) In the OG, do:
3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Verbal section:
Week 6, Day 3 1) In the OG:
3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Verbal section:
Week 6, Day 4 1) In the OG, do:
3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Verbal section:
Week 6, Day 5 1) In the OG:
3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Verbal section:
Week 6, Day 6 1) In the Magoosh product, do 30 Integrated Reasoning Questions* 2) In the Magoosh GMAT Idiom Flashcards, study the cards in the third deck, Advanced I. As time allows, review cards from the earlier Idiom decks. Verbal—RC Example, Passage #1, Path Dependence[*]Verbal—RC Example, Passage #1, Question #1*[*]Verbal—RC Example, Passage #1, Question #2*[*]Verbal—RC Example, Passage #2, Office Organization*[/list] 3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Math section:
Uncheck everything else and do the last six Multi-Source Reasoning questions, questions #12-18, setting yourself a 15-minute time limit. When you are done, go back and read carefully the full explanation for each question. Take notes on anything you need to remember. Week 7, Day 2 1) In the OG, do:
Uncheck everything else and do all six Table Analysis questions, setting yourself a 15-minute time limit. When you are done, go back and read carefully the full explanation for each question. Take notes on anything you need to remember. Week 7, Day 3 1) In the OG, do:
3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Verbal section:
Uncheck everything else and do five Graphics Interpretation questions, setting yourself a 15-minute time limit. When you are done, go back and read carefully the full explanation for each question. Take notes on anything you need to remember. Week 7, Day 4 1) In the OG, do:
3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Verbal section:
Uncheck everything else and do five Graphics Interpretation questions, setting yourself a 15-minute time limit. When you are done, go back and read carefully the full explanation for each question. Take notes on anything you need to remember. Week 7, Day 5 1) In the OG, do:
3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Verbal section:
Uncheck everything else and do eight Two-Part Analysis questions, setting yourself a 20-minute time limit. When you are done, go back and read carefully the full explanation for each question. Take notes on anything you need to remember. Week 7, Day 6 Retake the second full-length GMAT on the GMAC software. Because the software has a larger question pool than the number of questions on each test, you will usually see many new questions as well as a few repeats (which are great for review). Older versions of the GMATPrep software (before version 2.5) do not include an AWA question. In that case, to simulate a full GMAT, begin by selecting randomly a prompt from the back of the OG, and then take 30 minutes to write the essay on the computer. Then, take the rest of the GMAT using that software. Shortly after you are done, check all your answers, and read the explanations of everything you got wrong and everything for which you were unsure. Write in your journal anything you need to learn from the mistakes you made. The essay you will either share with a trusted friend or mentor, or post in the online forums asking for feedback. As much as possible, try to mimic the GMAT conditions. Give yourself relatively short breaks in between sections. Only eat the kinds of snacks that you are planning to bring to the real GMAT. Note how your sleep the night before affects your work. Note how what you had for dinner the previous night and what you had to eat earlier that day affects your energy level and concentration. Write any observations in your journal. 13 PS questions[*]8 CR Questions[*]8 SC questions[/list] 3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Verbal section:
Uncheck everything else and do eight Two-Part Analysis questions, setting yourself a 20-minute time limit. When you are done, go back and read carefully the full explanation for each question. Take notes on anything you need to remember. Week 8, Day 2 1) In the OG, do:
2) In the Magoosh product, do: 3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Math section:
Week 8, Day 3 1) In the OG, do:
2) In the Magoosh product, do: 3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Math section:
Week 8, Day 4 1) In the OG:
3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Math section: Week 8, Day 5 1) In the OG:
3) Watch the following Magoosh videos: Under the Math section: Week 8, Day 6 (if this is NOT the day before your test) 1) Go back to GMAC’s official IR practice questions: Use the access code given in the back of the OG, logging in here. Once again, this site contains the online version of all the questions in the OG, in case you want to practice the identical questions online instead of on paper; in addition, the official IR practice questions live here. Uncheck everything else and do the remaining 38 IR questions, in three batches, with the following times: six Table Analysis (15 minutes); ten Graphics Interpretation (25 minutes); and sixteen Two-Part Analysis questions (40 minutes). When you are done, go back and read carefully the full explanation for each question. Take notes on anything you need to remember. 2) In the Magoosh GMAT Idiom Flashcards, study the cards in the final deck, Advanced II. Do a thorough review of the cards from the earlier Idiom decks. 3) Spend at least 30 minutes on the outside reading of your choice. Pay attention to sentence structures. Pay attention to arguments. Pay attention to main ideas and roles of paragraphs. Any remaining days Finish your 2 month GMAT study plan off strong!
this post.[*]On breaks, make sure to get up, move and stretch—moving and stretching the large muscles of the body (legs and torso) will get oxygen flowing throughout, which will help keep you awake and keep you thinking clearly[/list] Bring to the Test
The post 2 Month GMAT Study Plan appeared first on Magoosh GMAT Blog. |
30 Jun 2020, 13:01
| FROM Magoosh Blog: What’s Tested on the GMAT Verbal Reasoning Section? |
 The GMAT Verbal section consists of 36 multiple-choice questions. Each question presents you with five answer choices. You’ll be tested on three areas: Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, and Sentence Correction. Want to learn more? Start with this video – Intro to the GMAT: The Verbal Section[/*] [/list] How long is the GMAT Verbal? What is the timing of each Verbal section? The total time for GMAT Verbal is 65 minutes. With 36 GMAT Verbal questions to contend with, you’ll have between one to three minutes to complete each question, so pacing yourself is key! Here’s what we suggest for timing for GMAT Verbal:
What are the GMAT Verbal questions? Reading Comprehension These questions start with reading a passage about social sciences, physical or biological sciences, or business. Luckily, you don’t have to be an expert in these topics before taking GMAT Verbal. There are six question categories, from finding the main idea of the passage to identifying the author’s tone. To prepare for this question type, check out How to Study for Reading Comprehension. Critical Reasoning Critical Reasoning questions also start with a passage, but this time you’ll be analyzing an argument—specifically, which answer choice makes the argument stronger, weaker, flawed, and more. There are eight question categories. For a breakdown of this question type and categories (plus additional practice!), read our Introduction to Critical Reasoning article. Sentence Correction Instead of a passage, you’ll see just one sentence with an underlined phrase. Your task will be to replace the underlined portion with an answer choice that makes the most sense grammatically or logically. To try this out on your own, see these top grammar tips for Sentence Correction questions. The Basics of GMAT Verbal Scores The max score you can achieve for GMAT Verbal is 800. This will be combined with your GMAT Quant score (also out of 800), and the average of the two forms your overall GMAT score. If you’re not sure how you’d do on Verbal, you can get a baseline score by taking a diagnostic test. After taking steps to improve your score, you can re-take the diagnostic test later to measure your progress, and find any remaining weak spots to focus on. Once you have an estimated Verbal and Quant score, you can plug them into a GMAT score calculator to see if you’re close to reaching your target score. How do I prepare for the GMAT Verbal? With the GMAT Verbal score counting towards one of the more important scores that business school admissions consultants are looking at, make sure you’re prepared to see the three types of questions on test day. If this all sounds like a lot, don’t worry! We’ve compiled our practice questions and top tips to help you get ready.
