As I'm working on the quantitative section from the Official GMAT guide 13th edition I find that some of the problems are hard to be done for less than 2 min without using a calculator. Do you have any tips about that? How did you manage to solve the problems without a calulator? Ok I agree that a lot of them don't require a calculator but some of them are really hard to be calculated since they are not simple numbers.
Tips for the Qunantitative section
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Jim@StratusPrep
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Pracice your mental math. Also, you will find that there are ways to simplify the calculations. If you post an example of one you struggled with I will demonstrate.
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Brent@GMATPrepNow
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When it comes to tackling GMAT math questions, one of the best tips I can offer is this: The GMAT test-makers are reasonable people who have little interest in your computational skills.
So, in the vast number of cases, the required calculations are minimal. One of the biggest goals of your preparation should be to learn how to minimize lengthy calculations. An easy way to do this spend time reviewing the responses from the Experts on this site. They model the steps you should be taking when tackling math problems.
Here's a free video explaining this concept in more detail: https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gener ... es?id=1111
I should also mention that, if you're just starting your prep, there's a danger in focusing too much on your timing. In my view, this focus has the potential to actually hinder your preparation. I feel so strongly about the whole timing issue that I wrote two articles about it:
- Making Friends with Time on the GMAT - Part I (https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/06/ ... mat-part-i)
- Making Friends with Time on the GMAT - Part II (https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/07/ ... at-part-ii)
Executive Summary: Content First - Speed Second
I also offer some tips regarding how to speed things up here, in my article, Solving Questions Faster . . . by Slowing Down (https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2012/05/ ... owing-down)
I hope that helps.
Cheers,
Brent
So, in the vast number of cases, the required calculations are minimal. One of the biggest goals of your preparation should be to learn how to minimize lengthy calculations. An easy way to do this spend time reviewing the responses from the Experts on this site. They model the steps you should be taking when tackling math problems.
Here's a free video explaining this concept in more detail: https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gener ... es?id=1111
I should also mention that, if you're just starting your prep, there's a danger in focusing too much on your timing. In my view, this focus has the potential to actually hinder your preparation. I feel so strongly about the whole timing issue that I wrote two articles about it:
- Making Friends with Time on the GMAT - Part I (https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/06/ ... mat-part-i)
- Making Friends with Time on the GMAT - Part II (https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/07/ ... at-part-ii)
Executive Summary: Content First - Speed Second
I also offer some tips regarding how to speed things up here, in my article, Solving Questions Faster . . . by Slowing Down (https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2012/05/ ... owing-down)
I hope that helps.
Cheers,
Brent
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Brent@GMATPrepNow
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Here's an example of one of the many time-saving strategies you should know: https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2013/01/ ... o-percents
Cheers,
Brent
Cheers,
Brent
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brianlange77
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I echo many of Brent's comments -- if you feel that you are getting into a place where you need to do a lot of heavy math... something's not right. The problems 'might' look they require a big heavy-lifting solution, but they don't and you are spot on in that they will cause you to just drain time -- your most valuable (and limited) resource on the exam.
So... here's what I'd say -- take a look at this article, which provides some thoughts about how to 'see' what's really being tested in a variety of GMAT problems.
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -Problems/
Then, as you are going through practice problems, really spend some time going through the recommended solutions. It's one thing if you get a problem right, but the real question at this stage is "Did I do the problem as efficiently as I could have?" If not, don't move on from the problem until you can explain how you'd do it differently, and better, the next time.
Let me know what you think.
-Brian
So... here's what I'd say -- take a look at this article, which provides some thoughts about how to 'see' what's really being tested in a variety of GMAT problems.
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -Problems/
Then, as you are going through practice problems, really spend some time going through the recommended solutions. It's one thing if you get a problem right, but the real question at this stage is "Did I do the problem as efficiently as I could have?" If not, don't move on from the problem until you can explain how you'd do it differently, and better, the next time.
Let me know what you think.
