Is there's a point to solve HARD Q's?

Question

I've just seen all GmatPrep questions and all PowerPrep questions. They look quite easy, BUT there's a lot of Q's in this forum that are VERY hard or just hard. So, is there's point to spend time on such hard Q's if in GmatPrep Q's easy? PowerPrep, you should agree, probably for kids.

I understand that in some way very hard Q's could help and make simple Q's look even more simplier
I understand that in REAL exam there might be hard Q's, but if so, why there are no such in GmatPrep

Also I suspect that solving very hard Q's might decline you attension in solving easy-but-tricky Q's like that in GmatPrep.

So what do you think about thoughts above?

BM · Answer

I believe that one should gradually work up to difficult questions rather than attempt them from the very beginning. In fact, it's probably distracting and counter-productive to attempt, for example, 750-level questions if one has trouble at the 500-level.

But if you complete the OG and GMATPrep with little difficulty, then more challenging problems are appropriate. Indeed, they are recommended!

But if you complete the OG and GMATPrep with little difficulty, then more challenging problems are appropriate. Indeed, they are recommended!

Runner2 · Answer

And the reason more challenging problems (I believe you mean "harder then in GmatPrep") are recommended is...?

AbhiJ · Answer

Do both solve hard questions so that you are efficient on easy questions and solve tricky questions so that you are not fooled by them.

dng · Answer

I think there are a few reasons people gravitate toward the difficult questions posted on this board (or located elsewhere.)

On one level, I suspect people like the challenge and the attendant ego boost when they solve a difficult question. I know I enjoy it.

On another level, if you are seriously targeting a score above 700, you will need to practice those challenging questions.

As for why some prep literature has seemingly fewer of those hard questions relative to to what you find on this message board, I think you have to consider demographics. Test prep books and programs have to target as many people as possible who will take the GMAT. GMAT takers are not all from Lake Wobegon (where children are all above average.) Those who may expect to score at 700 or above are going to be a minority of the population. Test prep publishers would alienate the majority of potential customers by focusing on the most challenging questions possible on the GMAT.

This site is really a community of GMAT enthusiasts, a disproportionate number of which will likely be targeting scores above 700. As such, you would expect to see more of a focus on very challenging questions.

glores1970 · Answer

I too felt that solving very hard problems is required only if you are targeting 750 or more. one possible downside is that getting these tough ones wrong can discourage someone. but it is also valid, that solving these tough questions prepares you better for the easier ones.

BM · Answer

Just in case, let me clarify: if you can handle the OG and GMATPrep questions comfortably, then you can fully benefit from more challenging questions. And by "fully benefit," I mean that you can enhance your understanding of the concepts, sharpen your skills, build confidence, and improve speed. In other words, they should ultimately help to increase your score.

So, to specifically answer your question: the reason why practicing with challenging questions is recommended is that they can increase your score.

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Is there's a point to solve HARD Q's?

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