Performing poorly in math despite +200h of studying with TTP

Question

Hey all,

I've been preparing for the last ~5 months for the GMAT just using TTP where I've logged over 200h according to the platform (Quant + Verbal) and was getting great scores while keeping it <2min per question (except on some Hard level questions). I had scheduled my official GMAT exam for the 2nd of April and I wasn't done with the course but I thought "might as well do it to get some practice". Off-course I did not expect my best result but I was very surprised with how poorly I performed on Quant.

I got a Q44, which is lower than a score I got on a cold test I did 2 years ago (Q46) . During the test I felt out of place (hadn't done any practice exams since the one I took 2 years ago) and just couldn't manage my time properly. I finished the course and took another practice test this morning and the same thing happened, I ended up with 7 unanswered questions on Quant.

I know there is something about just getting the practice tests done to get familiar with it, but I also had a few hypothesis I wanted to bounce off some experts:

1) Did I make a mistake just using TTP? I feel I now have a lot of knowledge but end up doing everything too algebraically vs trying to find a quick answer. Thinking focusing on doing some OG questions for my next test (30 April) could be a good way to improve, but still worried my approach is too theoretical which will continue to lead to time loss.

2) Maybe its more of a mental thing that's keeping me from "seeing" through the questions rather than the format being too different from TTP?

3) Are there any resources that you would recommend to focus my remaining study time?

For context:
- I have an engineering background, have always been great at math and have a quant heavy job.
- I was aiming for Q48 as a minimum given how easily math comes to me (or so I thought)

Appreciate any input and wisdom you can bestow on me!

Disclaimer:
This is not an attempt to discredit TTP at all, I think TTP is great and its very proven for Quant so I know I am just an outlier here. I thought their course was great and was very confident going in, hence the surprise. Also, their verbal is great; got a V41 on both the real and my practice exam which got me a 700 overall, but I am aiming for at least a 720.

rprasad6310 · Answer

GMAT Club Forum Quiz would really assist..Solve Quizzes as per increasing difficulty in a sequential manner..

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

"Consider thinking over shorter approaches you can use to solve Quant questions. You likely do this to some extent already when you use the answer choices, for example, to reverse solve. Here's a silent video of a quant DS question being solved in 3 different ways. The third way applies the most "reasoning" - it's worth remembering that the section is actually called Quantitative Reasoning."

How to get better at GMAT Quant. Apply reasoning to save mental energy and time.

How to get better at GMAT Quant. Apply reasoning to save mental energy and time.

Russ19 · Answer

Hi sebgutur22 , I have used a few courses and found a platform different and useful in every way. See some video solutions to the OG problems from the link: https://gmatquantum.com/official-guides ... at-videos/ Its paid course is great too. Best Wishes!

IanStewart · Answer

If you took a test cold and got a Q46, you really should be able to get to a Q49+ level within fifty or sixty hours of preparation, so if that didn't happen (or if your score dropped) then that's a sign you should be studying in a different way. From what you describe, it sounds like you may not have learned the material the way a Q46 test taker should be learning it -- the GMAT is not a test of how much you know, or of how much algebra you can do. It's really a test of how well you understand fundamental math concepts, and how well you can think about them. You'll see that's true if you prioritize official practice questions moving forward, rather than prep company questions; prep company questions often give the wrong impression of what's important on the test.

You should be able to reach your goal just through self-study, considering how close you were when you took your first test, but you might want to seek out study material that takes a conceptual emphasis. Tutoring is much more expensive than self-study, but if you wanted to save time, and if you could find a good person to work with, then it might be worth considering. Good luck!

You should be able to reach your goal just through self-study, considering how close you were when you took your first test, but you might want to seek out study material that takes a conceptual emphasis. Tutoring is much more expensive than self-study, but if you wanted to save time, and if you could find a good person to work with, then it might be worth considering. Good luck!

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi sebgutur22,

Something pretty odd seems to be happening here. For starters, I wonder if anxiety played a role in scoring Q44. Also, when reviewing your practice exam, do you see a number of questions that were "in your wheelhouse" that for one reason or another you answered incorrectly? Lastly, can you paste in a screenshot of your TTP analytics page, so I can see what is going on with your course progress?

sebgutur22 · Answer

Hi Guys, thank you for your responses!

I am kind of worried about this given the investment in time I've made and the expectations I have so I really appreciate you guys chipping in with some answers.
 ScottTargetTestPrep  I was trying to attach the file but I have not been a member on this site long enough to do so, should I send through email?

On your other questions:

1) I think anxiety could be part of the problem, but I am usually a good test taker and was confident going in. I felt the anxiety start once I started performing poorly.
2) I feel pretty comfortable with most question types, it was more of a feeling of just being too slow; I think TTP kind of programmed me to do everything algebraically because I feel I know how to do "everything" vs looking for quick ways to answer.

Best,

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Can you reach out to us on live chat?

sebgutur22 · Answer

Just did, appreciate any input!

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

I feel I know how to do "everything" vs looking for quick ways to answer.

Might be worth working also with a study buddy who is great at Quant to see how they approach questions.

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