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Need to improve from Q45 to Q48+... how to go about this?

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24837 Just gettin' started! Default Avatar
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Need to improve from Q45 to Q48+... how to go about this? Post Thu Dec 15, 2011 7:39 am
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  • Lap #[LAPCOUNT] ([LAPTIME])
    Hey guys,

    I just finished my first GMAT with a 710 (Q45/71% V42/95%).
    While the overall score was decent, I realized that my Quant is really lacking compared to my Verbal.
    I have four additional weeks to prepare for a retake, my goal is to just crush the GMAT and score 730+.
    The most obvious way to achieve this is to improve my Quant score.

    Any recommendations on how to go about this?
    Do I need to learn new concepts or is this just about gaining speed, practice, routine?

    I was laughing my way through the Kaplan 800 and have exhausted all OG12 problems.
    Just bought the Manhattan Advanced Quant and OG Quant Review.

    Any other material I should look into? strategy recommendations? old threads I overlooked?
    All input much appreciated!

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    sam2304 GMAT Titan
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    Post Sat Dec 17, 2011 11:19 am
    Work on inequalities, co ordinate geometry, rate problems, statistics. Probability and combinatorics comes next. From my personal experience inequalities alone will help you reach 48 definitely. Four weeks is enough to improve. MGMAT is quite good for quant basics.

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    neelgandham Community Manager
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    Post Sat Dec 17, 2011 1:06 pm
    The answer to the question is the exact same one to the question 'How to lose weight?', It depends!. I will not be able to provide you specific suggestions on Quantitative score improvement but will be able to provide you with generic suggestions, below.

    a) Read the concepts again.
    b) Redo the OG. Review all your mistakes and see which topic you need to improve on(Download the GMAT Prep Now Improvement Chart for free at http://www.gmatprepnow.com/learning-guide/overview and generic error logs from http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/gmat-error-log.)
    c) You should also solve the BTG 100 difficult GMAT problems and review the errors(available here - http://www.beatthegmat.com/difficult-gmat-math-problems-t78.html. AND www.beaththegmat.com is an awesome repository in itself. With 366 pages in Problem solving http://www.beatthegmat.com/problem-solving-f6.html and 232 pages in http://www.beatthegmat.com/data-sufficiency-f7.html, it provide you loads of questions to solve.
    d) Develop the concepts and concentrate more on the topics you s**k at.
    e) I'll stop it here because I am sure you will score real good

    These may help ->
    http://www.beatthegmat.com/how-to-improve-math-score-stamina-mental-strength-t5650.html
    http://www.beatthegmat.com/need-to-improve-score-on-quant-t1946.html
    http://www.beatthegmat.com/suggestions-to-improve-quant-slow-understanding-and-memory-t96760.html
    http://www.beatthegmat.com/strategy-to-improve-quant-t90581.html
    http://www.beatthegmat.com/2-weeks-to-improve-quant-score-t81735.html

    p.s: It is easier to improve from 45 to 50 than to improve from 50 to 51. JLT Info

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    24837 Just gettin' started! Default Avatar
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    Post Sun Dec 18, 2011 8:39 am
    wow, amazing feedback!

    thanks, really appreciate it.

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    VivianKerr GMAT Instructor
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    Post Tue Dec 20, 2011 12:00 pm
    You're doing great, so in addition to those books I suggest a two-hand approach: Error Log review, and Careful Strategy!

    Moving forward, anytime you get a Quant question incorrect, add it to your Error Log. Here's some help to get started: http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2010/11/10/how-to-keep-an-error-log

    The idea is to start tracking WHY you get Q's incorrect. If you were indeed laughing your way through Kaplan and OG, then your Math skills are probably there. You can also use the Error Log to pinpoint weaknesses in some of the less often tested concepts.

    For more Q's, I suggest Grockit (but of course I am biased). You can use a free trial membership to scope out some of the harder Q's in our question bank. They are mocked from the OG and GMATPrep.

    In terms of "Careful Strategy" you can probably afford to slow down, and be more measured in your approach. Different types of questions require unique strategies. Some basic tips:

    It may sound obvious, but don’t make assumptions about unknown quantities on the GRE. “Numbers” can be positive integers, negative integers, decimals/fractions, or 0.

    Slow down on Word Problems. Make sure you really understand the concepts underlying the question. One or two words can radically change the question. Don’t rush these challenging questions, even if the math seems fairly obvious!

    Watch out for extra steps. You may need to find 1/y, instead of y. Or you may be asked about the “ratio of girls in a class to boys in a class,” but have to solve for the two parts of the ratio first. Pull out the important info first. Write down any key numbers, variables, or phrases from the question and write them down on your scratch pad. This is the step most students skip. Don’t just scan the screen and start solving. Forcing yourself to slow down and process each piece of information will give your brain time to sort through it. This may lead you to find a faster way to solve!

    Backsolve more when there are numbers in the answer choices. Sometimes just doing the algebra will be the simplest way to the get the correct answer, but backsolving is a great strategy to check your work as you go. Go through the answer choices and plug each one into the question.

    Pick Numbers as much as possible. Substituting abstracts like “x” for easy-to-worth-with integers like “2” and “3.” Keep the numbers small and make sure they are allowed by the definitions in the question.

    Be more measured in your approach than you think you need to. Evaluate the question from ALL angles before deciding whether it seems easier for you to do the math traditionally or use a specific strategy. When you are practicing Problem Solving, try solving the same question in more than one way to see which was faster and more effective.

    Remember that “Y/N” and “Value” Data Sufficiency’s are different. For “value” questions, a statement must provide a single numerical solution to be sufficient. For “yes/no” questions, either a firm “yes” or a firm “no” is acceptable but a single statement cannot be answered both ways. For “yes/no” questions, it doesn’t matter how the question is answered, just that it can only be answered in one way.

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