GMAT Strategy

Hi I took the GMAT on 4th of July and scored a minimal 580. 46-q and 24-E. I am also side by side working..I took a break for 2 months and started my prep again.

I have done important portions from the manhattan strategy guide for Quant and now have started with English. I am terrible at CR. Though this time I have started using GMAT critical reasoning bible but theres so much to grasp that I feel I am ultimately becoming confused. My weakest area is Assumption questions where I have very low hit ratio.

I have 22 days to go for my GMAT. wanted to know how to I get my verbal score up and get maybe a 2 point increase on math. Also, this time I have decided to focus more on SC and RC since those are sections that can be improved with practice... Please advice with a strategy..Also, I want to know how should I include revision in my schedule so that I dont forget what I have already read...

I havent started with practice tests as of now...I have to juggle both work and studies together and I cant postpone my date coz My deadlines for colleges like ISB n S P Jain is 30th Nov and I would def. need sometime for apps. My target college is INSEAD and once I have a score I'll have to take TOEFL as well.

If you want to focus on SC, you may want to look at SC Grail 3rd edition. I think it'll give you enough practice and i read it somewhere that they have a quick recall section so that you don't forget what you have read.

I don't think you should write off CR as something that can be improved with study.

You can improve your critical reasoning if you learn to focus on the information that is important. I agree that the "bible" you mentioned is too detailed for the GMAT; it was actually developed for the LSAT and is just adapted for the GMAT.

Here are some things for you to read that might help you to approach CR questions in a more productive way. One thing you need to notice throughout is that I do not focus on the entire stimulus. At Veritas we refer to the "context" or background information that is not really part of the argument. You have to learn to focus on the two essential elements. The premise (usually only one that really matters) and the conclusion.

Here is an article to help you focus https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/02/ ... duncan-way

Next you need to walk through some actual problems and see how to do those. Here are some postings that I have made over the years that walk you through the various CR questions. Pay particular attention to the assumption questions. (Oh and here is a recent article just on assumptions that may help you https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2012/06/ ... -an-expert)

Original Questions:

Paradox

https://www.beatthegmat.com/artificial-s ... tml#309781

https://www.beatthegmat.com/cold-climate ... tml#288243

https://www.beatthegmat.com/bird-feeders ... tml#292587

Bold Faced

https://www.beatthegmat.com/bold-faced-f ... tml#307471

https://www.beatthegmat.com/salt-water-p ... tml#291765

https://www.beatthegmat.com/bold-faced-e ... tml#293014


Inference

https://www.beatthegmat.com/hardiness-zo ... tml#288241

https://www.beatthegmat.com/waves-on-the ... tml#290932

Plan

https://www.beatthegmat.com/grade-inflat ... tml#289908

https://www.beatthegmat.com/stock-market ... tml#291213

Assumptions

https://www.beatthegmat.com/computers-as ... tml#302237

https://www.beatthegmat.com/horses-hoove ... tml#289122

https://www.beatthegmat.com/nuclear-powe ... tml#296304


How to Approach Different Question Types:

Inference/ conclusion question:

https://www.beatthegmat.com/how-to-appro ... tml#319885

https://www.beatthegmat.com/gmatprep-mus ... tml#314342

https://www.beatthegmat.com/zoos-t72940.html


Plan question:

https://www.beatthegmat.com/businesses-t ... tml#313911

https://www.beatthegmat.com/strenghtenin ... tml#313159


Assumption question:

https://www.beatthegmat.com/nuclear-powe ... 29-15.html

https://www.beatthegmat.com/an-odd-cr-fr ... 68008.html

https://www.beatthegmat.com/reduce-fatal ... 68915.html


General Posts:

https://www.beatthegmat.com/using-signal ... 71164.html

https://www.beatthegmat.com/bold-faced-f ... tml#307471

https://www.beatthegmat.com/control-alar ... tml#305090

https://www.beatthegmat.com/the-soviet-b ... tml#304739

https://www.beatthegmat.com/the-last-out ... tml#304425

https://www.beatthegmat.com/bold-faced-q ... tml#294134

https://www.beatthegmat.com/lsat-problem ... tml#332976

https://www.beatthegmat.com/crs-that-hav ... tml#339479

https://www.beatthegmat.com/an-inference ... tml#341259


New bold -faced type of question:

https://www.beatthegmat.com/useless-bott ... 66646.html

Thanks David. Let me work on the strategies you suggested and get back to you in case of doubt. Also, I would be thankful if you can help me with the best strategy for revision. I feel when Im on english I am forgetting math and vice versa..

Hey David,

I have been following your posts since long. It really helped me. Thanks.
I have only 7 days to go for my GMAT. I'm noticing that my performance in RC and CR assumptions questions is degrading. Could you please suggest what can be done at the last moment?

Remember that the key to assumption questions is your mind set.

Please remember that unlike strengthen questions you are not looking for the answer choice that is best when added, but you are looking for the answer choice that does the most harm when taken away.

Did you read this article from the posting above? https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2012/06/ ... -an-expert

Did you look at the assumption questions above? I have talked about how to solve those questions that are in my above post.

I have always found that the key to assumption questions is to start them off like regular strengthen questions - so that you have the evidence and the conclusion - and then to see which answer choice is the one that you will miss the most when it is taken away.

Do you have an example of an assumption question that has stumped you? I will be happy to go through it as an example of how to approach these questions.