Opinion regarding Quant Section

This topic has expert replies
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 19
Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2011 6:53 am

Opinion regarding Quant Section

by gmat-challenger » Mon Mar 28, 2011 10:40 am
The math part of the GMAT has always been my stronger part. Although I scored 710 on my last 2 manhattan CATs I am a little worried from what I have seen from the results. I mean on the OG Quant Review I hardly made any mistakes on any of the questions. While on the MGMAT CATs I made like 14 mistakes on the Quant section (even though my score was like 86%). There were 3-4 questions I had to make an estimated guess (not because of lack of time but because I knew it would take me forever to solve completely. I am pretty happy with a score of 710 but I know I can do so much better on the Quant. I also think that the MGMAT quant questions are much wordier so this bumps me out at times :)

What is ur opinion guys? Is this normal and is the MGMAT much more difficult than real GMAT is or I should focus and practice more?

P.S. Any good source for inequalities and absolute values.
Source: — GMAT Strategy |

User avatar
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 22
Joined: Tue Mar 08, 2011 7:36 pm
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Thanked: 1 times

by Spike142 » Tue Mar 29, 2011 6:01 pm
710 is a great score! Making those estimated guesses is just fine. I fact I have read before that it is completely normal to do so on test day. You are simply limited with the amount of time you can spend on each question and you need to move on. I too am facing a similar issue with the OG Review, I just keep drilling if you have the finances go ahead and buy the BTG problems they are great and will for sure help expand your armory.

Also try GMATPrep this is the best pre-test software out there. All the questions in this software are from retired previous GMAT tests. Its time you as well probably the closest thing to taking the test at home.

good luck
If your going to make the conscious decision to something, then you gotta either do it or not do it - it's as simple as that - Travis Rice

Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 19
Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2011 6:53 am

by gmat-challenger » Wed Mar 30, 2011 12:38 am
Thanks for the support Spike! I have already taken the GMATprep and scored 710 but I had less mistakes - 9 vs. 14 on the MGMAT. And I was able to complete all the questions without having to guess! I didn't feel in a hurry at any time. Some people are saying math in the MGMAT is easier than the real thing and some people are saying it's the same. I consider OG and GMATprep quant questions a bit easier than MGMAT. I have the test on the 14 of April, and from next Monday I am starting a 10-day period of one CAT per day. Hopefully, I can perfect my style and strategy.

Good luck with ur exam! I am sure we'll beat the GMAT!

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 509
Joined: Wed Apr 21, 2010 1:08 pm
Location: Irvine, CA
Thanked: 199 times
Followed by:85 members
GMAT Score:750

by tpr-becky » Thu Mar 31, 2011 9:06 am
sounds like you are ready to go - if you got the same score on the GMATprep as you did on the MGMAT then I say both are representative. Don't worry about the nubmer wrong - that can change with each CAT test depending on where in the test you missed the questions.

Best of Luck.
Becky
Master GMAT Instructor
The Princeton Review
Irvine, CA

User avatar
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 22
Joined: Tue Mar 08, 2011 7:36 pm
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Thanked: 1 times

by Spike142 » Thu Mar 31, 2011 1:19 pm
Some information I found on here that might help you: You can actually do CAT's too often. This makes sense think about from an economic stand point with; the law of diminishing returns, or from a statistical point of view with; the law of very large numbers. If you were continuously do a CAT everyday your out come will differ less and less thus bringing you closer to your average.

This theory seems to me to be a double edged sword. If you continuously do the same group of CAT test everyday then you are simply getting used to the problems that these CAT tests have to offer, thus going into the test when you see that the test has thrown you a curve ball and you do not recognize the question due the over reliability of the previous CAT tests you could end up missing it. On the other hand this could be helpful to you in the opposite way I have just explained. If you are drilling yourself on each question and recognizing the question type, rather than the question itself then you are doing yourself some real good practicing. Always work out the problem that way you will know how to do it on the real test.

So it depends on how you approach each practice test. I would personally always keep reviewing what you have learned read through your notes and books, then also take your CAT test that way you are always covering subjects from different angles, allowing your brain to expand and have more useful knowledge when it come to taking the Exam.

Good luck I am sure you will do just fine!
If your going to make the conscious decision to something, then you gotta either do it or not do it - it's as simple as that - Travis Rice