The Math to Verbal Shift!

Question

Hello GMAT Community,

I'm reaching out cause I wanted to better understand how to make the shift from Math to Verbal.

I am using the Manhattan and the OG sets. I finished studying the Math topics and question in the Manhattan books so should I;
1- Start Math in OG, finish all Math questions and then go back and start Verbal?
2- Answer Math OG while studying Verbal (split time between Math practice and studying Verbal topics)?
3- Study Verbal topics right away and then when done go back to OG and start solving questions/practicing both Math and Verbal?

A bit confused as I am not sure which would be best for me not losing focus/forgetting what I have already studied in Math.
Thanks,
Sam

u1983 · Answer

Hello  omeligi  , I think strategy 2 would be the best . you can also have amazing math problems in this GC community.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Sam,

To start, I suggest that you actually do 'some Quant and some Verbal' each week (as opposed to the "all of one, then all of the other" that you're thinking about). You'll likely find it easier to retain everything if you're working on a mix of subjects each week.

Before I can offer you any additional advice on how to improve, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

Studies:
1) How long have you studied?
2) What study materials have you used so far?
3) How have you scored on EACH of your CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?

Goals:
4) What is your goal score?
5) When are you planning to take the GMAT?
6) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
7) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

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

omeligi · Answer

Thank for the feedback.
-Ive been studying for a month now and I have finished studying all Math topics and question in Manahattan books.
-My target score is 700 and I am planning on taking the GMAT in 4 months from today

yamato · Answer

I think it probably depends how strong you are in math already. If you are already reasonably capable in math, I would go with strategy one. My thinking is that even though there will be some gap in between the time you studied the mat and take the test, your natural ability should be able to help you make up for it.

Let us know how the strategy works out for you!

Let us know how the strategy works out for you!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Sam,

With 4 months of potential study time, you could improve a great deal. To that end, since you've been studying for a month already, have you taken any FULL-LENGTH practice CAT Tests yet? If not, then you can access 2 for free from www.mba.com (and they come with some additional practice materials). Taking FULL-LENGTH CATs at regular intervals is an essential part of the GMAT training process - as they can define your strengths and weaknesses - and the areas that you might need to put some extra time into going forward. A FULL CAT takes about 3.5 hours to complete, so make sure that you've set aside enough time to take it in one sitting. Once you have those scores, you should report back here and we can discuss how best to proceed.

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

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

You ask a great question! Research suggests that studying quant and verbal simultaneously and systematically provides the best avenue for learning because we learn more effectively when we give our brains a little time to forget what we just learned, and then we review and/or recall the material at a point in the near future. This process is referred to as “spaced repetition,” and it has been shown to improve learning considerably.
 
Let’s use the topic of units digit patterns as an example. Say you wanted to get in some additional study on this topic. To leverage spaced repetition, you could study units digit patterns for a preset time, say, one hour. Then, after the hour, move on to a verbal topic, for example, sentence correction. Over the course of a day or so, you’ll start to forget some things that you learned about units digit patterns. Now is the perfect time to restudy that topic. Sit down for a study session and work again on units digit patterns. You’ll find that you more quickly and easily attain the same level of competence that you attained in your earlier session. In fact, you’ll probably gain some new insights that you didn’t get in your previous session as you add to your knowledge base. Had you not switched to verbal after studying some quant, you would lose out on the opportunity to “forget” and then relearn.
 
Check out my article for more information regarding  how to score a 700+ on the GMAT .

Please reach out with any further questions.

AkshdeepS · Answer

Hi,

It is important to know whether you are working or full time into GMAT because that will clear the picture whether you will be able to study all 5 topics daily or not. If you are into GMAt full time, then it would be better to study Quant (DS and PS) and Verbal (SC and CR) alternate day, but practice RC daily. This means you need to go with DS, PS, RC and SC, CR, RC on alternate days. You can shift 
solving problem to concept learning (theory) as and when you like or when one thing becomes monotonous.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Its depends on one's own learning methodology and may vary person to person. Follow your interest follow what you think is more interesting to you if a way may get you bore soon don't choose it. If i were there i definitely start with Math until i accomplish a Q45 score if my goal score is Q50. After that my sequence should be like 1. SC 2. CR 3. RC

Good Luck

souvonik2k · Answer

Hi
I would suggest to go ahead with strategy 2. Dedicate equal time to both Quant and Verbal. Maybe you can study Quant and Verbal in alternate days. In that way you will be fresh with both. Hope it helps.

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