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13 Jul 2020, 13:01
| FROM Magoosh Blog: GMAT Analytical Writing: All About the GMAT Essay and How to Prepare For It |
 Yup, the rumors are true: you’ll encounter a 30-minute GMAT analytical writing section on test day. But while analytical writing can seem tough at first, finding out exactly what’s expected and how to attack it for a maximum score will do a lot to make the GMAT essay feel manageable! In this post, we’ll take a look at what you need to know to master the GMAT AWA. Introduction to GMAT Analytical Writing[/*] [*]What to Expect for GMAT Analytical Writing[/*] [*]How to Approach the GMAT AWA (Strategy and Tips)[/*] [*]Breakdown by Section[/*] [*]Example GMAT Essays[/*] [*]Scoring for GMAT Analytical Writing[/*] [*]GMAT AWA and Business School[/*] [/list]  The first bullet point tells us: a good AWA essay is well-organized, has a natural flow from point to point, and is clear and unambiguous about what it is saying. Those are all important points to keep in mind. The second bullet point reminds us: what they present will be, in all likelihood, a flawed argument, but what you must create is a cogent and clear argument, and that will necessarily involve providing clear and relevant support. It’s not enough simply to assert something badly: you must provide justification for what you are saying. The final bullet points may appear enigmatic: “control the elements of standard written English.” What does that mean? Well, first of all, it means no grammar or syntax mistakes. It also means varying the sentence structure—some simple sentences (noun + verb), some with two independent clauses (noun + verb + and/but/or + noun + verb), some with dependent clauses, some with infinitive phrases, some with participial phrases, etc. Finally, it means choosing the right words and the right tone: the tone should be skeptical toward the prompt argument and persuasive toward the points you are making, but not arrogant or dogmatic in any way. The following paragraph always appears after the argument prompt. This is the real meat-and-potatoes of the AWA directions:  First of all, notice it give you one clear task: “Be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument.” Then, it lists several strategies that you might employ in your analysis. Don’t feel compelled to use every one of these in every AWA essay, though you should be using most of them in most essays. Recognizing assumptions is essential for the Critical Reasoning questions, and it will also serve you well on attacking the prompt argument in your AWA. [/*] [*]Know the Directions: This a matter not only of knowing what they say but also, more importantly, understanding the various options you have for analyzing the argument. This list of analytical strategies is always given in the paragraph that follows the prompt argument. It’s important to get familiar with this “analytical toolbox”, so it is yours to employ on test day.[/*] [*]Recognize the Common Flaw Patterns: GMAT AWA prompt arguments often contain one of six types of flaws. Learn to spot these patterns, so you are ready on test day.[/*] [*]Plan Before You Write: This is obvious to some test-takers. Your first task is to find objections to and flaws in the prompt argument. Create a list of flaws. Then, select the 2-4 of those that are most relevant, that would be the most persuasive talking points. Once you have your list of insightful flaws, then you are ready to write.[/*] [*]Use a Template: Many test takers find it helpful to have the basic structure of the AWA essay already planned out and practiced, so it’s just a matter of plugging in the specific details on test day. Here’s an example of a possible GMAT writing template. Feel free to adapt this template as is, modify it, or create one of your own.
In addition to variety in sentence structure, strive for variety in word choice. Of course, you will want to echo words that appear in the prompt argument. But in your own analysis, vary the descriptive words, never using the same word twice. Don’t say “weak … weak … weak” when you can say “unpersuasive … untenable … questionable.” Well-chosen synonyms can make an essay shine.[*]Avoid Common AWA Errors: There are a few common flaws that can pull your GMAT analytical writing score down. As you practice the AWA, make sure you avoid the following:
AWA brainstorming. As you brainstorm, list the argument’s flaws; then evaluate those flaws to find which objections are the strongest. Write an Introduction You don’t need to reinvent the wheel with each GMAT AWA introduction. Start by stating where the passage is from. Then, focus on two main tasks: summarizing the argument and stating why it’s flawed. Keep it short and sweet; three sentences are enough to get your main points set up! Construct Your Body Paragraphs These will make up the lion’s share of your essay, so you’ll spend most of your time writing body paragraphs. Here’s how to go about doing that:
First of all, keep in mind that you should not dwell in the conclusion. The heart of your essay, what really matters toward your score, is in the body paragraphs. These should be bulky and in-depth, but the conclusion should be short and to the point. Wrap things up in a timely manner so that you can get to the business of editing and revising your essay. To keep things manageable and short, don’t go into the details. You only need to recap the major problems in the argument. Sometimes it is enough to say that there are major problems in the argument. Ignore the desire to repeat all the main points that you covered in the body paragraphs. This will only take extra space and waste precious time. Finally, recommend a way to achieve the goal stated in the article. It is important to approach the analysis of the argument as an interested party. You don’t want to be wholly negative. For one, you will write a better analysis if you imagine yourself tied to the argument in some way, and two, the prompt asks you to strengthen the argument. Find some general evidence that will make the argument more convincing or make it irrefutable. Suggest a change so that the logic stands on firmer ground. examples of analytical questions for the GMAT, look no further! Once you’ve read few a through sample AWA prompts, read through the third prompt on page 31 of the PDF. Magoosh GMAT expert Mike McGarry has written a great GMAT AWA Example essay in response to this prompt, including analysis of why it works well and why it would receive a 6. GMAT AWA scoring rubric you can use for this purpose. But if you’re not certain about how your essays measure up to the GMAT scale, there are other ways to get your GMAT essay scored. These include GMAT Write, an official (paid) service from GMAC; friends; and forums. Take a look and see what option works best for you. recent evidence suggest that adcoms also rely on the IR score significantly more than the GMAT essay score. But while it’s true that, in your GMAT preparation, Quant and Verbal and even IR deserve more attention than the AWA, it’s also true you can’t completely neglect AWA. The difference between a 5 or 6 as your GMAT Analytic Writing score will not make or break a business school admission decision, but having an essay score below a 4 could hurt you. The purpose of the AWA is to see how well you write, how effectively you express yourself in written form. This is vital in the modern business world, where you may conduct extensive deals with folks you only know via email and online chatting. Some of your important contacts in your business career will know you primarily through your writing, and for some, your writing might be their first experience of you. You never get a second chance to make a first impression, and when this first impression is in written form, the professional importance of producing high-quality writing is clear. While you don’t need to write like Herman Melville, you need to be competent. A GMAT Analytic Writing score below 4 may cause business schools to question your competence. That’s why it’s important to have at least a decent showing in AWA. For Non-Native English Speakers In particular, if English is not your native language, I realize that this makes the AWA essay all the more challenging, but of course, a solid performance on the AWA by a non-native speaker would be a powerful testament to how well that student has learned English. Toward this end, non-native speakers should practice writing the AWA essay and try to get high-quality feedback on their essays. Devoting 30% or more of your available study time to AWA is likely unwise, but devoting 0% to AWA might also hurt you. Between those, erring on the low side would be appropriate. If, in a three-month span, you write half a dozen practice essays, and get generally positive feedback on them with respect to the GMAT standards, that should be plenty of preparation. Conclusion The GMAT analytical writing can feel like a slog when you first encounter it: it requires deep focus and analysis, and it’s not what most students have spent their prep time working on. But with a bit of preparation, your GMAT essays can take your admissions file to the next level by boosting your AWA score significantly! By including GMAT writing in your overall GMAT prep schedule, you’ll ensure that this section of the test doesn’t become a drag on your application—and helps, rather than hurts, your shot at your dream school. Good luck! The post GMAT Analytical Writing: All About the GMAT Essay and How to Prepare For It appeared first on Magoosh GMAT Blog. |
13 Jul 2020, 14:01
| FROM Magoosh Blog: GMAT Analytical Writing: All About the GMAT Essay and How to Prepare For It |
|
Yup, the rumors are true: you’ll encounter a 30-minute GMAT analytical writing section on test day. But while analytical writing can seem tough at first, finding out exactly what’s expected and how to attack it for a maximum score will do a lot to make the GMAT essay feel manageable! In this post, we’ll take a look at what you need to know to master the GMAT AWA. Introduction to GMAT Analytical Writing[/*] [*]What to Expect for GMAT Analytical Writing[/*] [*]How to Approach the GMAT AWA (Strategy and Tips)[/*] [*]Breakdown by Section[/*] [*]Example GMAT Essays[/*] [*]Scoring for GMAT Analytical Writing[/*] [*]GMAT AWA and Business School[/*] [/list] The first bullet point tells us: a good AWA essay is well-organized, has a natural flow from point to point, and is clear and unambiguous about what it is saying. Those are all important points to keep in mind. The second bullet point reminds us: what they present will be, in all likelihood, a flawed argument, but what you must create is a cogent and clear argument, and that will necessarily involve providing clear and relevant support. It’s not enough simply to assert something badly: you must provide justification for what you are saying. The final bullet points may appear enigmatic: “control the elements of standard written English.” What does that mean? Well, first of all, it means no grammar or syntax mistakes. It also means varying the sentence structure—some simple sentences (noun + verb), some with two independent clauses (noun + verb + and/but/or + noun + verb), some with dependent clauses, some with infinitive phrases, some with participial phrases, etc. Finally, it means choosing the right words and the right tone: the tone should be skeptical toward the prompt argument and persuasive toward the points you are making, but not arrogant or dogmatic in any way. The following paragraph always appears after the argument prompt. This is the real meat-and-potatoes of the AWA directions: First of all, notice it give you one clear task: “Be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument.” Then, it lists several strategies that you might employ in your analysis. Don’t feel compelled to use every one of these in every AWA essay, though you should be using most of them in most essays. Recognizing assumptions is essential for the Critical Reasoning questions, and it will also serve you well on attacking the prompt argument in your AWA. [/*] [*]Know the Directions: This a matter not only of knowing what they say but also, more importantly, understanding the various options you have for analyzing the argument. This list of analytical strategies is always given in the paragraph that follows the prompt argument. It’s important to get familiar with this “analytical toolbox”, so it is yours to employ on test day.[/*] [*]Recognize the Common Flaw Patterns: GMAT AWA prompt arguments often contain one of six types of flaws. Learn to spot these patterns, so you are ready on test day.[/*] [*]Plan Before You Write: This is obvious to some test-takers. Your first task is to find objections to and flaws in the prompt argument. Create a list of flaws. Then, select the 2-4 of those that are most relevant, that would be the most persuasive talking points. Once you have your list of insightful flaws, then you are ready to write.[/*] [*]Use a Template: Many test takers find it helpful to have the basic structure of the AWA essay already planned out and practiced, so it’s just a matter of plugging in the specific details on test day. Here’s an example of a possible GMAT writing template. Feel free to adapt this template as is, modify it, or create one of your own.
