The GMAT Myth of Being a “Math Person” Is Harmful
It’s tempting to assume that GMAT math is easy for others, since you don’t see the many steps they’re taking to improve their Quant scores. For instance, you don’t see:
their late nights of studying math concepts and working through practice problems
their Saturdays spent taking practice tests
the dozens of hours they spend with GMAT math tutors
how many times they took the GMAT before earning a top score on the Quant section
the math anxiety they have to overcome
Simply put, you don’t get to see the effort that went into the final product.
Also, sometimes people make the process look easy — we’ve all read the stories online. For some people, taking a few practice tests or studying math for a month leads to a Q90 score. But do you know those people’s histories? Do you know whether their parents emphasized math study, or whether they have math-heavy jobs?
Here’s the truth: you don’t have to be a prodigy or someone who has “always” been skilled at something to learn to be great at it. And, more importantly for our purposes, you don’t have to be a math whiz to excel at GMAT math. Solving GMAT math problems requires advanced analytical reasoning skills but not advanced math skills. Do you know what level of math is on GMAT? The actual math concepts in GMAT questions don’t rise beyond those you covered in high school. Do you need innate talent to master high school math? Or do you simply need to put in the work and have confidence that you can succeed?
Why This Myth Is Harmful
Maybe in high school or college, you did not perform as well in math classes as some of your peers. You might have assumed that their higher math grades and great test scores were the result of “natural” abilities. It’s easy to make these assumptions because they explain the situation and provide a convenient excuse. Those people are simply better at math than you are!
The problem is, if you believe that you’re not a math person, you’re likely to put in less effort when studying or preparing for math tests. On some level, you’ll feel that your situation is hopeless. And if you don’t put in as much effort, even subconsciously, then your performance actually does suffer. As you continue to perform poorly in math, you see confirmation of your beliefs. The pattern repeats, and the story you’ve told yourself becomes reality.
Warmest regards,
Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep
