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Group Study Methods

by uwhusky » Sat Jul 24, 2010 8:04 pm
Hello Stacey,

There's a small group of us that are studying GMAT together, and we are hoping you can evaluate our study plan for Sentence Correction. The plan we have right now is to look at every SC question in the OG and each person take turn to identify all the grammar errors in 20 seconds or less, and the group fills in the gap if there's any, and then the next person work on the next answer and so forth.

Do you think this is a worthwhile exercise to learn to be comfortable with attacking GMAT's SC questions, or do you think there's a better approach such as looking at the entire question as a whole.

Please also keep in mind that we understand the optimal strategy on test day, but we feel that by learning to spot as many error as possible for each answer, we will have better understanding of making the splits.

We're also interested in develop group studying strategies for other aspects of GMAT, and would also like to hear your inputs as well.

Thank you!

uwhusky
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by Stacey Koprince » Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:18 am
Received a PM asking me to respond.

You have already posted this somewhere else - either on BTG or the MGMAT forums. I answered it in that other post already, so let's keep the discussion going there! :)

Err... wait. I know I discussed some things with you, but did I just tell you some things already via PM?

I can't remember! Ok, I'll post more here, just in case.
Please note: I do not use the Private Messaging system! I will not see any PMs that you send to me!!

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by Stacey Koprince » Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:29 am
First, studying in a group is a GREAT idea.

When getting together, you should all be prepared to discuss any problem in the set - make yourself do the hard work to be fully prepared before you get there. As you'll find, you learn a LOT more when you think that you have to teach the problem to someone else.

I would suggest doing it this way:

1) Identify all of the *differences* in the answer choices.
2) For each difference, try to identify what rule you would need to discuss in order to determine what to do with that difference.
3) For each difference, determine whether there is actually an error. (Sometimes, there are differences but all of the variations are correct. Just because there's a difference doesn't mean there's an error!)
4) If there is an error, try to identify what the error is and what the correct representation is.
5) Explain why the error is an error - well enough that your fellow students can understand your explanation. (Note: the fewer words you need to use to give a really good explanation, the better. That means you really understand whatever's going on.)

Before you start doing the above, you can do one of several things:
- set a timer and have each person try the problem (separately)
- identify a set of problems in advance and each person tries them before getting together with the group
- sometimes (but not always), don't do the problem ahead of time, and cover up the original sentence. See how much of the above you can do without even reading the original sentence. (Note: sometimes you will still be able to get to the one right answer, but a lot of the time you won't.)

At any point along any of the steps, when you hit something that's problematic for you, make a note. Do whatever needs to be done to fix that problem - go back to your study guides, talk with your friends, make flash cards or add something to your error log, etc. (Some of this you might do immediately - such as ask your friends - and some you might wait to do until you're alone.)

Finally, yes, as you point out, this is not exactly how you'll be going through questions on test day. But this is exactly the kind of thing that will help you learn to get better and faster. Let me know how it goes!
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by Stacey Koprince » Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:37 am
If you want to do the same kind of thing for other question types:

For the others, do generally try the problems on your own first, before the group meets.

For quant, there are almost always multiple ways to do a problem. Poll the entire group to determine the various approaches and then present each different solution method (different person for each method). Brainstorm whether there are any others - perhaps you can combine parts of two approaches from two different people.

What are the common mistakes someone might make on that problem? (What mistakes DID members of the group make?) What can you do to avoid making each kind of mistake? (Not just be aware of it, though that is part of it. What very specific habits can you make or break that will help you avoid making that kind of mistake? Your friends might have some ideas.)

How did or how would you make an educated guess on that problem? Poll the group for whatever people did do; then brainstorm.

For CR, have someone summarize the type (eg, weaken; draw a conclusion; etc)
- what are we supposed to do on this type of question?
- what characteristic(s) should the right answer have? what characteristic(s) should the wrong answers have?

Then, have someone summarize the specific argument: conclusion? premises? counter-premises? major assumptions?

Then, have someone explain WHY the four wrong answers are wrong and WHY the right answer is right.

Also discuss WHY someone would pick each of the four wrong answers and WHY someone would eliminate the right answer.

For RC, have someone sumamrize the type of question (eg, main idea, inference, etc)
- what are we supposed to do on this type of question?
- what characteristic(s) should the right answer have? what characteristic(s) should the wrong answers have?

Then, have someone summarize the passage: The Point? The main message of each paragraph (no more than one sentence)? Any big changes in direction or surprises?

Then, have someone explain WHY the four wrong answers are wrong and WHY the right answer is right.

Also discuss WHY someone would pick each of the four wrong answers and WHY someone would eliminate the right answer.
Please note: I do not use the Private Messaging system! I will not see any PMs that you send to me!!

Stacey Koprince
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Director of Online Community
Manhattan GMAT

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