Hi All!
So I recently took my first GMAT exam, my Verbal score was in the 90th percentile (without ever having studied for this section) and my essay received a 6.0. I got a 4 in IR, but my Quant left MUCH to be desired. Does anyone else in here who is naturally adept at verbal areas have any tips or stories to share about how they conquered the GMAT Quant section?
Any and all help will be sincerely appreciated!
-Kylie
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GMAT Math Tips for the Verbally-Oriented
This topic has expert replies
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KylieAquino87
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GMAT/MBA Expert
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Brent@GMATPrepNow
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Regardless of your verbal skills, to improve your quantitative score, I believe that you should compartmentalize your learning and take the time to master each topic (e.g., percents, ratios, exponents, statistics, etc.). This means that, for each topic, you should:
1) Learn the underlying concepts (rules, attributes, notation, etc.)
2) Learn GMAT-specific strategies related to that topic
3) Practice dozens of questions all related to that one topic.
4) Don't stop working on that topic until you have mastered it
Then, and only then, move on to the next topic.
To help you focus on one topic at a time, you can use BTG's tagging feature. For example, here are all of the questions tagged as statistics questions: https://www.beatthegmat.com/forums/tags/ ... statistics
See the left side of that linked page for more tag options.
While completing questions from the Official Guide (OG), you should you use an Error Log (aka Improvement Chart). You can find a free downloadable Improvement Chart here: https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/gmat-error-log. This will help you identify and strengthen your weak areas.
You should also spend a lot of time reviewing the responses from the Experts on this site. They model the steps one should take when tackling math problems.
In addition to learning the core concepts and GMAT-specific strategies, be sure to work on your endurance and test-taking skills (e.g., time management) by taking several practice tests. If you're interested, we have a free GMAT time management video at https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gener ... es?id=1244
Finally, you might consider signing up for Beat The GMAT's free 60-Day Study Guide (https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/gmat-guide).
Each day, you'll receive an email with a series of learning activities that guide you, step-by-step, from Day 1 to test day. This will ensure that you will cover everything that the GMAT tests.
Here's an outline of all 60 emails: https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/gmat-guide-outline
Cheers,
Brent
1) Learn the underlying concepts (rules, attributes, notation, etc.)
2) Learn GMAT-specific strategies related to that topic
3) Practice dozens of questions all related to that one topic.
4) Don't stop working on that topic until you have mastered it
Then, and only then, move on to the next topic.
To help you focus on one topic at a time, you can use BTG's tagging feature. For example, here are all of the questions tagged as statistics questions: https://www.beatthegmat.com/forums/tags/ ... statistics
See the left side of that linked page for more tag options.
While completing questions from the Official Guide (OG), you should you use an Error Log (aka Improvement Chart). You can find a free downloadable Improvement Chart here: https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/gmat-error-log. This will help you identify and strengthen your weak areas.
You should also spend a lot of time reviewing the responses from the Experts on this site. They model the steps one should take when tackling math problems.
In addition to learning the core concepts and GMAT-specific strategies, be sure to work on your endurance and test-taking skills (e.g., time management) by taking several practice tests. If you're interested, we have a free GMAT time management video at https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gener ... es?id=1244
Finally, you might consider signing up for Beat The GMAT's free 60-Day Study Guide (https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/gmat-guide).
Each day, you'll receive an email with a series of learning activities that guide you, step-by-step, from Day 1 to test day. This will ensure that you will cover everything that the GMAT tests.
Here's an outline of all 60 emails: https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/gmat-guide-outline
Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
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Matt@VeritasPrep
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One step at a time - start with the fundamentals, then start with easier problems (such as the first few in the PS and DS sections of the Official Guide), then review those, then try some harder ones.
Most of the math questions on the GMAT rely on clever applications of very basic mathematical principles -- definitions and derivations are especially important (what EXACTLY is a factor, how do we know that 2² * 2³ = 2�, why is the formula for an equilateral triangle what it is, etc.) as most tricky GMAT questions hinge on the consequences of those definitions and derivations. To that end, I'd spend most of my time drilling the fundamentals, then begin work.
I'm obviously partial to the Veritas books, but don't take my word for it: check out our Data Sufficiency book for a sense of how we develop students' math skills. (Skillbuilding first, then a Lesson with lots of takeaways, then a number of increasingly challenging exercises.)
Most of the math questions on the GMAT rely on clever applications of very basic mathematical principles -- definitions and derivations are especially important (what EXACTLY is a factor, how do we know that 2² * 2³ = 2�, why is the formula for an equilateral triangle what it is, etc.) as most tricky GMAT questions hinge on the consequences of those definitions and derivations. To that end, I'd spend most of my time drilling the fundamentals, then begin work.
I'm obviously partial to the Veritas books, but don't take my word for it: check out our Data Sufficiency book for a sense of how we develop students' math skills. (Skillbuilding first, then a Lesson with lots of takeaways, then a number of increasingly challenging exercises.)
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KylieAquino87
- Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Sun Sep 29, 2013 11:10 am
Thank you so much to both of you for responding, and I apologize for replying so late! These are excellent tips of which I'll take full advantage. I especially appreciate your tip, Brent, regarding only moving on to another section when I've mastered one. Thank you so much!!!
