Need help on improving Quant score

Question

Hi all-

I'd prepared for the GMAT a couple of times months/years ago, prior to this last attempt. This time around, I've been working on the OG11 only (I review and re-do the uncertain/wrong problems). I'm almost finished with the OG and I took a the first GMATPrep last night and scored a 40 on Quant (38v). I'm quite frustrated and disappointed because my quant score has NEVER gone over 42 (I keep track of my breakdowns from before). I just want a 46 so I can be in the 80th percentile....

Anyway, I was doing okay with the OG's quant until last 1/3 of the book. It was taking me way too long to finish and they aren't even correct for the most part. When I took the GMATPREP, the math questions seemed exponentially harder than the stuff in OG. I tried analyzing my weak areas in quant and found that I'm weak in all areas (number properties, geometry, and all). 

How should I progress from here? I'm really lost because I don't know what else I can do. I know I've never been good at math, but I need to get my score up. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.


Thanks!

Mishari · Answer

Try getting GMAT Math books like Kaplan's math workbook or the one for Princeton Review

I'd suggest you participate more actively in the MATH sub-forum of the GMAT club.

umbdude · Answer

Thanks kidderek. That's what I have in mind as well.

ColumbiaDream · Answer

According to the weakensses you described, scoring a 40 is not too bad. I too am in the same boat as you. I've also never been too good at Math. My first step was to get the basics down no matter what. But now that i have a good grasp on the basics ( thanks to MGAMT Books) it still takes me too long to solve the problems. At this point, the only thing that has helped me is to keep practicing. 
Anybody else have any other suggestions to improve speed in Quant?

umbdude · Answer

Thanks ColumbiaDream. I'll definitely use MGMAT books as a resource as I practice more math problems. I feel that the hard quant questions (the last 15-20% of the OG11 and the questions posted here) require a different mindset when you approach them. Much of the OG11 questions were pretty straight forward, and all of a sudden it throws questions at you that require a different set of thinking skills in order to solve. 

My plan is to start exposing myself to more of these harder questions, carefully analyze the strategies to solve these questions and redo them, and identify areas where I need to re-build foundation. I personally think that once you're comfortable with these questions (they 'click' mentally) the speed will come naturally.

I'm going to reschedule my test to later in May (originally early May). I'll gauge my progress on both math and verbal during this time. I hope I can hit 46 on quant. Let's keep each other posted since we appear to have same beast to conquer.

ColumbiaDream · Answer

I completely agree with your "clicking mentally" theory. Will look forward to hear from you

Good Luck!

Andr359 · Answer

IÂ´d say, work it in 2 basic steps (can be concurrent):

1) Get the basics 100% clear.

2) Do harder exercises than those on average tests. As for non-law-english international applicants who practice on and on w/ Kaplan 800 Verbal and the like, UÂ´ll have to do the same with Challenges or some other good (and tough) quant stuff.

All the best

akannan · Answer

this is something like converting a 100 storey building to make it say 110 floors.We cannot get this just by adding 10 floors to the top.you have have to
work from the base !!!!

yogeshsheth · Answer

Quant is really not that difficult as it seems like. You need to be 100% clear on basics and practice some tough maths sets.

KLmets · Answer

Manhattan Review's math book is good too, it's got a list of formulas you should know, a list of vocab they use a lot in math questions and good explanations too.

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