So bad at Quant it is devastating...

Question

Hey guys.

I have been studying for the GMAT for quite some time now. Math was always my Achilles Heel.

So when I started learning (I started with magoosh), I scored 29 on the first mock test. Honestly most of the time I was just plainly guessing. I had no clue what to do.

However, now I have been learning, and going over to ttp. And while I progressed , in the official mock tests, I can barely get over 43 in Quant. It feels like any question that is just a bit more difficult, I fail to get right.

I don't know how to prepare to be honest. When I do most of the TTP questions I manage to pass the medium difficulty accuracy goal (70%) and sometimes the same for the harder ones.

It feels like I have been studying for an eternity and I just don't get better. I memorize the questions and try to learn what I did wrong, but there is an infinite amount of possible questions out there. As soon as I hit a new question, it feels like I started all over again.

Next week I have my official GMAT exam and I feel like my goal (700) is unachievable

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philipssonicare · Answer

I memorize the questions  
Memorise the formulae, not questions. Then shift to an understanding of each formulae over time.

but there is an infinite amount of possible questions out there. As soon as I hit a new question, it feels like I started all over again. 
1. We're quite lucky that GMAC have limited quant to basic algebra, geometry etc. It would be very reasonable for them to demand knowledge of calculus, statistics and probability. 2. You're viewing this in a negative light. Instead, view this as a positive. Yay! Infinite questions for me to apply logic and quant rules to! Yay! Each question is like a new adventure!

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi Wiesenloosner,

I want to help you figure out what is going on with your quant. I just sent you a DM so we can chat further.

ccooley · Answer

You aren't bad at math: https://www.theatlantic.com/education/a ... th/280914/ The type of math on the GMAT doesn't require the sort of mathematical thinking that you'd need in a calculus class, trigonometry, topology, etc. The math topics on the GMAT are chosen very deliberately to be the sort of math that every smart person can learn. (And please don't look at that and think 'well, I can't learn it, so I must not be smart!' I want you to read that as 'There's nothing wrong with my brain that's keeping me from learning this stuff; it has to do with familiarity, mindset, study skills, and general test-taking skills.') Why are you missing these problems, and what types of problems are they? What do they have in common? If you aren't keeping a problem log (where you record all of the problems you do, and your takeaways) you really, really need one. If you want to start getting these problems right, you need to get more specific about why you're getting them wrong. You can't fix an issue you don't understand! A problem log will help you here, too. The point of doing a practice problem isn't to learn how to do that specific problem. It's to 'steal' ideas from that problem that you'll be able to use elsewhere. The GMAT constructs an infinite number of problems, but it only makes them out of a finite number of ideas and concepts and rules. When you do a problem, break it down into the smaller ideas, concepts, and rules. And, figure out why you were supposed to use those rules. Here's one I looked at with a student this morning: Why do you 'stack and add' when you see these equations: 3x + 7y = 10 14x + 14y = 28 But you don't 'stack and add' these equations? x^2 - y^2 = 12 x + y = 3 It's one thing to be able to solve either of those; it's another thing to know why you're supposed to 'stack and add' in the first one, and factor in the second one. That's the sort of question you should address in your problem log.

It might or might not help you next week, but you can absolutely get a 700 with 'only' a 43 in Quant. You'd need a 42 in Verbal, which is fairly high, but plenty of people get there! Don't ignore Verbal!

So bad at Quant it is devastating...

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