gmat1212 wrote:
Everyone tells me that "in order to get a high Quant score you must understand the concepts which underlie the problems tested". I have been through modules on 3 different testing services, and have been doing self study for a year now trying to figure it out. At this point I am beginning to think the "concepts" advice is a bunch of bull@#%^.

Understanding the concepts is important, but it's not the only essential ingredient to getting a solid quant score. To achieve a great quent score, you must:

1) Learn the concepts and techniques tested on the GMAT (e.g., circle properties, divisibility rules, equation-solving, etc.)

2) Master GMAT-specific strategies (e.g., testing the answer choices, rephrasing the target question, etc.)

3) Understand the many different ways the test-makers can test your knowledge of each concept

4) Hone your test-taking skills (e.g., endurance, time management, guessing strategies, etc.)

Many students make the mistake of limiting their preparation to item #1 (and perhaps item #2). So, once they fully grasp a concept and successfully answer 1 or 2 related questions, they move on to the next topic.

The problem with this strategy is that the test-makers can take any concept, no matter how simple, and create dozens of wildly different questions, each requiring a different approach. So, to achieve a great score, you must answer a lot of practice questions specifically-related to each concept tested on the GMAT.

To find tons practice questions related to a certain concept, you can use Beat The GMAT's question-tagging tool (https://www.beatthegmat.com/forums/tags/gmat-math). Alternatively, our free course (https://www.gmatprepnow.com) is arranged so that students can fully explore a certain concept. For example, at the bottom of the video lesson page for inequalities (https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat ... /video/979), you'll find links to dozens of practice questions that test the specific concepts covered in that video. This format lets you fully explore the ins and outs of each concept.

I hope that helps.

Cheers,
Brent

Hi gmat1212,

Since you've now taken the GMAT 3 times, we have a bunch of data that we can take advantage of. As such, I'd like to know a bit more about your Official Exams and your studies so far:

1) How did you score on each of your Official GMATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores; NOT the percentiles)?
2) On what dates did you take those 3 Tests?
3) Did you take them under similar conditions (same Test Center, same day-of-the-week/time, etc.)?
4) How were you scoring on your practice CATs before each of your Official GMATs?
5) When you say that you're "one step" away from correctly answering so many questions, can you define what that one step actually is each time?

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