In addition to variety in sentence structure, strive for variety in word choice. Of course, you will want to echo words that appear in the prompt argument. But in your own analysis, vary the descriptive words, never using the same word twice. Don’t say “weak … weak … weak” when you can say “unpersuasive … untenable … questionable.” Well-chosen synonyms can make an essay shine.[*]Avoid Common AWA Errors: There are a few common flaws that can pull your GMAT analytical writing score down. As you practice the AWA, make sure you avoid the following:
AWA brainstorming. As you brainstorm, list the argument’s flaws; then evaluate those flaws to find which objections are the strongest. Write an Introduction You don’t need to reinvent the wheel with each GMAT AWA introduction. Start by stating where the passage is from. Then, focus on two main tasks: summarizing the argument and stating why it’s flawed. Keep it short and sweet; three sentences are enough to get your main points set up! Construct Your Body Paragraphs These will make up the lion’s share of your essay, so you’ll spend most of your time writing body paragraphs. Here’s how to go about doing that:
First of all, keep in mind that you should not dwell in the conclusion. The heart of your essay, what really matters toward your score, is in the body paragraphs. These should be bulky and in-depth, but the conclusion should be short and to the point. Wrap things up in a timely manner so that you can get to the business of editing and revising your essay. To keep things manageable and short, don’t go into the details. You only need to recap the major problems in the argument. Sometimes it is enough to say that there are major problems in the argument. Ignore the desire to repeat all the main points that you covered in the body paragraphs. This will only take extra space and waste precious time. Finally, recommend a way to achieve the goal stated in the article. It is important to approach the analysis of the argument as an interested party. You don’t want to be wholly negative. For one, you will write a better analysis if you imagine yourself tied to the argument in some way, and two, the prompt asks you to strengthen the argument. Find some general evidence that will make the argument more convincing or make it irrefutable. Suggest a change so that the logic stands on firmer ground. examples of analytical questions for the GMAT, look no further! Once you’ve read few a through sample AWA prompts, read through the third prompt on page 31 of the PDF. Magoosh GMAT expert Mike McGarry has written a great GMAT AWA Example essay in response to this prompt, including analysis of why it works well and why it would receive a 6. GMAT AWA scoring rubric you can use for this purpose. But if you’re not certain about how your essays measure up to the GMAT scale, there are other ways to get your GMAT essay scored. These include GMAT Write, an official (paid) service from GMAC; friends; and forums. Take a look and see what option works best for you. recent evidence suggest that adcoms also rely on the IR score significantly more than the GMAT essay score. But while it’s true that, in your GMAT preparation, Quant and Verbal and even IR deserve more attention than the AWA, it’s also true you can’t completely neglect AWA. The difference between a 5 or 6 as your GMAT Analytic Writing score will not make or break a business school admission decision, but having an essay score below a 4 could hurt you. The purpose of the AWA is to see how well you write, how effectively you express yourself in written form. This is vital in the modern business world, where you may conduct extensive deals with folks you only know via email and online chatting. Some of your important contacts in your business career will know you primarily through your writing, and for some, your writing might be their first experience of you. You never get a second chance to make a first impression, and when this first impression is in written form, the professional importance of producing high-quality writing is clear. While you don’t need to write like Herman Melville, you need to be competent. A GMAT Analytic Writing score below 4 may cause business schools to question your competence. That’s why it’s important to have at least a decent showing in AWA. For Non-Native English Speakers In particular, if English is not your native language, I realize that this makes the AWA essay all the more challenging, but of course, a solid performance on the AWA by a non-native speaker would be a powerful testament to how well that student has learned English. Toward this end, non-native speakers should practice writing the AWA essay and try to get high-quality feedback on their essays. Devoting 30% or more of your available study time to AWA is likely unwise, but devoting 0% to AWA might also hurt you. Between those, erring on the low side would be appropriate. If, in a three-month span, you write half a dozen practice essays, and get generally positive feedback on them with respect to the GMAT standards, that should be plenty of preparation. Conclusion The GMAT analytical writing can feel like a slog when you first encounter it: it requires deep focus and analysis, and it’s not what most students have spent their prep time working on. But with a bit of preparation, your GMAT essays can take your admissions file to the next level by boosting your AWA score significantly! By including GMAT writing in your overall GMAT prep schedule, you’ll ensure that this section of the test doesn’t become a drag on your application—and helps, rather than hurts, your shot at your dream school. Good luck! The post GMAT Analytical Writing: All About the GMAT Essay and How to Prepare For It appeared first on Magoosh GMAT Blog. |
30 Jul 2020, 12:01
| FROM Magoosh Blog: GMAT Arithmetic 101 |
 The GMAT Quant section tests a variety of mathematical concepts, including algebra, geometry, and arithmetic. Generally speaking, the test-makers are not looking to trick or confuse you. Most GMAT math problems are rather straightforward. Read on to find out the specific arithmetic topics covered, tips for success, and plenty of practice problems! What kind of arithmetic is tested on the GMAT?[/*] [*]GMAT Arithmetic Tricks: 3 Tips for Success[/*] [*]GMAT Arithmetic Review: Practice Problems[/*] [*]Conclusion[/*] [/list] Arithmetic Operations[/*] [*]Number Properties[/*] [*]Fractions[/*] [*]Ratio and Proportions[/*] [*]Percents[/*] [*]Powers and Roots of Numbers[/*] [*]Statistics[/*] [*]Combinatorics (Counting Methods)[/*] [*]Discrete Probability[/*] [/list] Now let’s take a quick tour through these various areas. Some of the topics overlap a bit. And you may need to combine ideas to solve more challenging problems, but here are the basics. order of operations, or spotting common factors to cancel in complicated fractions. It’s important to have good number sense too. number properties. Primarily, we’re talking about properties of integers. So, be prepared to analyze evens and odds, consecutive integers and multiples, prime numbers, positives and negatives, and all the related concepts. For example, did you know that 1 is not a prime number? On the other hand, 0 is definitely an integer! fractions on the GMAT! GMAT Quantitative: Ratio and Proportions Understanding Percents on the GMAT[/*] [*]Percent Change Problems on the GMAT[/*] [*]GMAT Quant: Practice Problems with Percents[/*] [/list] Laws of Exponents and Roots will definitely help you to get through the GMAT Quantitative section. Here are a few links to get you started. But what about those “impossible” problems with huge tricky exponents, in which they ask for the units digit of the answer? Don’t fall into the trap of trying to work out the number exactly — that will eat up too much precious time. Instead, review these methods: GMAT Quant: Difficult Units Digits Questions. descriptive statistics and statistical significance. Often, the problems can be done without much of computation. For example, did you know that if you multiplied all of the data by the same number, \(k\), then the mean, median, mode, and standard deviation also gets multiplied by that same factor \(k\)? By contrast, adding the same number \(k\) to all of the data only changes the mean, median, and mode, while leaving the standard deviation the same!  