Solving difficult quant problems

Question

Hi Everyone,

I have noticed that I am able to solve very difficult problems in quant while I'm practicing. But I fall in all the traps while taking mock exams. 
I realized that when I am practicing I know how difficult the questions are and therefore I know to look for traps, or for something "special" in the questions.

Has anyone else faced this problem? How have you manage to perform as well in the test without overthinking the "easier" questions?

Any insights would be great!
Thanks a lot!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi nachobioteck,

Going through the same "steps" from question-to-question is usually how you can avoid 'missing' the little things that you seem to be sometimes missing. The silliest mistakes are going to happen when you decide NOT to take notes....so take more notes, label your work, stay organized, DON'T do anything in your head, etc....and be consistent and rigorous with these tasks.

Since this post is focused on the Quant section, I'm curious how you've been performing overall:

1) How have you been scoring on your practice CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?
2) Do you take the ENTIRE CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?

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

nachobioteck · Answer

Thanks a lot for your response Rich! Overall I have been scoring 47-50 (Always complete tests) in quant and around 40 in verbal. This are my scores: Kaplan 1: 640 (Q47, V36. IR2) (10/06/2014) Kaplan 2: 690 (Q49, V40, IR2) (11/08/2014) Kaplan 3: 730 (Q51, V37, IR5) (12/23/2014) GMATprep 1: 690 (Q47, V38, IR4) (01/02/2015) Veritas Prep: 720 (Q48, V41, IR5) (01/24/2015) GMAT prep2: 720 (Q47, V40, IR4) (01/31/2015) Actual GMAT: 690(Q44 V40, IR 8) (02/15/2015) Kaplan GMAT 4": 690 (Q49, V36, IR 2) (04/11/2015) Kaplan GMAT 5: 700 (Q50, V40, IR 2) (04/19/2015) I know my scores look OK for quant in general. But as you can see I bombed in the actual GMAT. With all the mock tests I've taken and all the other problems I have solved, I have caught the pattern that if I know the difficulty prior to answering I will be more attentive (specially if the question seems "easy"). So in summary, I'm kind of in a freek-out to not repeat my Q44 again (I'm retaking the test on May 16th), and maintain my IR 8 score (as you can see I didn't and I don't do as well on IR in the mock tests). Thanks a lot for any comments! Nacho PS: I have a debrief posted

690-q44-v40-ir8-disapointed-debrief-suggestions-comments-apprecited-193294.html#p1485676

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Nacho,

Based on the score data you've provided, it's interesting that you only aced the IR section on Test Day. Is it possible that you started off that Test with a higher amount of energy, then hit the first break and lost some of your focus?

Another interesting aspect of IR is that it has a higher capacity for doing work "in your head"; if you spent 30 minutes focused on that type of approach for IR, then carried that 'attitude' into the Quant section, you could have very easily missed enough questions (likely DS) to cost you those Quant points.

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

nachobioteck · Answer

That actually makes a lot of sense. I will put attention to how my mindset is before and after the IR. And see if that helps. Also regaining concentration fast after the break, it takes a bit for me to refocus so that can also play a bit.

Again thanks a lot for you comments, they are really helpful

Nacho

ak1802 · Answer

Maybe I've gotten lucky twice, scoring Q48 both times I re-took the test, however if I see a problem that I don't recognize, or know I won't be able to solve, I guess at it and move on to the next one. This strategy essentially plays to my strengths with the hope that for every problem I "skip" I'm saving myself more time to work through complex problems I will know.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi ak1802,

You can't "luck" your way into a Q48+ score, so it's more appropriate to say that you made the right moves to score at that level. Since you've brought it up, I'm curious about your performances. Did you take the GMAT 2 or 3 times? What were your scores (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores) on each?

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

ak1802 · Answer

In total 4 times, once early in my college career and three times post college. I usually only reference the three I've taken post college, as those are the ones I prepared for most. 550 - 650 - 680 (84% percentile overall).

At any rate, I consistenty score between Q42 and Q46 on practice exams. I average between 22 - 28 questions correct each practice. However I'm cognizant of why I get certain problems wrong, and am painfully aware of the shortcomings I have when dealing with certain complex algebra problems. Those are the ones I usually "guess" at. I also dedicate most time to the first 10 questions and I am often working through the last 5 questions with only 4 minutes to spare.

This strategy has worked for me on two actual exams, and provides consistent scores on practice exams. I do indeed guess at certain problems, especially ones that aren't worth the time required to solve. If I encounter a difficult problem that I have no idea how to solve past question 20, I guess immediately and move on.

I'm confident I could bump my quant score up if I was more disciplined. My only fear is on the verbal section, which I cannot for the life of me get a handle on. I'm a native speaker, english, and do run into trouble on some of the SC questions, and RC questions. CR is my strong suit.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi ak1802,

What were your Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores on each of your Official GMATs?

With a 680, you have a great GMAT score that puts you in position to apply to any Business School you choose, but from your last post it sounds like you're still in study mode.

When are you planning to apply to Business School?
What Schools are you interested in?

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

ak1802 · Answer

Overall Score 550 (46th) Q29 (21st) V38 (84th)

Overall Score 650 (77th) Q48 (74th) V31 (61st)

Overall Score 680 (84th) Q48 (74th) V35 (76th)

I'm hoping to get some good experience then apply to an MBA School in a year or two. I've also looked at summer bridge programs offered by several schools.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi ak1802,

It's good that you've planned this far ahead; now you have options and aren't rushing to hit a deadline. If you're going after scholarship money, then you can also research the various options and make sure that you satisfy all of the requirements.

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

ak1802 · Answer

Thanks, I appreciate the advice and support.

I'm assuming that you are familiar with the application process etc... so I want to ask you; how does a 680 with my percentile breakdown compare?

I'm a white male, and from what I've read, among my category, the Quant score is very competitive, while the Verbal score is average.

As I talked about earlier, my concern is taking the GMAT a 5th time.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi ak1802,

I mentioned in a prior post that with a 680/Q48, you have a great GMAT score (it's just shy of the 90th percentile overall), so you're "in range" of any School that you're interested in.

It sounds like you're more interested in how your overall profile might fare, so you'd be better served asking an Admissions Expert about it. You'll have to provide far more information than you've provided here (including the specific Schools that you're planning to apply to), but they should be able to offer the perspective that you're looking for.

There's a Forum full of those experts here:

ask-admission-consultants-124/

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

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