Level of Difficulty Grading in the OG

Expert replies

adigmat2013: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 14; Joined: Sun Jul 28, 2013 5:36 am

by adigmat2013 » Thu Aug 01, 2013 11:47 am

Hello,

Can anyone advise how can I find out the level of difficulty (i.e. 500-600 or 600-700 etc) of each question in OG, so that I know which difficulty banding I am struggling with?

Regards
Adi

Like this post

Source: Beat The GMAT — Problem Solving | Thu Aug 01, 2013 11:47 am

GMAT/MBA Expert

Brent@GMATPrepNow: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 16207; Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pmFollowed by: 1268 members; Location: Vancouver, BC; Thanked: 5254 times; GMAT Score:770

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Thu Aug 01, 2013 5:15 pm

The questions in the Official Guide are arranged in ascending order of difficulty. It's hard to say exactly which questions are 500-600, 600-700 etc.

If you want to know where you stand, I suggest that you take an official practice test: https://www.mba.com/the-gmat/download-fr ... tware.aspx

Cheers,
Brent

Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com

Like this post

GMAT/MBA Expert

[email protected]: Elite Legendary Member; Posts: 10392; Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:38 pmFollowed by: 511 members; Location: Palo Alto, CA; Thanked: 2867 times; GMAT Score:800

by [email protected] » Thu Aug 01, 2013 5:29 pm

Hi adigmat2013,

You'll probably find it more useful to figure out if there is a particular category of Quant or Verbal that you're having trouble with, as opposed to a particular level or question.

Once you're comfortable with all the content, then focus on fixing any "silly" mistakes that you're making (and consider your pacing).

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Contact Rich at [email protected]

Like this post

adigmat2013: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 14; Joined: Sun Jul 28, 2013 5:36 am

by adigmat2013 » Fri Aug 02, 2013 6:19 am

Thank you.

My GMAT exam had to be preponed unfortunately and I am now left with 20 days less than my initial study plan. I am not intending to practice any questions above the 700+ difficulty level from the OG as I am now aiming a score of 650-700. I am often getting stuck with questions in the OG and wondering whether these are 700+ difficulty (for e.g. in the data sufficiency section, questions after No. 120, page 285 onwards). If anyone can give me a sense whether these are 700+, then I will skip these questions and only practise the ones before them.

Any help is appreciated. (exam on 13 August 2013)

Like this post

GMAT/MBA Expert

Brent@GMATPrepNow: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 16207; Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pmFollowed by: 1268 members; Location: Vancouver, BC; Thanked: 5254 times; GMAT Score:770

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Fri Aug 02, 2013 7:22 am

If your target score is in the 650-700 range, you should still be looking at 700+ level questions. The truth of the matter is that there isn't a huge difference between a 680-level question and a 730-level question. Also keep in mind that different test-takers have different strengths and weaknesses, so the difficulty rankings do not apply to everyone.

Also, if you're scoring in the 650-700 range, and then correctly answer a few questions in a row, you'll start seeing 700+ level questions. So, you might as well practice with them. If your target score were in the 500-600 range, I'd suggest that you skip the 700-level questions. But, with your target score, you should practice all difficult questions.

Cheers,
Brent

Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com

Like this post

GMAT/MBA Expert

lunarpower: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 3380; Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:20 amFollowed by: 1535 members; Thanked: 2256 times; GMAT Score:800

by lunarpower » Tue Aug 06, 2013 12:50 am

adigmat2013 wrote:Hello,

Can anyone advise how can I find out the level of difficulty (i.e. 500-600 or 600-700 etc) of each question in OG, so that I know which difficulty banding I am struggling with?

Regards
Adi

don't do this to yourself. just try to solve the problems. if you get defeated, shrug your shoulders and move on to the next problem.

there's clearly some gradient to the "difficulty" of the OG problems, but let's not fool ourselves here -- no one really knows for sure.
... apparently not even GMAC themselves, in some cases. (there are some math problems that appear in the first 1/3 of the OG13 chapter, even though they were in the last 10% in OG12).

i wrote about this here:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/quadrilatera ... tml#686611

Ron has been teaching various standardized tests for 20 years.

--

Pueden hacerle preguntas a Ron en castellano
Potete chiedere domande a Ron in italiano
On peut poser des questions Ã Ron en franÃ§ais
Voit esittÃ¤Ã¤ kysymyksiÃ¤ Ron:lle myÃ¶s suomeksi

--

Quand on se sent bien dans un vÃªtement, tout peut arriver. Un bon vÃªtement, c'est un passeport pour le bonheur.

Yves Saint-Laurent

--

Learn more about ron

Like this post

Post new topic Post Reply

• Page 1 of 1

GMAT Course Reviews

559 reviews

1168 reviews

431 reviews

359 reviews

147 reviews

5/5

5 Star (560 Reviews)

"Target Test Prep is the closest to the official version of the GMAT exam, about 99% accuracy in terms of the quality and quantity of information. The course has excellently created singular sets of focused lessons and tests for every possible topic that one could come across in the official GMAT exam."

"The TTP course maximizes the efficiency of the time you spend studying. It will take time and effort but I could almost guarantee that if you complete the course exactly as it is laid out you will get an amazing score. They also have a very responsive team willing to help with any questions you might have."

"TTP has two things that I think no other test prep company offers: A teaching approach that reinforces understanding and an attitude that will give you the mental preparedness needed to succeed on the test. TTP gives you a deep understanding of the concept you need to know while teaching you how to think."

Write a Review