What NOT to do on the GMAT

Question

I found this article on the MGMAT blogs when I was browsing through their articles for something else and I thought that given the frantic pace at which people are rushing to finish their GMATs and apply for Round 1, these might be a few things to keep in mind:

Source:  MGMAT Blog - What NOT to do on the GMAT

kissthegmat · Answer

Thanks whiplash2411. The article is really informative.

shrive555 · Answer

i would have screwed up my test if i didn't see this post +1

ezhilkumarank · Answer

Thanks for sharing :-D

The post subject line remained me of book -- Five point someone.

PranavChamp · Answer

The best advice i found in this article:
Because of the GMAT’s adaptive nature, your weaknesses create a ceiling for your strengths. You won’t see a 700-level Sentence Correction question if your Reading Comprehension is down in the 500s. In order to take the most advantage of your killer grammar skills, you have to increase your RC level. So, bite the bullet and tackle your weaker areas.

Thanks whip.

PadawanOfTheGMAT · Answer

Interesting advice. I have 3 weeks left so I'm looking for tips like these.

rahuljaiswal · Answer

Agree with Pranav, the best one-liner there is

"Because of the GMAT’s adaptive nature, your weaknesses create a ceiling for your strengths."

Bite the Bullet!!..........Oh yse, I will!!!

RJ

PadawanOfTheGMAT · Answer

I'd say on the GMAT bring food that doesn't stick to the teeth. During my MGMAT CAT tests I wanted to mimic the real thing and only took 8 minutes breaks, and I'm telling you, you don't want to be playing with your tongue to get rid of the stuff stuck to your gum or tooth. It may sound stupid, but on T-day every insignificant detail counts :-D

teban · Answer

Thanks a lot! 
I will keep this article a part!

nusmavrik · Answer

Its not that my IQ is dubitable - its the oversight, rush and overconfidence. I scored 56.6% because I overlooked the language of the questions. Here are few examples.

Question 7: 
Andy, George and Sally are a team of consultants working on Project Alpha. They have an eight hour deadline to complete the project. The team members work at constant rates throughout the eight hour period. If the team of three has to begin work now and no one else can work on this project, will Project Alpha be completed by the deadline?

1. Sally can finish the project alone in  4k+7  hours, where  k  is a positive integer with a minimum value of 1 and a maximum value of 5.
 2. Working alone, George will take  2k+1  hours and Andy will take  3+2k  hours, where  k  is a positive integer with a minimum value of 1 and a maximum value of 5

Problem : Assuming that 1) + 2) will provide the answer. Spend a bit more than 30 secs on the question and figure out if A or B alone is good enough.

Question 8: 
If  x  and  y  are consecutive positive integers, and:
 \left{ \begin{eqnarray*} x &\gt& y\ x^2 - 1 &\gt& y^2 - 4y + x - 1\ \end{eqnarray*}

which of the following represents all the possible values of  y  ?

*  y \ge 0 
 *  y \gt 0 
 *  y \gt 1 
 *  y \gt 7 
 *  y \gt 8

Problem : Solved the question and got the answer y>0. But the first choice was y>=0. I was in a hurry as if to take the next flight. Picked A out of sight. Damn !

Question 12: 
If the remainder is 2 when  x  is divided by 5, then is  x  divisible by 7?

1.  x  is a prime number
 2.  x + 3  is a multiple of 10

Problem : Again in a hurry. Missed the value "7". Damn !

Question 20 : 
If  q  is a positive integer, is  p\frac{q}{\sqrt{q}}  an integer?

1.  q = p^2 
 2.  p  is a positive integer

Problem : Over-analysis - thought p can be "irrational number" in 1) like square root (2). Picked E since I doubted the condition 1). Yes if you think you are too clever GMAT will beat you to death. 1) is good enough since algebraic solution works for all the real numbers on the number line.

Question 21 :
If  x  is a positive integer, is  y^2 (x^3 - x + 1) \gt 75?

1.  y \gt 1 
 2.  (x-1)^2=16

Problem : Oversight. Didn't read the language "x" is a  positive  integer. Picked E. Damn !

Question 25:
If  y = \frac {x^2 - y^2}{x-y}  (  x 
e y  ), then what is the value of  y  ?

1.  x + y = 3 
 2.  x - y = -3

Problem : Thought 2) wasn't good enough. Realization is dawning upon me. Overconfidence and rush are catastrophic.

sanlitun · Answer

I agree on not pulling all nighter or stressing oneself the day before the exam. Its important to be well rested before the exam. Doing an all nighter when you try to cram for an exam to pass or score a decent grade but doesnt work when you want to get a high score.

aries · Answer

Thanks for re-posting these useful tips. I have to focus on my timing and other weaker areas.

shaselai · Answer

also go in with a "carefree" mind. You dont want to go in thinking about "omg, can i get XYZ" or "i got XYZ 4 days ago - i am so depressed/pumped". You really dont want any mental distractions while doing the questions especially between sections. If you think you bombed the previous section try to "reset" so you dont go into next section thinking about previous one. Also do that per question too

whiplash2411 · Answer

I think that's a very valuable suggestion. You need to go in with a blank mindset

sapsap2111 · Answer

Excellent !!!!!!!!!!! guidance. Thanks......

Werewolf · Answer

Thanks for this very useful post! I'm actually committing some of the mistakes that have been pointed out!

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