Keeping Track of Time and Knowing When to Move On
soneill8
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Mike@Magoosh
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Mon Jan 30, 2012 8:22 am
Hi, there. I'm happy to share my two cents on this, FWIW. 
First of all, I will say: one of the most elusive aspects of math is elegance. All the great mathematicians were known for their elegance, and all the great mathematical theorems, the ones "from the book" as Erdos would say, are elegant. Yet, this is the hardest thing to communicate to a math student --- how to be elegant, how to move toward the answer with speed and precision.
One thing I would say --- take the problems you have already solved, and look for alternative solutions. For example, if you solved a problem in a Manhattan GMAT book, then compare your solution to theirs. Take problems that you solved and that took you 6 minutes, and post them online, or search for them online, and see if you can find alternative solutions. It's actually a perfectly legitimate post here on BTG to say: look, here's a problem, I know the long way to get the answer, can anyone show me a shorter way? I realize you only have a week, but perhaps if you see enough examples of alternate solutions, you will start to see patterns.
Relatedly, it's always important to remember there are always two levels in solving a math problem. One is simply what is mathematically legal vs. not legal. For example, in the very simple problem 2x - 5 = 7, it would simply be mathematically illegal to add 5 to the left side without adding it to the right side. Probably, at this point in your studies, you are not too much of anything that's outright mathematically illegal. ----- The second level is: what is strategic and what is not. Again, in the equation 2x - 5 = 7, it would be perfect mathematically legal to multiply both sides of the equation by 73, but that would be a woefully nonstrategic thing to do. In a ridiculously easy equation like 2x - 5 = 7, the steps are probably on automatic pilot already, but with more complicated problems, see if by studying solutions you can articulate strategies. It might be helpful to force yourself to write down, say, the steps for solving a quadratic. The more you can be thinking, not only on the level of mathematically right & wrong, but also mathematically strategic vs. nonstrategic, and the more you can learn and be conscious of these strategies, the more efficient you will be.
Finally, as far time management, a hokey suggestion. The test-giving people are nit-picking about not allowing you to have a calculator, a cell phone, anything that beeps, anything that has an on/off switch, etc. My wacky suggestion ---- do you know those little plastic sand-filled hourglasses? They often sell them in kitchen supply stores. Buy one of those and start practicing with it. They are typically one minute timers, so you should get one full run, then flip it, then another full run --- two minutes. If you get absorbed and forget about the timer, then as soon as you remember to check the hourglass, consider yourself out of time --- guess and move one. It will take practice to remember the timer as you are working, but I believe that is something you could take into the GMAT, and I think the test-giving stormtroopers will not have a problem with it.
I hope that's helpful. If you have any questions about what I've said, or if you'd like me to expand on anything, let me know.
Here's a free video that may help clarify a few things about exponents.
http://gmat.magoosh.com/lessons/216-intro-to-exponents
Good luck!
Mike
First of all, I will say: one of the most elusive aspects of math is elegance. All the great mathematicians were known for their elegance, and all the great mathematical theorems, the ones "from the book" as Erdos would say, are elegant. Yet, this is the hardest thing to communicate to a math student --- how to be elegant, how to move toward the answer with speed and precision.
One thing I would say --- take the problems you have already solved, and look for alternative solutions. For example, if you solved a problem in a Manhattan GMAT book, then compare your solution to theirs. Take problems that you solved and that took you 6 minutes, and post them online, or search for them online, and see if you can find alternative solutions. It's actually a perfectly legitimate post here on BTG to say: look, here's a problem, I know the long way to get the answer, can anyone show me a shorter way? I realize you only have a week, but perhaps if you see enough examples of alternate solutions, you will start to see patterns.
Relatedly, it's always important to remember there are always two levels in solving a math problem. One is simply what is mathematically legal vs. not legal. For example, in the very simple problem 2x - 5 = 7, it would simply be mathematically illegal to add 5 to the left side without adding it to the right side. Probably, at this point in your studies, you are not too much of anything that's outright mathematically illegal. ----- The second level is: what is strategic and what is not. Again, in the equation 2x - 5 = 7, it would be perfect mathematically legal to multiply both sides of the equation by 73, but that would be a woefully nonstrategic thing to do. In a ridiculously easy equation like 2x - 5 = 7, the steps are probably on automatic pilot already, but with more complicated problems, see if by studying solutions you can articulate strategies. It might be helpful to force yourself to write down, say, the steps for solving a quadratic. The more you can be thinking, not only on the level of mathematically right & wrong, but also mathematically strategic vs. nonstrategic, and the more you can learn and be conscious of these strategies, the more efficient you will be.
Finally, as far time management, a hokey suggestion. The test-giving people are nit-picking about not allowing you to have a calculator, a cell phone, anything that beeps, anything that has an on/off switch, etc. My wacky suggestion ---- do you know those little plastic sand-filled hourglasses? They often sell them in kitchen supply stores. Buy one of those and start practicing with it. They are typically one minute timers, so you should get one full run, then flip it, then another full run --- two minutes. If you get absorbed and forget about the timer, then as soon as you remember to check the hourglass, consider yourself out of time --- guess and move one. It will take practice to remember the timer as you are working, but I believe that is something you could take into the GMAT, and I think the test-giving stormtroopers will not have a problem with it.
I hope that's helpful. If you have any questions about what I've said, or if you'd like me to expand on anything, let me know.
Here's a free video that may help clarify a few things about exponents.
http://gmat.magoosh.com/lessons/216-intro-to-exponents
Good luck!
Mike
Thanked by: soneill8
soneill8
Just gettin' started!
- Joined
- 15 Jan 2012
- Posted:
- 3 messages
- Followed by:
- 1 members
- GMAT Score:
- 690
Tue Jan 31, 2012 11:33 am
GMAT/MBA Expert
Mike@Magoosh
GMAT Instructor
- Joined
- 28 Dec 2011
- Posted:
- 282 messages
- Followed by:
- 39 members
- Thanked:
- 151 times
Tue Jan 31, 2012 1:53 pm
Good luck on Saturday!
May the Force be with you.
Do let me know how it goes.
Mike
May the Force be with you.
Do let me know how it goes.
Mike
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