Hello All,
My test date is May 13, 2014 and I have just over 3 weeks until my exam. I am aiming for a Q44V37 score- a score which I feel is achievable given the questions I am getting during the practice tests. I would particularly like some advice from those who have successfully addressed the following issues: timing, skip questions and concept mastery. However, any help from those who have overcome similar score stagnation would be welcomed.
I began my studies with an MGMAT in-person course that ran Jan-March. My CAT practice exams have had the following breakdowns:
1/26/14 CAT1 (w/o IR or essay): Q37V28 540
3/1/14 CAT2: Q37V24 520
3/2/14 CAT3: Q36V30 550 <--- this is when I first ID'd my timing issue and tried to address it.
3/22/14 CAT4: Q29V31 510
4/6/14 CAT 5: Q36V29 550
4/19/14 CAT 6: Q37V31 570
Study Background: I've had an error log since February but recently started outlining source of error, applicable rules for incorrect answers and tips on how to avoid it in the future. Admittedly, I haven't spent too much time reviewing the error log once I have already thoroughly evaluated incorrect ?'s. I have begun to ID skip questions. I've created flash cards for all notes but not yet for troublesome incorrect questions.
General characteristics of CAT's 1-5: my timing was all over the place, I had a couple 4min+ questions, many 3 min, and I was usually off benchmark times from 3-8min. On both sections I had streaks of 4+ incorrect questions regularly.
Since CAT 5 I have focused on timing and performing all practice problems within general time benchmarks (2min for quant, 1:15 for SC, 2:15ish for CR and ~7-8min for RC sections). As a result, on my CAT6 the timing has become more normalized with only a few 3min+ questions in either of the two sections and shorter streaks of incorrect questions as before.
The timing strategy I have adopted for Verbal is to spend a little bit more time on the first 12 questions to increase difficulty level and attempt to maintain from then on. Quant is being approached as all questions being equally important.
My study strategy since CAT 5 has shifted from learning the content to performing 12-15 OG practice problems about 4-5/week. My time breakdown for quant:verbal has been about 80:20, respectively. I'm pretty diligent about getting at least 2hrs in/day 6days/week.
CAT6 Quant Stats:
#15 I was +2min/60th%
#23 I was +1.5min/54%
#30 I was +0/44%
#37 42%
CAT6 Verbal Stats:
#12 I was +6min/84%
#27 I was +10min/69%
#32 I was +8min/75%
#38 I was +2min/66%
#41 62%
What are some study techniques you think I should be embracing for the test and study time?
Should I focus on bringing up my verbal score to compensate for a flailing quant score?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks Everybody,
Jesse
My test date is May 13, 2014 and I have just over 3 weeks until my exam. I am aiming for a Q44V37 score- a score which I feel is achievable given the questions I am getting during the practice tests. I would particularly like some advice from those who have successfully addressed the following issues: timing, skip questions and concept mastery. However, any help from those who have overcome similar score stagnation would be welcomed.
I began my studies with an MGMAT in-person course that ran Jan-March. My CAT practice exams have had the following breakdowns:
1/26/14 CAT1 (w/o IR or essay): Q37V28 540
3/1/14 CAT2: Q37V24 520
3/2/14 CAT3: Q36V30 550 <--- this is when I first ID'd my timing issue and tried to address it.
3/22/14 CAT4: Q29V31 510
4/6/14 CAT 5: Q36V29 550
4/19/14 CAT 6: Q37V31 570
Study Background: I've had an error log since February but recently started outlining source of error, applicable rules for incorrect answers and tips on how to avoid it in the future. Admittedly, I haven't spent too much time reviewing the error log once I have already thoroughly evaluated incorrect ?'s. I have begun to ID skip questions. I've created flash cards for all notes but not yet for troublesome incorrect questions.
General characteristics of CAT's 1-5: my timing was all over the place, I had a couple 4min+ questions, many 3 min, and I was usually off benchmark times from 3-8min. On both sections I had streaks of 4+ incorrect questions regularly.
Since CAT 5 I have focused on timing and performing all practice problems within general time benchmarks (2min for quant, 1:15 for SC, 2:15ish for CR and ~7-8min for RC sections). As a result, on my CAT6 the timing has become more normalized with only a few 3min+ questions in either of the two sections and shorter streaks of incorrect questions as before.
The timing strategy I have adopted for Verbal is to spend a little bit more time on the first 12 questions to increase difficulty level and attempt to maintain from then on. Quant is being approached as all questions being equally important.
My study strategy since CAT 5 has shifted from learning the content to performing 12-15 OG practice problems about 4-5/week. My time breakdown for quant:verbal has been about 80:20, respectively. I'm pretty diligent about getting at least 2hrs in/day 6days/week.
CAT6 Quant Stats:
#15 I was +2min/60th%
#23 I was +1.5min/54%
#30 I was +0/44%
#37 42%
CAT6 Verbal Stats:
#12 I was +6min/84%
#27 I was +10min/69%
#32 I was +8min/75%
#38 I was +2min/66%
#41 62%
What are some study techniques you think I should be embracing for the test and study time?
Should I focus on bringing up my verbal score to compensate for a flailing quant score?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks Everybody,
Jesse
