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one week to go - need strategies for calculation errors

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one week to go - need strategies for calculation errors

by dee123 » Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:24 am
My GMAT exam is in one week today. I have been studying like crazy and am feeling confident about my understanding of the topics and questions, however, I tend to make a lot of calculation errors in the math section. simple things like addition and times tables that make me get the wrong answer even if I did the question correctly. I haven't done math since high school (more than 7 years ago) and I have never ever had an exam where I did not have the use of a calculator, so this is new to me.

do you have any tips or strategies of how I can fix this problem over the next week? do I just need to drill myself on simple addition, and multiplication for 10 hours? or is there something else I can do? (I am taking the 5 days before my exam off of work so that I can really spend a lot of time studying, so if I need to take 10 hours to do something, that's doable).

Thanks!!!!!
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by papgust » Tue Nov 09, 2010 6:10 pm
Applying yourself while doing calculations should really suffice. Do not get distracted by other things around you. I personally don't think that you need calculation drills. But, if that gives you more confidence, then go ahead.
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by David@VeritasPrep » Tue Nov 09, 2010 6:23 pm
Are you currently doing the calculations in your head? If so that may be the problem. If you do not usually do calculations in your head on a regular basis then you should not try to do them that way on the GMAT.

Remember that there are not that many actual calculations to be made on the test. You have to set up equations, ratios, formulas, and know your number properties but there are not really that many calculations. It is worth the time to do these calculations calmly and not in your head.

Missing questions on the GMAT is a fact and not a tragedy, what is a tragedy is missing a question that you know how to do, take the time to set up and then miss after 2-plus minutes do to a calculation error. Or a question that takes you another minute or two to realize just where your error was. Better to take a few extra seconds and make your calculations calmly and on your note board and as Papgust says don't get distracted - focus when calculating.
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by dee123 » Wed Nov 10, 2010 9:34 am
thanks for your help.
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