Statistics make the world go ’round! (Image by Wynn Pointaux from Pixabay) factorials. Check out GMAT Permutations and Combinations for more! counting to geometric probability and problems based on dice, you have to be prepared for just about anything. But there are just a few fundamental concepts to keep in mind. The main idea behind probability is that it’s a fraction of the desired outcomes over the total number of outcomes. To get started, check out this article: GMAT Probability Rules. Also, you can expect probability to be a favorite topic for GMAT data sufficiency questions — for practice, see GMAT Data Sufficiency Practice Questions on Probability.  Click here for the video explanation from our GMAT product. [*]\(\dfrac{4^6-4^5}{3} = \) (A) \(\dfrac{4}{3}\) (B) \(4^{4/3}\) (C) \(4^4 – 4^{5/3}\) (D) \(4^5 – 4^4\) (E) \(4^5\) Show Answer The answer is E. Click here for the video explanation from our GMAT product. [*]\(\sqrt{81+81+81+81+81+81+81+81} = \) (A) \(18\sqrt{2}\) (B) \(36\sqrt{2}\) (C) 72 (D) \(162\sqrt{2}\) (E) 648 Show Answer The answer is A. Click here for the video explanation from our GMAT product. [*]If \(k\) is a positive integer, what is the smallest possible value of \(k\) such that \(1040k\) is the square of an integer? (A) 2 (B) 5 (C) 10 (D) 15 (E) 65 Show Answer The answer is E. Click here for the video explanation from our GMAT product. [*]If \(k\) is the greatest positive integer such that \(3^k\) is a divisor of \(15!\) then \(k = \) (A) 3 (B) 4 (C) 5 (D) 6 (E) 7 Show Answer The answer is D. Click here for the video explanation from our GMAT product. [*]A certain school district has specified 5 different novels and 4 different non-fiction books from which teachers can choose to assemble a summer reading list. Each summer reading list must have exactly 3 novels and 2 non-fiction books. How many different summer reading lists are possible? (A) 54 (B) 60 (C) 72 (D) 120 (E) 240 Show Answer The answer is B. Click here for the video explanation from our GMAT product. [/list] Data Sufficiency Questions For each of the below problems, choose one of the following: (A) Statement 1 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but statement 2 alone is NOT sufficient. (B) Statement 2 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but statement 1 alone is NOT sufficient. (C) BOTH statements 1 and 2 TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient. (D) Each statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question. (E) Statement 1 and 2 TOGETHER are NOT sufficient to answer the question. [*]Ann and Bob planted trees on Friday. What is the ratio of the number of trees that Bob planted to the number of trees that Ann planted? (1) Ann planted 20 trees more than Bob planted. (2) Ann planted 10 percent more trees than Bob planted. Show Answer The answer is (B) Statement 2 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but statement 1 alone is NOT sufficient. Click here for the video explanation from our GMAT product. [*]If \(P\) and \(Q\) are positive integers, and if \(P > 1\), does \(P = Q\)? (1) \(P\) is a factor of \(Q\) (2) \(P\) is a multiple of \(Q\) Show Answer The answer is (C) BOTH statements 1 and 2 TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient. Click here for the video explanation from our GMAT product. [*]What is the value of \(x\)? (1) \( (x-5)^2 = 0 \) (2) \( (x-3)^2 = 4 \) Show Answer The answer is (A) Statement 1 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but statement 2 alone is NOT sufficient. Click here for the video explanation from our GMAT product. [*]A box contains only red chips, green chips, and blue chips. If a chip is randomly selected from the box, what is the probability that the chip is either red or green? (1) The probability of selecting a green chip is 1/3. (2) The probability of selecting a blue chip is 1/7. Show Answer The answer is (B) Statement 2 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but statement 1 alone is NOT sufficient. Click here for the video explanation from our GMAT product. [*]In a certain group, the average (arithmetic mean) age of the males is 28, and the average age of the females is 30. If there are 100 people in the group, how many of them are males? (1) The average age of all 100 people is 28.9 (2) There are 10 more males than there are females. Show Answer The answer is (D) Each statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question. Click here for the video explanation from our GMAT product. [*]A certain aquarium holds three types of fish: angelfish, swordtails, and guppies. What is the ratio of the number of guppies to the number of angelfish? (1) There are 200 fish in the aquarium (2) 45 percent of the fish are swordtails, and there are twice as many swordtails as there are angelfish. Show Answer The answer is (B) Statement 2 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but statement 1 alone is NOT sufficient. Click here for the video explanation from our GMAT product. [/list] GMAT Arithmetic 101 appeared first on Magoosh GMAT Blog. |
31 Jul 2020, 13:01
| FROM Magoosh Blog: 20 GMAT Sentence Correction Practice Questions and Answers |
 Every time you put something into writing in a professional setting, it should represent you at your very best—and an important part of that is correct grammar. That’s why business schools care about it, which is why the GMAT tests it. The primary vehicle for testing grammar on the GMAT is the Sentence Correction questions. Keep reading to see what is tested on GMAT Sentence Correction, practice questions for SC, and tips for success. ? What is GMAT Sentence Correction?[/*] [*]How can I do well on SC?[/*] [*]How to Master Sentence Correction on GMAT [*]GMAT Sentence Correction Practice Questions with Explanations[/list] GMAT Sentence Correction Strategies. While you’re thinking about strategy, here are some tips on how to ace GMAT sentence correction! GMAT Sentence Correction Practice Questions is an excellent resource. It compiles links to other blog posts, listed by the rule that they have to do with. So, if you wanted to learn about gerunds and gerund phrases, or when to use like vs. as, you can go to a post that focuses on that rule with examples. In many ways, SC improvement takes time. You have to learn and re-learn grammar and style rules. This takes time, so be patient with yourself. Use the lesson videos, and make sure to learn from your practice. Also, your process of elimination skills need sharpening and training. The GMAT is a rapid and tricky test, and the more organized and purposeful prep that you do, the more likely it is that you’ll see an increase in your practice scores. GMAT prep and are a good sample of the different sorts of questions you’re likely to see on your exam. Plenty of different grammar and style rule violations, problems with the structure and logical flow, and some examples of issues with idioms and phrasing.
The post 20 GMAT Sentence Correction Practice Questions and Answers appeared first on Magoosh GMAT Blog. |
31 Jul 2020, 19:00
| FROM Magoosh Blog: GMAT Sentence Correction with 20 Practice Questions and Answers |
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Every time you put something into writing in a professional setting, it should represent you at your very best—and an important part of that is correct grammar. That’s why business schools care about it, which is why the GMAT tests it. The primary vehicle for testing grammar on the GMAT is the Sentence Correction questions. Keep reading to see what is tested on GMAT Sentence Correction, practice questions for SC, and tips for success. ? What is GMAT Sentence Correction?[/*] [*]How can I do well on SC?[/*] [*]How to Master Sentence Correction on GMAT [*]GMAT Sentence Correction Practice Questions with Explanations[/list] GMAT Sentence Correction Strategies. While you’re thinking about strategy, here are some tips on how to ace GMAT sentence correction! GMAT Sentence Correction Practice Questions is an excellent resource. It compiles links to other blog posts, listed by the rule that they have to do with. So, if you wanted to learn about gerunds and gerund phrases, or when to use like vs. as, you can go to a post that focuses on that rule with examples. In many ways, SC improvement takes time. You have to learn and re-learn grammar and style rules. This takes time, so be patient with yourself. Use the lesson videos, and make sure to learn from your practice. Also, your process of elimination skills need sharpening and training. The GMAT is a rapid and tricky test, and the more organized and purposeful prep that you do, the more likely it is that you’ll see an increase in your practice scores. GMAT prep and are a good sample of the different sorts of questions you’re likely to see on your exam. Plenty of different grammar and style rule violations, problems with the structure and logical flow, and some examples of issues with idioms and phrasing.
