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POLL: Best GMAT advice heard

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mikemcgarry
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POLL: Best GMAT advice heard [#permalink] New post   15 May 2013, 10:54
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Hello folks!

I want to create here a POLL about the question
What the best advice, the most effective advice, you have heard during your own GMAT preparation?
I didn't use the built-in GC POLL software, because the range of possible options is mind-boggling. Frankly, I wouldn't every know how to begin to sort through the many different categories of advice from which one could benefit.

First of all, I will provide a few links that I consider helpful advice for many students.
1) Levels of Understanding
https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/understand ... rformance/
2) Timed vs. Untimed Practice
https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/pacing-and ... -the-gmat/
3) Reducing Exam Anxiety
https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/overcome-g ... y-breathe/
4) A New Perspective on GMAT Reading Comprehension
https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/curiosity- ... n-success/

Anyone studying for the GMAT, whether toward the beginning or toward the end of your studies, I would be interested in what help you have found particularly helpful.
Experts, please share the tips & links that you think are the most helpful overall.
I curious to see what everyone says.

Mike :-)
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jumsumtak
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Re: POLL: Best GMAT advice heard [#permalink] New post   15 May 2013, 12:50
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I will limit myself to my top 10 (in no particular order):

1.) Don’t exhaust GMAT preps
2.) Always write practice exams with AWA and IR.
3.) Give yourself sufficient time to be familiar with the format of the test before taking the plunge
4.) Give official questions the respect they deserve
5.) Learn from other people's experiences. (read forum and debriefs, talk frequently with an 'expert' who has good knowledge of the test)
6.) Maintain an error log and go through it every 3-4 days
7.) Don't focus too much 'around' the test. Focusing 'on' the test is more important. As simple as it seems, most of us dont follow it.
8.) Take sometime off from work before the exam to get in the zone
9.) Invest resources (time and money - purchase a study table, relevant material etc.), pamper yourself in other spheres of life, sleep well, eat well etc.
10.) Quality and quantity both. No consecutive 'no GMAT study' days and practice only from reputable sources.
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carcass
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Re: POLL: Best GMAT advice heard [#permalink] New post   15 May 2013, 14:40
I really like the initiative by Mike because, in particular for a novice, disentagle the GMAT- maze could be an herculean effort if not impossible.It is like Goliath VS David, but in the end the first one wins with the intelligence, not with the brutal force. Here is the same.

This consideration leads us to my major advice:

BE FLEXIBLE

It seems obvious but is not.

All the problems related to this test: from timing management to rules that you have to memorize are huge obstacles so long as we, you (including me) are weak in something........sorry but is true.When we are able to reach a plateau in which we can: breath, eat and think GMAT, then we will have our goal. In a few words, this is the real truth.

Whenever you encouter a question do not try ONLY to apply a strategy, a rule, do not be limited. do not be rigid to some extent, break the limits and BE FLEXIBLE.

I always try to think, when I attack a question, as exam- mode, what that means: I'm stressed out, tired, with my head spins around; in the end You have to try to be like in a real scenario.

here an example from OG a bit tricky (just a bit) and I was really tired after work; I understood almost nothing of the argument and this strategy didn't help me so much (the RIGHT strategy to follow) https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... e-problem/

Quote:
Hardin argued that grazing land held in common (that is, open to any user) would always be used less carefully
than private grazing land. Each rancher would be tempted to overuse common land because the benefits would
accrue to the individual, while the costs of reduced land quality that results from overuse would be spread
among all users. But a study comparing 217 million acres of common grazing land with 433 million acres of
private grazing land showed that the common land was in better condition.

The answer to which of the following questions would be most useful in evaluating the significance, in
relation to Hardin’s claim, of the study described above?

(A) Did any of the ranchers whose land was studied use both common and private land?
(B) Did the ranchers whose land was studied tend to prefer using common land over using private land for
grazing?
(C) Was the private land that was studied of comparable quality to the common land before either was used
for grazing?
(D) Were the users of the common land that was studied at least as prosperous as the users of the private
land?
(E) Were there any owners of herds who used only common land, and no private land, for grazing?


Nothing jumped at the top of my head :(..........so forget about all. I used all my logic trying to spot even a single word that helps me and trying to understand what was my GOAL

The words "quality" and "overuse" was in my mind doing a sort of ping-pong: something that is of a really good quality maybe do not suffer of "overuse" and is still good and usable.

So C was my choice, no matter what. In the second attempt I tryed only to use my mind. The premise, conclusion or whatever they are, have been put aside to focus on the flexibility of my thoughts; tryng to make the argument "mine" and

BE FLEXIBLE



With a lot of effort and sacrifice now for instance I can manage CR (the most difficult OG questions) in no more than 1.20. Straight.

Sorry for the long post but I tryed to give the best insight based on my experience.

Regards
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doe007
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Re: POLL: Best GMAT advice heard [#permalink] New post   16 May 2013, 07:53
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Its a bit long list, but I tried to put each point briefly.

Study and practice:
  • Devote enough time for preparation and make a study plan.
  • Set target date and target score.
  • Master math and grammar fundamentals.
  • Familiarize with strategies for each section and learn the tricks.
  • Understand exam format and set pace accordingly. Timing strategies: timing-strategies-on-the-gmat-80176.html
  • Practice questions from reputable sources only and practice enough with time constraints.
  • Find own weak area and improve upon it.
  • Tune thought process to accept GMAC's official answers. If there is any gap, instead of thinking what could be a
  • better answer, think what knowledge to be acquired to understand GMAC's logic.
  • Discuss with others and exchange ideas.
  • Take a few full-length CATs.
  • Maintain cheat sheet or notebook to record new/forgotten and important concepts/formulas.

Before exam:
  • Be familiar with test rules and test center rules.
  • Gather information on how to reach the test center and time required to reach in worst case scenario.
  • Keep required documents ready to carry on the exam day.
  • Do not study till last hour.
  • Eat and sleep well on the night before exam.
  • Don't panic and stay calm. [Avoid reading/watching news for a few days.]
  • Just before the exam, do not eat any food that can make you sluggish.

Boosting:
  • Deep breath
  • Exercise
  • Caffeine

During exam:
  • Stay calm, quick, alert, and energized.
  • Try your best to answer first few questions correctly.
  • Do not leave any question unanswered -- complete each section. Penalty is more on unanswered questions than on incorrect answers.
  • Use short intervals aptly.
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chrisrswimmer
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Re: POLL: Best GMAT advice heard [#permalink] New post   21 May 2013, 13:26
What about just being reasonable with your score aspirations? Not everyone's going to get into the elusive 700 club. It's easy to get carried away on these forums thinking that this score or that score is the only score you should be aiming for. Pick a target that's within your reach. Scored a 500 on your first go around? Maybe aiming for a 600 might be a little more fruitful. That means cutting your loses on some of the harder stuff to make sure you've got the lower-level stuff down pat.
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gmatclubot
Re: POLL: Best GMAT advice heard [#permalink]
21 May 2013, 13:26

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