Probability, Permutations and Combinations Questions

Question

Hi, 
How much ever I practice taking questions on probability, permutations and combinations, I end up finding the pattern of the question to be new every time I take a practice test. I feel if there is some resource that goes over all the different "kinds" of probability questions, not just formulas but actual problem types, then it would be very helpful. Is there any resource like that?

Thanks much for your help !

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi shivas88,

About 3 weeks ago, you stated that you had been studying for about a month and that you had scored 580/Q38/V31 on your first CAT. Have you taken any additional CATs since then (and if so, then how did you score)? Is your Official Test Date still December 21st?

You're asking about some of the rarer (and generally more difficult) categories in the Quant section, but it's not clear whether you should be spending your time on those areas or other (more valuable) ones.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

shivas88 · Answer

Hi Rich, 
Thanks for your reply. Yes, my GMAT exam date is still Dec 21st. I have been taking tests regularly. My most recent scores have been around 640-660. I consistently get the RC questions wrong in Verbal & Permutation/Combination/Probability questions wrong in Quants. There were other areas of specific weakness which I could address in the last 3 weeks. But for Probability & Combinations, I feel like I haven't seen a list of different kind of problems in there.

Any inputs for improving RC would be very helpful as well.

Thanks,
Shiva

shivas88 · Answer

Rich, 
I am also curious on what you mean by "Other important Areas". Is there a general strategy that you would suggest for my last 1 week of preparation ?

Thanks again for your time and inputs.

Thanks,
Shiva

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Shiva,

I'd like to know more about your CAT scores (and how you took these CATs):

1) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?
2) Did you take them at home?
3) Did you take them at the same time of day as your Official GMAT?
4) Did you ever do ANYTHING during your CATs that you couldn't do on Test Day (pause the CAT, skip sections, take longer breaks, etc.)? 
5) Did you ever take a CAT more than once? Had you seen any of the questions BEFORE?

6) What is your overall score goal?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

shivas88 · Answer

Hi Rich 
Replies Inline.

1) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?
No, I took 6 tests, 4 without essays & IR; 2 with Essay and IR. I got 600 & 620 on the two I took with Essay and IR
2) Did you take them at home?
Yes
3) Did you take them at the same time of day as your Official GMAT?
Almost at the same time 
4) Did you ever do ANYTHING during your CATs that you couldn't do on Test Day (pause the CAT, skip sections, take longer breaks, etc.)? 
No, they were timed to be just like test
5) Did you ever take a CAT more than once? Had you seen any of the questions BEFORE?
No, maybe one or two repeated RCs nothing else
6) What is your overall score goal?
720-740+

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Shiva,

Test Day is a rather specific 'event' - the details are specific and they matter, so you have to train as best as you can for all of them. The more realistic you can make your CATs, the more likely the score results are to be accurate. The more you deviate, the more "inflated" your scores can become - and that's what has happened with some of your CATs here. By skipping sections, taking the CATs at home, seeing repeat questions, etc., you weren't properly training for the FULL GMAT 'experience' so most (if not all) of these CAT scores are inflated. The 600 and 620 are arguably the most realistic, but they're still 100+ points from your score goal. If it's not too late, then I highly recommend that you push back your Test Date.

If your Quant Scaled Scores are currently in the high-30s or low-40s, then you're missing far too many points in areas OTHER than permutations, combinations and probability - so you should review your most recent CAT with the goal of defining WHY you're getting questions wrong. How many of them were 'gettable' questions but you made a silly/little mistake? Working on your overall organization and precision would be far more useful to improving your Quant score than focusing on those rarer Quant categories.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

shivas88 · Answer

Hi Rich, 
Thank you very much for your reply. You were absolutely right with your feedback. I was getting 42 in Quants.. the lower 40's mainly because of mistakes on other segments which I can easily avoid. I reviewed my concepts and took a full length CAT this weekend, I hit my 700 goal mark. I think I will go ahead with my test for now. Will come back and update on this thread. Thank you very much for your inputs.

Thanks,
-Shiva

MathRevolution · Answer

Hi shivas88,

In fact, when it comes to probability, there are certain types of questions given on GMAT.
Are you looking for different types of questions apart from the certain types?

Happy Studying!
Math Revolution

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