The post GMAT Sentence Correction with 20 Practice Questions and Answers appeared first on Magoosh GMAT Blog. |
26 Aug 2020, 20:01
| FROM Magoosh Blog: Integrated Reasoning on the GMAT: The Complete Guide |
 If you’re sitting down to your first GMAT Integrated Reasoning section, you might not know what to think! You’ll have 30 minutes to answer 12 Integrated Reasoning GMAT questions involving a ton of data analysis, critical thinking, and quantitative reasoning. But by preparing early—and thoroughly!—you’ll be able to get the Integrated Reasoning GMAT score that you want on test day. What is GMAT Integrated Reasoning? The GMAT Integrated Reasoning section tests your quant-based and verbal-based reasoning in 4 parts: multi-source reasoning, table analysis, two-part analysis, and graphics interpretation. Essentially, the GMAT IR section is testing for your data analysis skills. The big question for many students: just what is the GMAT IR score importance? IR is relatively important (and increasingly so!), so it’s vital not to ignore it! Overall, you can expect to see 12 questions in 30 minutes. It’s not quite as simple as it sounds, though: each graph or prompt will have multiple questions. In addition, you’ll have to answer a question before you can move on—and you can’t go back to a question once you’ve answered it.  Check out this video of Magoosh’s Introduction to Integrated Reasoning lesson! Integrated Reasoning Question Types on the GMAT Multi-Source Reasoning Multi-source reasoning questions show you a split screen: on the left, you’ll have three clickable cards, each with a piece of information that will help you answer a particular question, and which you can only see one of at a time. The questions are either standard five-choice multiple choice or multiple dichotomous choice. You’ll have two answer choices (e.g. “true/false”) for each part of a three-part question. For more sample multi-source reasoning problems, click here! Table Analysis Table analysis questions give you a sortable table of numbers. These are accompanied by multiple dichotomous choice questions, in which you have two answer choices (e.g. “true/false”) for each part of a three-part question. Check out a sample table analysis problem! Graphics Interpretation For graphics interpretation questions, you’ll receive some visual information in the form of a chart or a graph, then questions containing two drop-down menus each. These menus will have you fill in blanks within a sentence according to the data shown in the visual. Check out more sample graphics interpretation problems! Two-Part Analysis Two-part analysis questions give you a large prompt, followed by a question-and-answer table. You will fill out the answers for each of two questions, which can vary; they may be partially or completely related, but they will always be interdependent. Check out a sample two-part analysis problem! Strategies for Getting a Good Integrated Reasoning GMAT Score Getting a good Integrated Reasoning GMAT score can be tricky—not least of all because a lot of people aren’t sure what a good IR score is! Unlike the total GMAT score, which is scored between 200 and 800, IR is scored between 1 and 8. Most people would consider a good score to be above the 50th percentile—in other words, better than half of test-takers’ scores. For IR, this is a 5 or higher. So how do you get that good score of 5+ on GMAT IR? Here are a few keys to succeeding:
Need Integrated Reasoning GMAT practice? You’re not alone! That’s why Magoosh is excited to present you with the ultimate GMAT Integrated Reasoning eBook: Magoosh’s Complete Guide to GMAT Integrated Reasoning! Here, you’ll find detailed explanations and tips for each IR question type, as well as practice witin each area.   Still want more? You can find Magoosh’s guide to the official GMAT Integrated Reasoning practice here! A Final Note GMAT Integrated Reasoning questions are designed to throw a lot of data at you, fast. And while a lot of test-takers will let that throw them off their game, you can ensure that you’re all set for test day by familiarizing yourself with these question types and practicing, practicing, practicing! The more used to the question types you are, the easier your test day experience will be. And the GMAT IR prep tools in this post will help you get there. Good luck! The post Integrated Reasoning on the GMAT: The Complete Guide appeared first on Magoosh GMAT Blog. |
28 Sep 2020, 18:01
| FROM Magoosh Blog: GMAT Word Problems: Introduction, Strategies, and Practice Questions |
 You may love GMAT word problems or you may hate them, but you can’t get around them if you want to ace the GMAT Quant section. No matter what your feelings are about this problem type, though, Magoosh’s experts have put together everything you need to know (and practice!) GMAT word problems in order to master them before test day. What to Expect from GMAT Word Problems[/*] [*]Strategy Guide: What’s the Trick to Mastering GMAT Word Problems?
GMAT Quant section. How much of the GMAT is word problems? Within the Quant section, actually a whole lot! A study of official GMAT questions from actual tests show that word problems account for 58.2% of all GMAT math questions. In other words, test-takers should anticipate a word problem cropping up (on average) in three out of every five questions you’ll see in Quant. Because of GMAT word problems’ prevalence, you can expect to see both Data Sufficiency and Problem Solving questions in this format. The question format and answer choices may look different, but the basic premise will be the same. You may be feeling the pressure, but hang in there! If you’re worried about how to master word problems on the GMAT, keep reading for our GMAT Word Problems strategy guide. Variables in GMAT Answer Choices: 2 Approaches. tips for plugging in numbers that you should use! Here’s a quick summary of how to quick the best numbers for a particular problem:
Click here for a video answer and explanation to GMAT Word Problem 1![/b] Click here for a text answer and explanation to GMAT Word Problem 1! Our task is to determine the ratio of Bob’s trees to Ann’s trees. Let’s label these numbers of trees with variables: Bob’s trees→B, Ann’s trees→A With these variables, we can express the ratio we want to determine: \(B/A\) =? Statement 1: Ann planted 20 trees more than Bob planted. Let’s translate this into an equation using A and B: \( A=B+20 \) Now we can substitute this into our ratio, replacing A: \(B/A\) = \( B/(B+20) \) No matter what simplifications we make, we cannot find a numerical value for this fraction. We would need a value for B. We cannot determine the ratio. Statement 1 by itself is not sufficient. Statement 2: Ann planted 10 percent more trees than Bob planted. Let’s translate this into an equation using A and B: \(A=1.10 x B \) Again, let’s substitute this in for A in our ratio: \(B/A\) = \( B/(1.10B) \) = \(1/1.1 \) We found a value for the ratio of Bob’s trees to Ann’s trees. Statement 2 alone is sufficient. [*]The Townville museum was open for 7 consecutive days. If the number of visitors each day was 3 greater than the previous day, how many visitors were there on the first day? (1) There were a total of 126 visitors for the 7 days. (2) The number of visitors on the seventh day was three times the number of visitors on the first day. [/list] A. Statement 1 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but statement 2 alone is NOT sufficient. B. Statement 2 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but statement 1 alone is NOT sufficient. C. BOTH statements 1 and 2 TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient. D. Each statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question. E. Statement 1 and 2 TOGETHER are NOT sufficient to answer the question. Click here for a video answer and explanation to GMAT Word Problem 2! Click here for a text answer and explanation to GMAT Word Problem 2! If x is the number of visitors on the first day, then: x = # of visitors on the 1st day x + 3 = # of visitors on the 2nd day x + 6 = # of visitors on the 3rd day x + 9 = # of visitors on the 4th day x + 12 = # of visitors on the 5th day x + 15 = # of visitors on the 6th day x + 18 = # of visitors on the 7th day 1) Adding up the number of visitors gives us: x + (x + 3) + (x + 9) + (x + 12) + (x + 15) + (x + 18) = 126 We could simplify and solve this for x. So Statement 1 is sufficient. 