GMAT Strategy

If timing is your biggest issue, it's a sign that you likely still have some major gaps in your knowledge of GMAT quant and verbal. The best way to fill in those gaps is to strive for linear, targeted learning. In other words, you want to master one topic before you move to the next. Once those gaps are filled in, your timing will greatly improve. Let's me illustrate this idea with an example. Try the following simple quant question:

20^2 + 21^2+ 22^2+ 23^2+ 24^2+ 25^2 = ?

A) 3,055

B) 2,060

C) 3,066

D) 3,704

E) 3,077

Upon seeing this question, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Do you want to grab a calculator and add up the values in the expression? Are you spending 20 to 30 seconds thinking about how this question should be solved? Or do you quickly recognize that you are being tested simply on units digits?

If you were able to recognize that you are being tested on units digits, you would be able to attack the problem quickly and efficiently (see the solution below).
Solution:
Because each answer choice has a different units digit, instead of finding the actual sum we can just find the units digit of the sum. Let's use the units digits of each square to determine the units digit of the sum.

- The units digit of 20^2 must be 0, since 0^2 = 0

- The units digit of 21^2 must be 1, since 1^2 = 1

- The units digit of 22^2 must be 4, since 2^2 = 4

- The units digit of 23^2 must be 9, since 3^2 = 9

- The units digit of 24^2 must be 6, since 4^2 = 16

- The units digit of 25^2 must be 5, since 5^2 = 25

With this, we can sum the units digits: 0 + 1 + 4 + 9 + 6 + 5 = 25. Thus, the units digit is 5.

Answer: A

Although this is just one example (of many) you see that you must have the tools in your toolbox to efficiently attack each GMAT quant and verbal that comes your way.

In addition to everything I mentioned above, I wrote a detailed article about how to get faster at solving GMAT quant questions.

Hi warrior818,

Many Test Takers spend 3 months (or more) of consistent study time before they hit their 'peak' scores, so it's likely that you just have not put in enough time and effort yet. Thankfully, your score goal is achievable, but you'll find it challenging to make all of the necessary improvements in just 1.5 months.

Test Takers who use a 'book heavy' study approach tend to end up getting 'stuck' at a particular score level, so you'll likely end up needing to invest in some non-book resources. The OG books are great sources for practice questions, but they're not designed to teach you Tactics, patterns or the little 'secrets' behind the GMAT - for those, you'll need Course-oriented materials.

1) What is your exact Test Date?
2) When are you planning to apply to Business School?

3) If your score goal was/is 700+, then why did you take the GMAT after only scoring in the 500s on your CATs?
4) What were your Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores on the Official GMAT?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich