GMAT Strategy

Hello!

I have been studying for the GMAT for almost 6 months now and I am also taking a MGMAT course that is set to end in three weeks. However, even with all of my studying and classes, I feel like I am not progressing with Quant at all. I have extreme difficulties with being able to bring out a equation when given a problem. It does not help that I was always horrible at math to begin with. I avoided math in college like it was the plague so I have not taken a single math class for almost 6 years. I am at a lost and do not know what other sources to exhaust. It is not so much about doing the math but it is more on being able to get a equation out of a problem to solve to get the answer. So working on the FOM does not exactly help me beside refreshing my math. Does anyone have any recommendations? My registered test date is on March 21, 2015.


Thanks so much.

Where to start? Hmm.

I guess one thing for you to understand first is this. I AM SURE THAT YOU COULD SCORE 51 ON QUANT.

That's a key thing to understand. Why? Because if you think you are just "bad at math" then your challenges will come down to this. "I am just bad at math."

Fortunately that's not the way it works. The way it works is that one can learn to rock any kind of math.

Next, I wonder what your impression of GMAT math comes down to. Maybe you think that somehow you need to learn a bunch of strategies and concepts, and then somehow remember how to apply them. Strategies and concepts are great and all, but really math is about logic and anyone can be logical.

For example, I don't really like the some of the formulas used in combination and permutation problems. That doesn't really matter though, because I just do something logical, and get the answer, without really worrying about the formula.

Obviously often one does not even need a formula or equation to solve a problem. What you really need to see is the logical relationships between the numbers. For example I finally, just the other day, realized that if the absolute value of x is less than 1, then -1 < x < 1. I am not going to memorize that. I can't forget it. It's logical.

So if you can be logical, which you obviously can be, you can learn to rock this math.

So one thing you might start working on is seeing the logic of the problems directly, without the haze of strategies etc. Then work on by using numbers painting a picture of what is going on. Start with anything. Look for logical relationships, and see what you can come up with.

It's going to take practice, but be confident that with practice you can get way better at this.

At least now I hope it's clear that you could have been rocking math all along.

Thanks so much everyone! For your input, help and advice!


Although I am not doing well on Quant, I am still not giving up and will be studying extra hard until March 21.



To answer you question Rich, I will be taking my second CAT this Saturday (as it was scheduled for MGMAT).
And it is not so much about not being able to perform the math. It is more on how to write a problem into a equation to solve. Since the math is basically algebra I&II and geometry. But I will use all of the resources and advice given here to keep on studying and to BEAT THE GMAT!

Hi,

To improve on your quant I would advise you to study one topic at a time and solve all the questions related to it in a one go.Do prepare some notes of the formulas and numbers.Prepare all the topics in this manner.Once completed start solving only the quant section from the GMAT practice tests.Once you are able to score well, start solving the section setting time limits.Practicing this way will definitely pull up your quant score.

Let us know if you need any further guidance.
www.manyagroup.com

I wrote about this sometime ago: https://gmat.crackverbal.com/score-51-in-gmat-quant/

In a nutshell:

A GMAT Q47 scorer will focus on how to solve the question while a GMAT Q51 scorer will focus on how to get the answer.

If you understand this, you will realise that many of the tougher questions on Quant really belongs to those who have a flexible approach to answering questions. I would even recommend you have a quick look at the answer options. Keep a few techniques (some great links provided above) on how you can get the answer if you are not making headway using the conventional approach.

HTH,

Arun