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Quant Help Needed

by 30 more points? » Fri Aug 07, 2009 6:33 pm
Hi All -

I was wondering if someone could give me some advice. I need some serious quant help.

My practice test scores are:
Kaplan Diagnostic – 560
Kaplan Diagnostic retake - 660 (Q36 - V43) (55% - 97%)
Kaplan CAT 1 – 680 (Q44 - V42) (70% - 95%)
Kaplan CAT 2 – 680 (Q40 - V49) (59% - 99%)
Kaplan CAT 3 – 610 (Q40 - V33) (59% - 66%)
(I was really tired when I took CAT 3)
Kaplan CAT 4 – 640 (Q38 - V44) (53% - 97%)
Kaplan Ultimate Practice Test – 660 (I only know percentiles - Q 59% V 99%)
My Kaplan scores are from premium online CATs, not from a CD.

My goal is 710+

I am a recovering attorney, looking to make a career change. There was a time when I was strong in math. I am clearly out of practice.

So far, I have been using the Kaplan material to relearn the math.

Instead of taking more practice tests, my current plan is to carefully work through the quant questions in OG12 (I have worked through and reviewed about 150 OG12 quant questions and explanations since my last test and am starting to feel a bit better; however, it feels like I still have a long way to go). I have the OG Quant and Verbal Supplements but thought I should finish OG12 before opening them. I have lots of time to work on this and would like to take the test as soon as possible.

I feel like I should be able to improve my quant score enough to get to my 710+ goal, but I am not sure how to proceed.

1) Am I correct that quant is what I should focus on from here?
2) How should I approach quant?
3) How should I keep up the verbal score?
4) How long will it take to get ready for the test?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I have been really impressed with Stacey Koprince. Stacey if you have a free moment, I would love the input.

Many thanks to all!
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by Blues » Sat Aug 08, 2009 6:36 pm
You and I are in a very similar place - just getting started with high V scores and pretty uninspiring Q scores. Your Q scores are higher than mine, but we're essentially in the same place. I've been studying for three weeks now, and my Q score has bounced between 37 and 39.

I've been working primarily through OG12. I also have the Princeton Review book, but the questions are just poorly constructed. Sometimes it feels like they are trying to be witty, something that I've yet to see in an official question.

If you figure out a study/learning technique that works for you, please share. I could certainly use the help.
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Same

by EMAN » Tue Aug 11, 2009 10:08 am
I hear you. I just started yesterday and got totally smoked on the quant diagnostic despite working in Corporate Finance / Accounting and have progressed partially through with the CFA program. I need a serious refresher on that. I am going with the OG12 quant guide in addition to the main one as well as the Manhattan version which I will order soon.
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by VP_Jim » Tue Aug 11, 2009 2:07 pm
You mention that you looked at the OG explanations. This raised a red flag for me, because in my opinion, most of those explanations are NOT the best way to solve the problems. There is almost always some sort of trick/shortcut to doing GMAT problems. When I was studying for quant, I spent virtually all of my time looking for those tricks and shortcuts for every single OG problem. I rarely agreed with the book as to my "ideal" way to solve. I feel that this is where I gained the most points in quant. If you're solid in math fundamentals (i.e., doing mental math, setting up equations, etc.), then you need to adapt those skills to the GMAT by dissecting OG problems.

As for studying verbal, it sounds to me like you're all set. Maybe do a handful of problems each day just to keep fresh, but I'd spend 90% of my time on quant if I were you.

As for how long it will take to get ready for the test, no one knows. You might have a breakthrough tomorrow and starting scoring 750s. Or, you might have that breakthrough in six months. I usually tell my students to plan on two months of solid studying (about 15-20 hours per week) for maximum benefit without overkill. At some point you definitely start to get diminishing returns and burn out, so be careful.

Good luck!
Jim S. | GMAT Instructor | Veritas Prep
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Quant Tricks

by EMAN » Tue Aug 11, 2009 6:43 pm
What books or method is useful for finding these 'tricks' if the OG is not that effective in your opinion? Thanks.
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by Stacey Koprince » Fri Aug 14, 2009 9:00 am
Received a PM asking me to respond. Agree with Jim - OG shows a correct way to answer the quant problems, of course, but it is often not the best way. But, then, they're not in the business of helping you to get better at taking the test. :)

You say you've been using the Kaplan material to relearn - does that mean the practice tests themselves, or does that mean you have books that teach you the actual quant concepts, formulas, rules, etc, that you need to know for the test? If you don't have such books, you need them, so start asking around, go to a bookstore to browse, identify sources that you like, and start using them. You'll need stuff that covers: number properties, exponents and roots, fractions, decimals, percents, word translation / word problems, statistics, algebra, geometry, inequalities and other stuff.

