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Best Way To Effectively Tackle OG 12?

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Best Way To Effectively Tackle OG 12?

by upkarsgrewal » Thu Dec 30, 2010 1:32 pm
I recently sat the test (28th) and was devastated with a score of 530 (35Q,28V). I was scoring around 560-610 on tests and I realized that if I want to break over that 620 target, I need to start nailing 650+ consistently on tests. I decided to get back to the basics and learn core concepts. I got the whole lot of MGMAT books and am running through them currently. While I do this, I want to go through OG again.

My question concerns completing the OG. I had gone through OG, but not as concisely as I should have. Which is why I am going to try for a second try through the book.

My concern is what is finding the best way to run through the material. Some say do all of each subject first, then move to the next. Others claim 20 questions a day from each subject is a great way. Others say 10 at a time, timed, then go over mistakes and understand. I feel there are so many options. Did anybody go through the book with a system that allowed to to really soak it up? What would be the best approach? I think a lot of us could use the answer to this question. Thanks!
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by Random Wok » Thu Dec 30, 2010 9:43 pm
When I studied, I was did sets of problems, usually 10 or so, before I looked at the answer and explanation. It was just too much of a pain to flip back to the back of the book after every problem.

If you're still learning new concepts, then definitely stick with one subject the whole time. And not just within the overall section, but within a question type. For example, only do SC questions all at once or probability questions. This really helps you solidify the concept in your head.

After you've gone through all the concepts, then it makes sense to do more random practice by throwing random question types in front of you. This is a better simulation of the test and is better used once you get closer to G-Day.
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by upkarsgrewal » Fri Dec 31, 2010 11:20 am
Thanks! Wok, I am going to finish my MGMAT books, then move through the OG's one section at a time. I did that for RC and it worked since my hit rate went up around 30%.
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by David@VeritasPrep » Fri Dec 31, 2010 4:29 pm
Since you have already done some work on the various subjects and should have your strategies down, here are some thoughts on using the Official Guide.

Oh, and in addition to the points below, don't forget that you should try to never write in the OG -12 not only can you sell it later, but more importantly you will be getting better practice for test day when you cannot write on the screen. And as to the computer screen, it can be a good idea to actually have your book propped up vertically (such as with a cookbook stand). I have gotten lots of feedback from my students that having the reading comp or the sentence correction vertical as opposed to horizontal actual feels different.

Anyway, Enjoy!

Practicing using the GMAT Official Guide:

Instead of doing the problems in order from front to back or doing large chunks of problems from a particular area of the book (for example problems 75 - 85) try the following technique instead:

"¢ Begin with a problem from 1 to 10 - say problem number 3. Then follow that same unit's digit throughout the book all the way back, so do problems 3, 13, 23, 33, 43, 53, etc. all the way to the end of the section or until you have completed a certain number of problems.

"¢ This will give you a wider variety of question difficulty during each practice session. It also makes your practice sessions comparable. If you are doing problems from all levels of difficulty each time then you will be able to track your improvement.

"¢ This does not work with reading comprehension! There you will need to pick two or three passages to do. Try to make these passages from different difficulty levels as well as a mixture of the three main categories (natural science, social science, and business).

"¢ You should also consider mixing up the questions as you practice - instead of doing say, 10 critical reasoning followed by 10 sentence correction, do 2 CR, 2 SC, 2 CR, 2 SC and then a RC passage. This is more realistic practice because you cannot settle in to one question type during the test.
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