2) x + 18 = 3x Again, we can simplify this and solve for x. So Statement 2 is sufficient. Answer: (D) [*]Two teachers, Ms. Ames and Mr. Betancourt, each had N cookies. Ms. Ames was able to give the same number of cookies to each one of her 24 students, with none left over. Mr. Betancourt was also able to give the same number of cookies to each one of his 18 students, with none left over. If N > 0, what is the value of N? (1) N<100 (2) N > 50 [/list] A. Statement 1 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but statement 2 alone is NOT sufficient. B. Statement 2 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but statement 1 alone is NOT sufficient. C. BOTH statements 1 and 2 TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient. D. Each statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question. E. Statement 1 and 2 TOGETHER are NOT sufficient to answer the question. Click here for a video answer and explanation to GMAT Word Problem 3! Click here for a text answer and explanation to GMAT Word Problem 3! This question is really about common multiples and the LCM (note that it is different than finding the set of all multiples, though!). If Ms. Ames can give each of her 24 students k cookies, so that they all get the same and none are left over, then 24k = N. Similarly, in Mr. Betancourt’s class, 18s = N. What are the common multiples of 18 and 24? 18 = 2×9 = 2×3×3 = 6×3 24 = 3×8 = 2×2×2×3 = 6×4 From the prime factorizations, we see that GCF = 6, so the LCM is LCM = 6×3×4 = 72 and all other common multiples of 18 and 24 are the multiples of 72: {72, 144, 216, 288, 360, …} Statement #1: if N<100, the only possibility is N = 72. This statement, alone and by itself, is sufficient. Statement #2: if N > 50, then N could be 72, or 144, or 216, or etc. Many possibilities. This statement, alone and by itself, is not sufficient. Answer = (A) [*]A certain zoo has mammals and reptiles and birds, and no other animals. The ratio of mammals to reptiles to birds is 11:8:5. How many birds are in the zoo? (1) there are twelve more mammals in the zoo than there are reptiles (2) if the zoo acquired 16 more mammals, the ratio of mammals to birds would be 3:1 [/list] A. Statement 1 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but statement 2 alone is NOT sufficient. B. Statement 2 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but statement 1 alone is NOT sufficient. C. BOTH statements 1 and 2 TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient. D. Each statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question. E. Statement 1 and 2 TOGETHER are NOT sufficient to answer the question. Click here for a video answer and explanation to GMAT Word Problem 4! Click here for a text answer and explanation to GMAT Word Problem 4! A short way to do this problem. The prompt gives us ratio information. Each statement gives use some kind of count information, so each must be sufficient on its own. From that alone, we can conclude: answer = D. This is all we have to do for Data Sufficiency. Here are the details, if you would like to see them. Statement (1): there are twelve more mammals in the zoo than there are reptiles From the ratio in the prompt, we know mammals are 11 “parts” and reptiles are 8 “parts”, so mammals have three more “parts” than do reptiles. If this difference of three “parts” consists of 12 mammals, that must mean there are four animals in each “part.” We have five bird “parts”, and if each counts as four animals, that’s 5*4 = 20 birds. This statement, alone and by itself, is sufficient. Statement (2): if the zoo acquired 16 more mammals, the ratio of mammals to birds would be 3:1 Let’s say there are x animals in a “part”—this means there are currently 11x mammals and 5x birds. Suppose we add 16 mammals. Then the ratio of (11x + 16) mammals to 5x birds is 3:1. (11x + 16)/(5x) = 3/1 = 3 11x + 16 = 3*(5x) = 15x 16 = 15x – 11x 16 = 4x 4 = x So there are four animals in a “part”. The birds have five parts, 5x, so that’s 20 birds. This statement, alone and by itself, is sufficient. Both statements are sufficient. Answer = D. average speed to total distance traveled, from total time to total amount. The key now is to put them into practice. Jot down these techniques or bookmark this post so you can come back as you continue your practice with GMAT word problems. You can also check out our posts on compound interest and Venn diagrams for more practice with GMAT word problems. Good luck! This post was written with contributions from our Magoosh content creator, Rachel Kapelke-Dale. The post GMAT Word Problems: Introduction, Strategies, and Practice Questions appeared first on Magoosh GMAT Blog. |
05 Oct 2020, 09:01
| FROM Magoosh Blog: GMAT Error Log: The Key to GMAT Success (Free Template Included) |
 Your GMAT journey will be both challenging and rewarding. You will have highs and lows. There will be days that will build your confidence and then other days you will want to forget about completely. We have all had those days: you are studying and you feel like you can’t get any question right. But before you crumble up that paper, wipe clean that dry erase board, or power down that computer, STOP! Document your struggles and capture that data! Why Keeping an Error Log is So Important Our mistakes are chock full of information about our test taking abilities, strategies, and more importantly, our habits. Whether you’re GMAT studying for the first time or preparing for a retake, a critical look at how we approach, solve, and check our work will not only direct us to which areas we should study next, but will make us conscious about the bad habits we exhibit every time we attempt a GMAT problem.  We are always told to review our questions after we complete practice problems and the best way to advance your skills is by using a GMAT Error Log! I know what you’re thinking: not another GMAT wonder tool you have to buy to achieve your goal score. We get it. The GMAT is not only taxing on you mentally, physically, and socially (no one wants to hang out with the guy with Critical Reasoning flashcards at the party), but the GMAT is also COSTLY! That’s the beauty of the GMAT Error Log—it’s a completely free tool! Even better, keep reading and I will share with you a template I use to save you time on finding one online. Yes, the power of self evaluating your GMAT progress can be yours with a few clicks of a mouse! How to Use an Error Log GMAT prep is broken down into three parts: Content, Problem Solving, & Testing. What I have seen that keeps test-takers from earning their top score is that they haven’t spent enough time in the Problem Solving stage. Test-takers would read 100% of the material and complete 4 to 5 practice CAT exams, but would only successfully complete 20-30% of all the questions on the Magoosh platform and even less when it comes to the Official Guide. Knowing the ratios of a 30-60-90 triangle, how to FOIL, or what is a noun is important, but you must drill these topics in various various ways to really understand these concepts and how to answer these questions on the exam. Taking CAT exams in isolation will not improve your score. It is in careful review and reflection is where you will develop skills and earn points. CAT exams are a major time investment and are extremely valuable, so you don’t want to waste too much time to only answer 30 or more random questions. What I have seen successful test-takers do is create mini problems sets (5, 8, 10, or 16 questions) and use those as a sample test to gauge their skill set. In these practice problems is where the GMAT Error Log shines!  Let’s say each day for a week, you complete 10 to 20 random problems of various question types and difficulties. You are bound to miss a few questions. What most people do when they get a question wrong is read the explanation, say “oh I got it,” and move on. Here is where you leverage the GMAT Error Log. Not only will you read the explanation, you will also input the question you got wrong in the Error Log, what you did wrong, and what you will do differently next time. This seems like a small task today, but in the beginning, it can feel very daunting. After about 20 or so questions, though, you will get into the habit of updating your error log and begin to see the fruits of your labor. Leading up to a test day, a great Error Log can be a great review tool right before a CAT exam. When I work with my test-takers I teach them how to build a detailed Error Log with great care because it is those careless errors or habits that are written in the Error Log that jumps your GMAT score from a 620 to 650 or 690 to that 700. How to Structure Your GMAT Log Your Error Log does not need to have many bells and whistles. It doesn’t need to be something with macros and automated graphic generators. It doesn’t have to be a spreadsheet or digital at all. I actually keep two logs – an old school black and white marble notebook and a digital copy. The Error Log just has to fit your method of note-taking and meet your dedication to the process. Error Logs lose value when they are not updated. You only get out of the Error Log what you put in. I can never guarantee your score to improve, but I can say that having a running list of all your mistakes can help prevent you from making them again. Here is the key information you want to have in any GMAT Error Log:
This sounds extremely simple, because it is – the challenging part is sticking to the habit. After a few weeks, you will have an error log that you will cherish and will be excited to fill it up. So go out there and make some GMAT mistakes! I am here to help you—feel free to comment below and include a copy of your own error log and I will provide you some feedback and additional examples. The post GMAT Error Log: The Key to GMAT Success (Free Template Included) appeared first on Magoosh GMAT Blog. |
30 Oct 2020, 19:01
| FROM Magoosh Blog: Build Your Own GMAT Study Schedule |
 You may have heard that studying for the GMAT is similar to preparing for a marathon. Not many people could run 26.2 miles (42.195 kilometers) without months of preparation! Though you probably won’t be as sweaty as you would be if you were to run for hours, you’ll still need endurance, speed, and strong mental skills to get through the GMAT with the score you deserve. Now, if you’re planning to run a marathon, your schedule is easy to fill out — It’s running on Monday, Tuesday probably some running, and then more running on Wednesday, Thursday, and so on. Not so simple with the GMAT! On your big day, you need to be prepared to use dozens of different math and grammar rules, track the meaning of several thousand words of text, and solve math problems with no calculator, all while going really fast and not making any mistakes. So more like a three-legged hot yoga CrossFit marathon. So what’s your plan? If you’re looking for some help deciding what to do each Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday to be ready for the unique challenges of the GMAT, you’ve found it! Once you have a goal in mind, and you’ve gathered some helpful resources, it’s time to start building your own GMAT study schedule. Stay motivated — know your goals What are your hopes and dreams? Who are you and who do you aspire to be? Sorry, I didn’t mean to get too personal, but some reflecting on your reasons for studying for a 3+ hour exam that costs hundreds of dollars and determines a big part of your future is a great place to start! If you need some ideas, consider your short term vs. your long term goals. Your short term goal might be to take the GMAT in 3 months and score 750, but your long term goal might be to get into a top MBA program and then conquer the world of finance (or maybe just prove to your old calculus professor that you are worth more than the Σ of your parts). I recommend writing down your goals and keeping them somewhere visible — on the fridge, the mirror, or out on your desk. When you’re feeling discouraged or especially tired, look back to your goals to reinvigorate you and remind you of why you’re putting yourself through this. Before you get started Before you start building your own GMAT study schedule, you’ll need to get squared away with a couple initial steps. The schedule builder will use a little info to guide you to a recommended study schedule template. Most importantly, it wants to know the results from your diagnostic tests. If you haven’t had all that fun yet, take about an hour and complete both the quantitative and verbal diagnostic tests. Then head back here and you’ll be ready to go. Build your custom GMAT study schedule After you’ve completed your diagnostic, just take this brief quiz and then we’ll recommend a template of your study schedule to get started with! powered by Typeform The post Build Your Own GMAT Study Schedule appeared first on Magoosh GMAT Blog. |
24 Nov 2020, 18:01
| FROM Magoosh Blog: How to Solve GMAT Motion Problems |
 Word Problems make up a majority of the quantitative section of the GMAT (almost 60 percent). Of the word problems they’ll face, students tend to need the most help with GMAT motion problems. This type of problem centers around the “dust” formula, which is short for Distance equals Speed multiplied by Time, or \(\text{D}\times\text{S}=\text{T}\). But there are many varieties of motion problem, and we will discuss techniques for each of them. At the end of this article, you’ll also find motion word problems with solutions for you to test your knowledge! The Distance Equation[/*] [*]Multi-Segment Motion Problems[/*] [*]Average Speed[/*] [*]Multiple Traveler Questions[/*] [*]Shrinking and Expanding Gaps[/*] [*]Data Sufficiency[/*] [*]GMAT Motion Problems Review: Practice Problems[/*] [/list] Distance equals Speed multiplied by Time, or \(\text{D}\times\text{S}=\text{T}\). If you learn this basic equation well, you’ll be able to dust your math troubles away! (Insert rimshot.) We can rearrange this formula to determine that Speed is equal to Distance divided by Time, and that Time is equal to Distance divided by Speed. Distance is the measurement of how far apart objects, people, or points are. Speed is the rate at which someone or something is traveling. Time is how long it takes to travel. Let’s demonstrate this. Walking at a constant rate of 160 meters per hour, Monroe can cross a bridge in 2 hours. What is the length of the bridge? Here, the length of the bridge is the distance Monroe must cross. Using Distance equals Speed multiplied by Time, we get: \((160\;\text{meters per hour})\times(2\;\text{hours})=320\;\text{meters}\) Seems simple enough so far, right? Let’s check out a few more GMAT motion problems. Speed is equal to Distance divided by Time. Let’s take that a step further and talk about average speed. Average speed is defined as total distance traveled divided by the total time period spent traveling. This means that if you have a trip with multiple segments, you’ll want to take the sum of the distances of each segment and divide that by the sum of the times of each segment. Average speed captures the constant speed needed to travel the total distance in the total time. Let’s demonstrate this. Koki drove 16 miles in 10 minutes, and then drove an additional 6 miles in 5 minutes. What is Koki’s average speed for the entire trip in miles per hour? Click here for the answer and explanation Well, average speed is the total distance divided by the total time. \(\text{D}_\text{Total}=16\;\text{miles}+6\;\text{miles}=22\;\text{miles}\) \(\text{T}_\text{Total}=10\;\text{minutes}+5\;\text{minutes}=15\;\text{minutes}\) \(\text{S}_\text{Average}=\frac{\text{D}_\text{Total}}{\text{T}_\text{Total}}\) \(\text{S}_\text{Average}=\frac{22\;\text{miles}}{15\;\text{minutes}}\times\frac{60\;\text{minutes}}{1\;\text{hour}}=88\;\text{miles per hour}\) That’s straightforward enough, but what if we are not given any distances or times? It is possible to solve an average speed problem, even if all you are given are the different speeds in each segment of the trip. You might then think that average speed would just be the average of all of the speeds, but that is not correct. Let’s say that Nathaniel drove from Gwenville to Samton at an average speed of 24 miles per hour. He then drove the same route on the return trip back from Samton to Gwenville at an average speed of 36 miles per hour. If you were asked to find Nathaniel’s average speed, it would not just be 30 miles per hour (the average of 24 and 36). Click here to work through this problem To see this, let’s go back to our MVP dust formula. Since there are two legs of the trip, we will have two equations. D1, S1, T1; D2, S2, T2. Because Nathaniel’s trip is a round trip, we can assume that D1and D2 are the same, so we will set both of them equal to D. \(\text{D}_1=\text{D}\\\text{S}_1=24\;\text{miles per hour}\\\text{T}_1=\frac{D}{24\;\text{miles per hour}}\) \(\text{D}_2=\text{D}\\\text{S}_2=36\;\text{miles per hour}\\\text{T}_2=\frac{D}{36\;\text{miles per hour}}\) \(\text{D}_\text{Total}=\text{2D}\) \(\text{T}_\text{Total}=\frac{D}{24\;\text{miles per hour}}+\frac{D}{36\;\text{miles per hour}}\) \(\text{S}_\text{Average}=\frac{\text{D}_\text{Total}}{\text{T}_\text{Total}}\) \(\text{S}_\text{Average}=\frac{\text{2D}}{\frac{D}{24\;\text{miles per hour}}+\frac{D}{36\;\text{miles per hour}}}\) We can factor a D out of this fraction. \(\text{S}_\text{Average}=\frac{2}{\frac{1}{24}+\frac{1}{36}}\;\text{miles per hour}\) We can find a common denominator between 24 and 36. \(\text{S}_\text{Average}=\frac{2}{\frac{3}{72}+\frac{2}{72}}\;\text{miles per hour}\) \(\text{S}_\text{Average}=\frac{2}{\frac{5}{72}}\;\text{miles per hour}=\frac{2}{1}\times\frac{72}{5}=\frac{144}{5}\;\text{miles per hour}=28.8\;\text{miles per hour}\) In summary, whenever you want to find the average speed of a round trip, and you