There are basically two levels to your study: knowing the actual content (as above) and knowing the best way to go about solving (what Jim was talking about). The actual content has to be there and typically has to come first - if you don't have that foundation, it's tough to execute well on the problems. So if you're still struggling with the content, start there.

The approaches, techniques, shortcuts, etc - that is, how to apply the math concepts to GMAT-format questions - will partially come from a test-prep company and partially come from you. The test-prep stuff can be in the form of books, or a class, or a tutor - whatever you think works best for you. You will then need to take that material and use it as a jumping-off point to dig in and find additional shortcuts, adapt techniques to your style / strengths / weaknesses, and even develop some new techniques yourself. (You can also use forums like BTG for ideas / discussions!)

And, yes, quant is where you should be spending the bulk of your time, though I also agree with Jim that you should do verbal occasionally to keep your skills up.

Also, if we assume you're in the mid-600s right now, and your goal is 710, then you're certainly looking at 6 weeks at least and possibly 10 to 12 - obviously, it will depend upon how much time you put in, the quality of that time, and the intangibles - as Jim noted, progress is rarely linear, so you'll have jumps along the way, and the size and timing of those jumps are different for everybody.
Please note: I do not use the Private Messaging system! I will not see any PMs that you send to me!!

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by zuleron » Fri Aug 14, 2009 9:28 am
I am also an attorney in career change mode. I took the GMAT in April with arrogance and minimal prep and got 660. I too thought my math was ok... after all it is high school level math... BUT GMAT math is VERY tricky... you NEED to have a very very strong fundamental knowledge about certain topics in math if you are to do well.

SO... If you have time, first build up your fundamentals. I CAN'T stress this enough. Stuff like why x^2 = 25 means x is either +5 or -5 but √25 only means +5. Or why with absolute values you have to do two operations: one assuming the expression is -ve and one assuming it is +ve. And then there is wierd/cool stuff that you will never have heard of....... like why x^3 - x is ALWAYS divisible by 6.

You are an attorney so RC and CR should not be a problem. But I DEFINITELY suggest that you work really hard on Sentence Correction.... that is a lair of red herrings that can KILL ur score.

But as the experts said you should focus mostly on Quant. First get your fundamentals really really really strong. If there are holes in your fundamentals, there is little chance you will score above 700.

So if you are going for self-study, then get books that will teach you the fundamentals well. I have not used Kaplan so I can't comment on them. I am using Manhattan GMAT prep books and for me it is golden! Veritas also has an excellent reputation. Go thru the books, learn the fundamentals, and then go thru OG (Stacey and VP_Jim are right... the OG explanatons are sh*te!) Then take GMAT Prep 1 from mba.com and fix what you need to fix and one week before G-day, take GMAT Prep 2.

The books I'd suggest are Manhattan GMATs 1) Number Properties, 2) Equations, Inequalites and VICs, 3) Word Translations, 4 Sentence Correction.

This is a possible plan you might want to follow:

1) Take a practice test and analyse what went wrong and what went right.

2) Then you buy the books from MGMAT that will teach you what knowledge you are lacking. Do their In action problem sets. No matter what, you MUST buy MGMAT's Sentence Correction.

3) Then you make notes from these books.

4) Then you make flashcards from the notes you make.

5) Then you go through OG12 from start to finish and get your timing on questions down pat.

6) Then take GMAT Prep 1. I bet you will be scoring in the high 600s if not low 700s.

7) Then analyse GMAT Prep 1 and update your flashcards accordingly.

8) Repeat 6) and 7) as many times as you need.

9) Look at your flashcards everyday.

10) Do a few more MGMATs to see how close you are to your target score and to get used to taking the test under stresfull conditions. Remember MGMAT tests are harder.

11) Analyse errors from these tests and update flashcards.

12) Look at flashcards everyday.

13) One week before G-Day do GMAT Prep 2. You will probably be where you want to be.

14) CRUSH the GMAT!

15) Party!


Hope this helps!
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