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23 Jun 2025, 00:44
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Hello Everyone,
I’m reaching out for help as I’ve been stuck in the 585–635 score range across my GMAT mocks, and the more I analyze my mistakes, the more I realize the issue isn’t knowledge—it’s execution under pressure.
Here are my biggest challenges:
🔹 Misreading Questions (Especially in Quant)
This is the core of my struggle. I don’t read questions properly—I either skim through or pick up a keyword and jump to solving. That leads to completely misinterpreting what’s being asked. When I revisit the same questions post-test in review mode, I solve them correctly with ease. So it's not about the concept—it's about not reading carefully under pressure.
🔹 Rigid Thinking – Can’t Think Out of the Box
In Quant, I often lock into the first familiar method that comes to mind and get stuck there—even if it’s not working. I rarely step back to look at the question from a fresh perspective. I’m realizing I struggle to think holistically or creatively, which limits my problem-solving flexibility.
🔹 Data Sufficiency Bias
I tend to get mentally anchored on Statement A, and then unconsciously force Statement B to connect with it, instead of evaluating both independently. This severely impacts my DS accuracy.
🔹 Reading Comprehension Drop-offs
In RC, I lose focus midway through the passage or read passively. That leads to low retention and guessing based on instinct, not understanding.
🔹 Overall Patterns
If you’ve faced similar issues—rushing, misreading, rigid thinking, DS traps, or RC focus—any strategies, drills, pacing frameworks, or mental reset techniques would be super helpful.
Thank you so much for reading 🙏
I’m reaching out for help as I’ve been stuck in the 585–635 score range across my GMAT mocks, and the more I analyze my mistakes, the more I realize the issue isn’t knowledge—it’s execution under pressure.
Here are my biggest challenges:
🔹 Misreading Questions (Especially in Quant)
This is the core of my struggle. I don’t read questions properly—I either skim through or pick up a keyword and jump to solving. That leads to completely misinterpreting what’s being asked. When I revisit the same questions post-test in review mode, I solve them correctly with ease. So it's not about the concept—it's about not reading carefully under pressure.
🔹 Rigid Thinking – Can’t Think Out of the Box
In Quant, I often lock into the first familiar method that comes to mind and get stuck there—even if it’s not working. I rarely step back to look at the question from a fresh perspective. I’m realizing I struggle to think holistically or creatively, which limits my problem-solving flexibility.
🔹 Data Sufficiency Bias
I tend to get mentally anchored on Statement A, and then unconsciously force Statement B to connect with it, instead of evaluating both independently. This severely impacts my DS accuracy.
🔹 Reading Comprehension Drop-offs
In RC, I lose focus midway through the passage or read passively. That leads to low retention and guessing based on instinct, not understanding.
🔹 Overall Patterns
- I rush because of time anxiety, especially at the start of sections.
- I don’t slow down to process questions fully, which leads to careless errors.
- One mistake often shakes my confidence and throws me off for the next few questions.
- I overthink easy questions and underthink hard ones, especially when I panic.
If you’ve faced similar issues—rushing, misreading, rigid thinking, DS traps, or RC focus—any strategies, drills, pacing frameworks, or mental reset techniques would be super helpful.
Thank you so much for reading 🙏
23 Jun 2025, 07:06
Kudos
Bookmarks
Quote:
Try to use the ADBCE method. You could also try, rereading the prompt before looking at Statement (2) and asking yourself whether it would be sufficient by itself. Taking an extra 10 seconds to check you didn't mix info from the two statements may also help a bit.
How to improve on GMAT Data Sufficiency (DS). Focus on what you actually need.
24 Jun 2025, 18:43
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Hi SSPatil,
Regarding your issues with accuracy, I think you should spend time engaging in topical practice, which will help you locate and fix content gaps that may becausing accuracy issues. As you fill those gaps you’ll develop the ability to a) quickly recognize and then b) execute a plan of attack when solving problems, but with pinpoint accuracy.
For example, take the quant topic of units digit patterns. While such a topic may seem challenging at first, imagine how “automatic” answering units digit pattern questions will be if you learn about the concepts related to those questions, and then practice numerous units digit patterns questions. You’ll easily recognize when you have a units digit pattern question and quickly execute when solving the problem.
What is the units digit of 3^22
(A) 9
(B) 7
(C) 3
(D) 1
(E) 0
Solution:
Recognition: If you have spent time mastering units digits patterns, you’ll get a big smile on your face when you see this problem!
Execution: Because you have a units digits pattern question, you execute by recalling and using the pattern for positive integer powers of 3.
Now, let’s discuss how to solve the above problem.
Recall that the pattern for the units digits of powers of 3 is 3-9-7-1. In this pattern, every power to which 3 is raised that is a multiple of 4 has a units digit of 1.
We need to determine the units digit of 3^22.
First, we note that the units digit of 3^20 must be 1, since the exponent 20 is a multiple of 4. Next, the units digit of 321 must be the next number in the pattern, which is 3. And finally, the units digit of 322 is the next number in the pattern, which is 9.
Answer: A
For some more advice, feel free to check out this article:
Improving Your Accuracy on the GMAT
Regarding your issues with accuracy, I think you should spend time engaging in topical practice, which will help you locate and fix content gaps that may becausing accuracy issues. As you fill those gaps you’ll develop the ability to a) quickly recognize and then b) execute a plan of attack when solving problems, but with pinpoint accuracy.
For example, take the quant topic of units digit patterns. While such a topic may seem challenging at first, imagine how “automatic” answering units digit pattern questions will be if you learn about the concepts related to those questions, and then practice numerous units digit patterns questions. You’ll easily recognize when you have a units digit pattern question and quickly execute when solving the problem.
What is the units digit of 3^22
(A) 9
(B) 7
(C) 3
(D) 1
(E) 0
Solution:
Recognition: If you have spent time mastering units digits patterns, you’ll get a big smile on your face when you see this problem!
Execution: Because you have a units digits pattern question, you execute by recalling and using the pattern for positive integer powers of 3.
Now, let’s discuss how to solve the above problem.
Recall that the pattern for the units digits of powers of 3 is 3-9-7-1. In this pattern, every power to which 3 is raised that is a multiple of 4 has a units digit of 1.
We need to determine the units digit of 3^22.
First, we note that the units digit of 3^20 must be 1, since the exponent 20 is a multiple of 4. Next, the units digit of 321 must be the next number in the pattern, which is 3. And finally, the units digit of 322 is the next number in the pattern, which is 9.
Answer: A
For some more advice, feel free to check out this article:
Improving Your Accuracy on the GMAT
