OG-Does Repetition Really Help?

Question

Hi All,
I am new to this club but not new to GMAT. I started using the OG to get myself acquainted with the questions on GMAT. The OG has helped a lot and I am beginning to get a feel for the traps and tricks. My question is really about repeating/practicing using the same questions over and over. I have finished the quant section twice. Now I feel like I am getting the answers right only because I remember what the answer was or how we arrived at a particular answer. I am not sure if this success is organic. In other words, I think I will fail to see the trap if the same question was twisted/spun a little bit. Any thoughts on this phenomena or is it just me? 
 
Would really appreciate your help. Thanks!

nonameee · Answer

I had the same problem with the SATs. When I went trough the OG for the second time, I remembered a lot of the answers. That's why I think as most people here that it's better to save the OG for the final stages of your preparation.

gurpreetsingh · Answer

But do revise Verbal part of OG's.

And while solving second time even if you remember the answer, solve it again and note down why other choices are wrong. If you get this working then revision will be of great help.

bb · Answer

If I understood you correctly, would suggest to only tackle the questions you got wrong and not spend time on questions you know. This is the concept of error log.

Another suggestion would be to focus on underlying material (math and grammar) rather than questions, see the pyramid diagram in this post: gmat-study-plan-for-gmat-novices-start-your-gmat-journey-80727.html

DAYNE · Answer

Of all my years of doing math, when I was most successful was when I repeated the same problems over and over again.

In the Manhattan Companion book it states that Math is not about exposure, but about mastery.

The same OG problems you went over twice, could you solve them, faster, easily, and strategically a month from now?

I strongly believe in repetition when it comes to math.

gmatwala · Answer

Great advice guys. I think I will keep chugging and use the error log. One thing I am sure of: I come across many ah-ha moments during my repititions (Test preparer's strategy for setting up a trap becomes apparent).

cebenez · Answer

I would say it is not about how many times you work on the same question again and again. It is about how comfortable you are with the underlying concept.

Doing the same questions again and again, you might be able to pick an answer choice sooner than otherwise which is not a good thing.

So, no harm repeatedly going through the concept and learning from it but hardly a good thing to work on the same questions again and again. there are many materials you can buy and try the questions that are not from the OG.

snkrhed · Answer

As the others said above, when reviewing try to figure out the process of getting the right answer and not the answer.

Once you have the process down, it's all about reciting it back from memory.

DAYNE · Answer

When it comes to practicing problems for the GMAT, you don't want to stray away from the OG.

They say when you do the OG problems long enough, you will notice a pattern that the test makers don't stray away from when administering the test.

bb · Answer

True. At the same time, I got 750 without ever holding the OG in my hands :wink:

I only used the GMAT Prep. In my opinion, the only area where pattern subtleties come into play is CR

DAYNE · Answer

everybody isn't you, like you told me before, you never had problems with math

bb · Answer

I have issued you a warning.
Please don't misinterpret this as for arguing with me - that's a very welcome proposition and I am always glad to have a different opinion. The warning is for attitude that permeates through your posts.

DAYNE · Answer

To issue me a warning when I didn't yell nor use profanity is just petty and weak.

So your mode of operation is when you can't respond to a post you either don't or you start issuing out warnings to ban people.

Funny how my so called attitude wasn't a problem until a debate with you.

Its obvious that your on a power trip and you run this board like a dictatorship.

I do you one better BB, effective immediately I will no longer post nor visit this board from here on out.

To everybody else good luck on the GMAT!

gurpreetsingh · Answer

Good luck Dayne. Before appearing for Gmat make sure you change your attitude as MBA's should not be short tempered.

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