-Brian
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Brian Lange
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Merci, Danke, Grazie, Gracias -- Whichever way you say it, if you found my post helpful, please click on the 'thank' icon in the top right corner of this post.
And I encourage you to click on 'follow' to track all my posts -- all the cool kids are doing it!
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David@VeritasPrep
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I agree with everything said above. I just want to echo something that Brent said - don't worry so much about getting all of the problems within 2 minutes. Even on test day you will have some problems that you do not get done in two minutes.
You can take 3 minutes on some problems and less than 2 minutes on others and some may even be very quick for you. For example, I am quick and accurate on some types of Data Sufficiency questions that may take one minute, while on other questions I may take much longer.
Of those two things "quick" and "accurate" accurate is the more important of the two! Remember, as many experts have discussed in many different discussion threads, getting about 25 correct out of 37 on the Quant section can put you in the 75th 80th even 85th percentile.
Now in addition to all of the discussions about avoiding doing any really crazy sorts of calculations, let me add that when you do have to perform calculations that you should take them seriously and be sure to get the correct results. It is a shame to have the right approach to a question and then mess up the calculations. I certainly agree with Jim that mental math is a skill for the smaller calculations, I also think that there is much to be said for being to do calculations on paper in such a way that you get the right answer!
here is an article that I wrote where I discuss diagnosing the problem and performing the math https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2012/04/ ... at-success
You can take 3 minutes on some problems and less than 2 minutes on others and some may even be very quick for you. For example, I am quick and accurate on some types of Data Sufficiency questions that may take one minute, while on other questions I may take much longer.
Of those two things "quick" and "accurate" accurate is the more important of the two! Remember, as many experts have discussed in many different discussion threads, getting about 25 correct out of 37 on the Quant section can put you in the 75th 80th even 85th percentile.
Now in addition to all of the discussions about avoiding doing any really crazy sorts of calculations, let me add that when you do have to perform calculations that you should take them seriously and be sure to get the correct results. It is a shame to have the right approach to a question and then mess up the calculations. I certainly agree with Jim that mental math is a skill for the smaller calculations, I also think that there is much to be said for being to do calculations on paper in such a way that you get the right answer!
here is an article that I wrote where I discuss diagnosing the problem and performing the math https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2012/04/ ... at-success
Thank you so much for the help all of you were so helpful. I will definetly look into everybody suggestions.
I'm currently going over the OG13 and in the diagnostic test I am stuned by some questions that I think are really hard without a calculator. The questions are:
1. The product of all the prime numbers less than 20 is closest to which of the following powers of 10?
A)10 to the 9
B)10 to the 8
C)10 to the 7
D)10 to the 6
E)10 to the 5
2. If s and t are positive integers such that s/t=64.12, which of the following could be the remainder when s is divided by t?
A)2
B)4
C)8
D)20
E)45
Ok seriously i think these calulations are soooooo hard without a calculator. Can you guys give me some advice how to solve them easily without a calculator?
THis is my biggest problem in this section how to solve those equations without a calculator
And also how to understand the wording in the question.
I'm actually pretty good at math and I understand the solution just sometimes I don't understand the wording in the question cause it is tricky.
I'm currently going over the OG13 and in the diagnostic test I am stuned by some questions that I think are really hard without a calculator. The questions are:
1. The product of all the prime numbers less than 20 is closest to which of the following powers of 10?
A)10 to the 9
B)10 to the 8
C)10 to the 7
D)10 to the 6
E)10 to the 5
2. If s and t are positive integers such that s/t=64.12, which of the following could be the remainder when s is divided by t?
A)2
B)4
C)8
D)20
E)45
Ok seriously i think these calulations are soooooo hard without a calculator. Can you guys give me some advice how to solve them easily without a calculator?
THis is my biggest problem in this section how to solve those equations without a calculator
And also how to understand the wording in the question.
I'm actually pretty good at math and I understand the solution just sometimes I don't understand the wording in the question cause it is tricky.
