how to jump from average to great?

Question

Hey everyone. I have studied for a month and a half now using Magoosh.

Based on my pattern of incorrect vs. correct answers, I'm answering at least 90% of easy and medium questions correctly in Verbal and Math. However, I'm concerned about me nailing "hard" and "very hard" questions, because most of the time I get them wrong, even in topics I know.

This is usually because of the way those questions are worded, which makes my head explode.

Please note that I started with a pretty horrible score in my first prep test of 380 (prev. GMAT) and then I took a practice test in Magoosh and got 505 (GMAT Focus) after 3 weeks studying. 3 weeks later I took another test and I got 495 (those weeks I wasn't focused studying at all).

As I'm getting closer to my 4th practice test, I want to give myself a self-esteem boost and get a higher score.

I'm looking for strategies that can help me on this path into the harder grounds. I've tried to only answer "hard" and "very hard" questions, which seems to be helping out.

Have any of you been in this situation before? How did you jump from "medium" to "hard"?

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

If you've only been using 3rd party questions up till now, including official questions into your prep may be helpful (you can get e-versions of different guides from the MBA website). Slowly reviewing questions and checking the relevant gmatclub links to see the solutions others have posted may be useful as well. You could also ask any specific queries you have. The Share GMAT Experience subforum may also be worth having a look at. You could see what others have done/used to improve their scores.

-contact: gmatknight site | gmatclub dm

-contact: gmatknight site | gmatclub dm

thedarkwolf · Answer

Solve only OG especially for verbal (CR & SC)

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

To improve your quant skills, you may find it helpful to engage in topical quant practice.

For example, let’s say that you want to practice Number Properties. You can do so by answering 50 or more questions just from Number Properties: LCM, GCF, units digit patterns, divisibility, remainders, etc.

After each problem set, thoroughly analyze your incorrect questions. For example, if you got a remainder question wrong, ask yourself why. Did you make a careless mistake? Did you not properly apply the remainder formula? Was there a concept you did not understand in the question?

By carefully analyzing your mistakes, you will be able to fix your weaknesses efficiently and, in turn, improve your GMAT quant skills. Number Properties is just one example; follow this process for all quant topics.

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how to jump from average to great?

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