BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

3 weeks out, need general advice for improving in Quant

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 76
Joined: Thu Feb 19, 2009 12:10 pm
Thanked: 3 times
Followed by:2 members

3 weeks out, need general advice for improving in Quant

by Bens4vcobra » Thu Jun 23, 2011 8:01 am
This is a rather open-ended post...

My goal score is a 600 and I have taken 4 GMAT Prep CATs with the best being a 560 (Q31 V37). I am very close to craking 40's in verbal on a consistent basis but I am not improving much in Quant. After analyzing my practice tests, it seems that my problem is getting what I would consider "easy" problems wrong. Too many wrong in fact. The vast majority of the incorrect problems are ones that I should never miss.

So why is this happening? The cause is usually 1 of two 2 things:

1. I am committing careless errors

2. I am not comprehending the question/problem correctly or quickly enough

I have gone through all MGMAT Quant books including the Fundamentals of GMAT Math. I feel that my fundamentals are sound. I understand the concepts. I do practice problem after practice problem on all difficulty levels and usually don't have much trouble. But under simulated testing conditions, I become scatter-brained. After examining the aftermath I am kicking myself for leaving so many points on the table. I believe my 'true' ability lies somewhere in the 70th percentile range (650ish). But that means nothing if you can't demonstrate this on the test.

With 3 weeks out, I need to get it together. I am not expecting to "beat the GMAT" by any means. My goal score is both practicle and very possible for me. But it won't happen if I keep up this pattern of leaving points on the table.

Any thoughts?
"It takes no ability to give effort. Toughness is not God-given; it's a choice. The discipline to execute is a habit." - Nick Saban
Top
Source: — GMAT Strategy |
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 66
Joined: Wed Sep 29, 2010 8:41 am
Location: Washhington, DC
Thanked: 8 times

by jk2010 » Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:08 pm
Bens4vcobra,

Doing well on the "hard" problems in practice won't help you if you mess up the "easier" problems on the GMAT. Take a look at the types of questions you are missing due to careless errors. I found that I frequently messed up fractions with exponents, for example, and usually because of dumb mistakes. The key to success is repetition. My suggestion is to focus on a couple of trouble spots and get them down solid for the next two weeks. Take several days prior to the test off and let everything sink in with some light review of your notes or flash cards.

Best of luck! Let us know how it goes.
Top
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 76
Joined: Thu Feb 19, 2009 12:10 pm
Thanked: 3 times
Followed by:2 members

by Bens4vcobra » Fri Jun 24, 2011 8:29 am
jk2010 wrote:Bens4vcobra,

Doing well on the "hard" problems in practice won't help you if you mess up the "easier" problems on the GMAT. Take a look at the types of questions you are missing due to careless errors. I found that I frequently messed up fractions with exponents, for example, and usually because of dumb mistakes. The key to success is repetition. My suggestion is to focus on a couple of trouble spots and get them down solid for the next two weeks. Take several days prior to the test off and let everything sink in with some light review of your notes or flash cards.

Best of luck! Let us know how it goes.
Looking back, I think the fatal flaw in my prep was not reviewing thoroughly enough. I am just now thoroughly reviewing my practice tests and logging the types of errors I am making. Surprisingly, I have found my fundamentals to be pretty strong (a consequence of using MGMAT I believe). The majority of the errors I make are pure flat out carelessness and not paying attention to detail. That will kill you on this test. My bad Quant habbit is to press myself by jumping into the problem before actually fully reading and comprehending it. I have caught myself begining the solving process before I even finish reading the problem. Then during review, when I'm fully relaxed, I do read the problem and allow it to sink in for a couple of seconds. I then proceed to get the solution rather easily 75% of the time. This sounds ridiculous but we all do crazy things when we're facing live bullets.
"It takes no ability to give effort. Toughness is not God-given; it's a choice. The discipline to execute is a habit." - Nick Saban
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1