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How to improve quant in 9 days? Please help!

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independent Just gettin' started! Default Avatar
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GMAT Score:
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How to improve quant in 9 days? Please help! Post Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:53 am
Guys I've got a huge issue. I'm having my GMAT in 9 days and I really need to score above 650. I already did the GMAT once in january and due to my math I scored a miserable 500 (q31, v28), while on the prep tests (GMATprep) I had between 550-580 (the quant was never below 37 on these tests)

In the meantime I studied the MGMAT SC and a bit from MGMAT quant books, I did almost the entire OG, both quant and verbal, and even though my scores on the verbal slightly improved it seems like I'm stuck with the quant. I also did a couple of MGMAT tests and I had a relatively decent score on the quant. Since I've read that MGMAT CATs are harder at quant I thought that I would score better on GMATprep, but instead the opposite happened.

Here are my scores:

MGMAT1: 600 (q43, v30)
MGMAT2: 620 (q40, v35)
MGMAT3: 660 (q44, v36)
MGMAT4: 660 (q45, v35)

and today:
GMATprep 1: 630 (q38, v38)

I should say that I knew a couple of questions on verbal since I already did the GMATprep back in january, so it influenced my score a bit, however on the quant it really seems like i'm stuck.

I don't know what to do any more, I've got only 9 days and this is my last chance to score above 650. It seems like it all depends on the quant. What am I supposed to do in these remaining days, should I take both the MGMAT 5 and 6 (+GMATprep 2) or should I instead focus on redoing the quant on the OG.

I've also got the GMAT quant review (2nd edition) book, would it be better to do those exercises instead?

I would really appreciate any kind of advice!

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sam2304 GMAT Titan
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Post Wed Apr 11, 2012 9:33 am
Find out your weak areas using the practice tests you have taken so far. You should have scored better than what you have scored in MGMAT quants as GMAT quant is quite easier compared to MGMAT quant. Categorize the mistakes based on content/careless mistakes/timing/approach. If you know the concepts and have made more mistakes because of carelessness or wrong approach then review the concepts in two days and try to take the GMATPrep2 test. If you find any improvement then go ahead with the test else you can reschedule the test. Go for the test after 2 or 3 weeks. If you don't want to reschedule then review the GMATPrep test more closely and work on the weak areas. Use the GMATPrep quant document floating in the net and solve all the problems thoroughly with review and you can make it. At the same time don't get over confident with verbal, keep revisiting the concepts in verbal as well.

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Post Wed Apr 11, 2012 9:46 am
Watch Ron's recent video on quant prep..

Reviewing,Redoing and Finding easier,quicker and alternate methods of solving a problem is the only way to learn from practice questions.

Try to learn more from each question rather than doing more and more problems. Also practice full length tests with AWA. DONT SKIP them.

Also try to improve on verbal part. Verbal is more important to the overall score than quant.

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independent Just gettin' started! Default Avatar
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Post Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:55 am
I can't reschedule because this is the last possible date to take the GMAT if I want to apply in time.

I will go through the OG guide questions again and try to find a quicker/better method for solving the questions.
About the MGMATs I found the parts where I performed badly and questions that took me long to answer, so I will revise them again too.

Regarding the MGMAT quant books, is it worth going through those books in these remaining days (since I've got them all) and I already studied only from the ''Geometry'' and ''Equations, Inequalities & VICs'' books. (I'm asking because I heard that Number propreties and word translations are supposed to be good)

With the verbal I've got most problems with the RC; at CR and SC I'm doing pretty well, but since I haven't found any specific tips regarding RC I guess that practicing is the only key here.

About Ron's video, where can I find it?

So I will review the problems I already took. Afterwards should I take immediately the GMATprep 2 or should I first finish with the MGMAT 5 & 6?


Thank you for the answers guys, I really appreciate them.


P.S. All of the tests above were full-length (including AWA)

sam2304 GMAT Titan
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Post Wed Apr 11, 2012 11:09 am
Thursdays with Ron - link
http://www.manhattangmat.com/thursdays-with-ron.cfm

Check out this video Feb 4 2010 Quantitative: Backup Methods and General GMAT: Timing/Algorithm Related Problems. It is very helpful. Additionally Check out any videos related to your weak topics.

Avoid MGMAT and stick to GMATPrep. If possible avoid OG as well and use the GMATPrep quant document. You might find it more challenging and more new tough and good questions to solve, review and learn.

MGMAT books - Yes you should go through those two books as some of the most tested topics fall under those two books.

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Post Wed Apr 11, 2012 2:26 pm
I would consider taking 3-4 GMATClub math tests. These will expose your weak areas. From there, determine your weak areas and study those ferociously until test day.

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Post Wed Apr 11, 2012 5:54 pm
March 29, 2012:
Quant: Flexibility in Problem Solving, Part 1

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independent Just gettin' started! Default Avatar
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Post Fri Apr 13, 2012 12:54 pm
I registered at GMAT club, and as far as I've seen the ''math test 25'' is free, so should I start with this test or consider purchasing additional tests?

About the GMATprep test questions, is there a direct link where I could download all of them? And how many times should I use the GMATprep software before I download these questions?

So I'm currently going through the OG quant questions again and reading the number properties and word translations book. I'm thinking about doing the GMATprep2 twice and GMATprep1 one more time, and after that going through all questions in those tests. Meanwhile I'll watch a couple of Ron's videos and if I find time I'll go through the questions in the quantitative review from GMAC

Since I've got only 7 days left, from your advices I considered that this would be the best thing to do. Hopefully it will help me to improve my quant.

Thank you all again!

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