are given the two segment speeds, you can put it in the form \(\text{S}_\text{Average}=\frac{\text{2}}{\frac{1}{\text{S}_1}+\frac{1}{\text{S}_2}}\). You can also use this formula to find one of the segment speeds, given the other segment speed and the average speed. diagram. Let’s say that a car and truck are moving in the same direction on the same highway. The truck is moving at 50 miles an hour, and the car is traveling at a constant speed. At 3 pm, the car is 30 miles behind the truck and at 4:30 pm, the car overtakes and passes the truck. What is the speed of the car? Click here for the answer and explanation The car and truck are moving in the same direction, and the car is gaining on the truck. This means that the gap between the vehicles is shrinking and that the gap rate is the difference of the two vehicles’ respective speeds. \(\text{S}_\text{G}=\text{S}_\text{C}-\text{S}_\text{T}\) The distance of the gap is initially 30 miles. \(\text{D}=30\;\text{miles}\) The time frame we are given for the closing of the gap is from 3 pm to 4:30 pm. \(\text{T}=1.5\;\text{hours}=\frac{3}{2}\;\text{hours}\) \(\text{S}_\text{G}=\frac{\text{D}}{\text{T}}\) \(\text{S}_\text{G}=\frac{30\;\text{miles}}{\frac{3}{2}\;\text{hours}}=30\times\frac{2}{3}=20\;\text{miles per hour}\) \(20\;\text{miles per hour}=\text{S}_\text{C}-50\;\text{miles per hour}\) \(20\;\text{miles per hour}+50\;\text{miles per hour}=\text{S}_\text{C}=70\;\text{miles per hour}\) data sufficiency question from Magoosh, then review the video explanation.[/*] [/list] Let us know how you did on these practice questions in the comments below. If you’re looking for more GMAT motion problems, try out one of Magoosh’s GMAT plans, which comes with practice tests, video lessons, and study schedules. Good luck! The post How to Solve GMAT Motion Problems appeared first on Magoosh Blog — GMAT® Exam. |
25 Nov 2020, 15:01
| FROM Magoosh Blog: How to Solve GMAT Motion Problems |
|
Word Problems make up a majority of the quantitative section of the GMAT (almost 60 percent). Of the word problems they’ll face, students tend to need the most help with GMAT motion problems. This type of problem centers around the “dust” formula, which is short for Distance equals Speed multiplied by Time, or \(\text{D}\times\text{S}=\text{T}\). But there are many varieties of motion problem, and we will discuss techniques for each of them. At the end of this article, you’ll also find motion word problems with solutions for you to test your knowledge! The Distance Equation[/*] [*]Multi-Segment Motion Problems[/*] [*]Average Speed[/*] [*]Multiple Traveler Questions[/*] [*]Shrinking and Expanding Gaps[/*] [*]Data Sufficiency[/*] [*]GMAT Motion Problems Review: Practice Problems[/*] [/list] Distance equals Speed multiplied by Time, or \(\text{D}\times\text{S}=\text{T}\). If you learn this basic equation well, you’ll be able to dust your math troubles away! (Insert rimshot.) We can rearrange this formula to determine that Speed is equal to Distance divided by Time, and that Time is equal to Distance divided by Speed. Distance is the measurement of how far apart objects, people, or points are. Speed is the rate at which someone or something is traveling. Time is how long it takes to travel. Let’s demonstrate this. Walking at a constant rate of 160 meters per hour, Monroe can cross a bridge in 2 hours. What is the length of the bridge? Here, the length of the bridge is the distance Monroe must cross. Using Distance equals Speed multiplied by Time, we get: \((160\;\text{meters per hour})\times(2\;\text{hours})=320\;\text{meters}\) Seems simple enough so far, right? Let’s check out a few more GMAT motion problems. Speed is equal to Distance divided by Time. Let’s take that a step further and talk about average speed. Average speed is defined as total distance traveled divided by the total time period spent traveling. This means that if you have a trip with multiple segments, you’ll want to take the sum of the distances of each segment and divide that by the sum of the times of each segment. Average speed captures the constant speed needed to travel the total distance in the total time. Let’s demonstrate this. Koki drove 16 miles in 10 minutes, and then drove an additional 6 miles in 5 minutes. What is Koki’s average speed for the entire trip in miles per hour? Click here for the answer and explanation Well, average speed is the total distance divided by the total time. \(\text{D}_\text{Total}=16\;\text{miles}+6\;\text{miles}=22\;\text{miles}\) \(\text{T}_\text{Total}=10\;\text{minutes}+5\;\text{minutes}=15\;\text{minutes}\) \(\text{S}_\text{Average}=\frac{\text{D}_\text{Total}}{\text{T}_\text{Total}}\) \(\text{S}_\text{Average}=\frac{22\;\text{miles}}{15\;\text{minutes}}\times\frac{60\;\text{minutes}}{1\;\text{hour}}=88\;\text{miles per hour}\) That’s straightforward enough, but what if we are not given any distances or times? It is possible to solve an average speed problem, even if all you are given are the different speeds in each segment of the trip. You might then think that average speed would just be the average of all of the speeds, but that is not correct. Let’s say that Nathaniel drove from Gwenville to Samton at an average speed of 24 miles per hour. He then drove the same route on the return trip back from Samton to Gwenville at an average speed of 36 miles per hour. If you were asked to find Nathaniel’s average speed, it would not just be 30 miles per hour (the average of 24 and 36). Click here to work through this problem To see this, let’s go back to our MVP dust formula. Since there are two legs of the trip, we will have two equations. D1, S1, T1; D2, S2, T2. Because Nathaniel’s trip is a round trip, we can assume that D1and D2 are the same, so we will set both of them equal to D. \(\text{D}_1=\text{D}\\\text{S}_1=24\;\text{miles per hour}\\\text{T}_1=\frac{D}{24\;\text{miles per hour}}\) \(\text{D}_2=\text{D}\\\text{S}_2=36\;\text{miles per hour}\\\text{T}_2=\frac{D}{36\;\text{miles per hour}}\) \(\text{D}_\text{Total}=\text{2D}\) \(\text{T}_\text{Total}=\frac{D}{24\;\text{miles per hour}}+\frac{D}{36\;\text{miles per hour}}\) \(\text{S}_\text{Average}=\frac{\text{D}_\text{Total}}{\text{T}_\text{Total}}\) \(\text{S}_\text{Average}=\frac{\text{2D}}{\frac{D}{24\;\text{miles per hour}}+\frac{D}{36\;\text{miles per hour}}}\) We can factor a D out of this fraction. \(\text{S}_\text{Average}=\frac{2}{\frac{1}{24}+\frac{1}{36}}\;\text{miles per hour}\) We can find a common denominator between 24 and 36. \(\text{S}_\text{Average}=\frac{2}{\frac{3}{72}+\frac{2}{72}}\;\text{miles per hour}\) \(\text{S}_\text{Average}=\frac{2}{\frac{5}{72}}\;\text{miles per hour}=\frac{2}{1}\times\frac{72}{5}=\frac{144}{5}\;\text{miles per hour}=28.8\;\text{miles per hour}\) In summary, whenever you want to find the average speed of a round trip, and you are given the two segment speeds, you can put it in the form \(\text{S}_\text{Average}=\frac{\text{2}}{\frac{1}{\text{S}_1}+\frac{1}{\text{S}_2}}\). You can also use this formula to find one of the segment speeds, given the other segment speed and the average speed. diagram. Let’s say that a car and truck are moving in the same direction on the same highway. The truck is moving at 50 miles an hour, and the car is traveling at a constant speed. At 3 pm, the car is 30 miles behind the truck and at 4:30 pm, the car overtakes and passes the truck. What is the speed of the car? Click here for the answer and explanation The car and truck are moving in the same direction, and the car is gaining on the truck. This means that the gap between the vehicles is shrinking and that the gap rate is the difference of the two vehicles’ respective speeds. \(\text{S}_\text{G}=\text{S}_\text{C}-\text{S}_\text{T}\) The distance of the gap is initially 30 miles. \(\text{D}=30\;\text{miles}\) The time frame we are given for the closing of the gap is from 3 pm to 4:30 pm. \(\text{T}=1.5\;\text{hours}=\frac{3}{2}\;\text{hours}\) \(\text{S}_\text{G}=\frac{\text{D}}{\text{T}}\) \(\text{S}_\text{G}=\frac{30\;\text{miles}}{\frac{3}{2}\;\text{hours}}=30\times\frac{2}{3}=20\;\text{miles per hour}\) \(20\;\text{miles per hour}=\text{S}_\text{C}-50\;\text{miles per hour}\) \(20\;\text{miles per hour}+50\;\text{miles per hour}=\text{S}_\text{C}=70\;\text{miles per hour}\) data sufficiency question from Magoosh, then review the video explanation.[/*] [/list] Let us know how you did on these practice questions in the comments below. If you’re looking for more GMAT motion problems, try out one of Magoosh’s GMAT plans, which comes with practice tests, video lessons, and study schedules. Good luck! The post How to Solve GMAT Motion Problems appeared first on Magoosh Blog — GMAT® Exam. |
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