Manhattan GMAT Advanced Sections

Question

I started doing the advanced section of the Number Properties guide and found the material to be dense. Looking at it from a high level, they are basically shortcuts that can be extrapolated off of the basic section. Do you guys and gals think it’s a waste of time to memorize these shortcuts or is it worth the energy to internalize them? There are just so many shortcuts and different ways of doing things…

JimGMATAnswers · Answer

I would say you want to spend more time understanding why you use certain steps. This exam is about simplifying your decision making. The only way to simplify is to be confident in the foundation.

Generally, I think memorizing short cuts is bad. But if it is concepts you don't get, keep working on them.

Xgineer · Answer

Do you think that the advanced sections are absolutely necessary to get a score above 700?

mtt240 · Answer

I think you will need to have a good grasp of different ways to use the basic concepts. The GMAT will not require you to memorize most of those advanced strategies, but give you problems in which you will have to apply the basic concepts in a creative way. I think it's important to at least skim those advanced sections so you can get the gist of the ways they can test certain subjects.

Vercules · Answer

Hi Xgineer,

In my opinion the answer to your question is yes; the Advanced sections cover a lot of important topics. Moreover, they have also provided a list of OG questions to solve in which you an apply those advanced skills. They say those as advanced sections because they use a combination of topics to explain concepts/ questions. You can have a 700 score without scoring very highly in quant, provided your verbal is extremely good. But if you want a score of say 48+ in quant, then the Advanced sections are absolutely necessary. The quality that will drive your score to new heights is the awareness of your strengths and weaknesses. From my experience, if one feels that one is weak in quant then the best approach will be to first study the basic concepts + the related OG questions, then move on to the Advanced sections + OG questions. Doing OG qestions along with you studying of cocepts is highly recommended. All the best !!

Hope this helps,

Vercules

Xgineer · Answer

After doing the upper level quant og problems, I see why the advanced sections are useful. Thanks for the tips everyone.

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masoy · Answer

I have scored 48 on the quant section of MGMAT CAT without any practice. I'm aiming for 50/51 and I don't own any of the MGMAT quant books. What should I do to get my score to 50/51? It seems absurd to buy all of the 6 books when I am already scoring 48. Do you think that MGMAT advanced quant book will be sufficient for me?

Vercules · Answer

Hi masoy,

Yes, it will be useful for you. But, just go through the basic quant stuff first, not necessarily from MGMAT, from OG etc to address your weaknesses if any. If you feel confident enough in the basic concepts tested in GMAT, then there is no harm in going directly to the MGMAT Advanced quant book. MGMAT + Official resources will be sufficient for you.

Vercules

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