First Practice Test Score - 540

[Northwoodsman1993]

I have been studying for about 3 weeks now. I have utilized many free resources such as Veritas Prep's YouTube videos and practice tests. I have definitely been struggling with quant and it shows with my score 46% correct and 66% correct for verbal. My lowest individual scoring area was data sufficiency, which I have probably spent the most time on. Any suggestions on other ways to study for quant section?

[Brent@GMATPrepNow]

My lowest individual scoring area was data sufficiency, which I have probably spent the most time on.

Your situation is very common among people preparing for the GMAT. The truth of the matter is that EVERYONE struggles with Data Sufficiency (DS) questions at first. Keep in mind that this question type is unique to the GMAT, so it's totally foreign territory.

It just takes time for the concepts and strategies to become secondary, at which point you may come to find that DS questions are actually easier than Problem Solving questions.

I could start listing dozens of DS strategies and common mistakes (like confusing the answer to sufficiency question to the answer to the target question), but it's easier to just direct you to our set of 16 videos that cover everything you need to know to tackle DS questions: https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat-data-sufficiency

Cheers,
Brent

[Brent@GMATPrepNow]

Any suggestions on other ways to study for quant section?

To improve your quantitative score, I believe that you should compartmentalize your learning and take the time to master each topic (e.g., percents, ratios, exponents, statistics, etc.). This means that, for each topic, you should:
1) Learn the underlying concepts (rules, attributes, notation, etc.)
2) Learn GMAT-specific strategies related to that topic
3) Practice dozens of questions all related to that one topic.
4) Don't stop working on that topic until you have mastered it

Then, and only then, move on to the next topic.

To help you focus on one topic at a time, you can use BTG's tagging feature. For example, here are all of the questions tagged as statistics questions: https://www.beatthegmat.com/forums/tags/ ... statistics
See the left side of that linked page for more tag options.

While completing questions from the Official Guide (OG), you should you use an Error Log (aka Improvement Chart). You can find a free downloadable Improvement Chart at the top of this page: https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/gmat-error-log
This will help you identify and strengthen your weak areas.

You should also spend a lot of time reviewing the responses from the Experts on this site. They model the steps one should take when tackling math problems.

In addition to learning the core concepts and GMAT-specific strategies, be sure to work on your endurance and test-taking skills (e.g., time management) by taking several practice tests. If you're interested, we have a GMAT time management video at https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gener ... es?id=1244

Finally, you might consider signing up for Beat The GMAT's free 60-Day Study Guide (https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/gmat-guide).
Each day, you'll receive an email with a series of learning activities that guide you, step-by-step, from Day 1 to test day. This will ensure that you will cover everything that the GMAT tests.

Here's an outline of all 60 emails: https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/gmat-guide-outline

Cheers,
Brent

[[email protected]]

Hi Northwoodsman1993,

Many Test Takers find certain aspects of the GMAT to be challenging at first (Data Sufficiency is an area that's "new" to almost everyone, so you're not alone). Many Test Takers spend 3 months (or more) of consistent study time before they hit their 'peak' scores, so it's likely that you just have not put in enough time and effort yet. If you've been using lots of different study materials in such a short period of time, then that might be part of the problem - working through subjects in a random order and trying to integrate advice from multiple sources all at once is in inefficient way to train for the GMAT. Before I can offer you the specific advice that you're looking for, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

Studies:
1) Can you list out the study materials that you have used so far?
2) How have you scored on each of your CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?
3) When you say that you scored 46% on Quant and 66% on Verbal, what is that a reference to (practice Test results - percent correct or Scaled Scores; or some other 'measure' - for example, the Diagnostic Test in the OG)?

Goals:
4) What is your goal score?
5) When are you planning to take the GMAT?
6) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
7) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

[ceilidh.erickson]

Youtube videos and CATs might not be enough to get a solid grounding in the content or in developing sufficient skills. If you're trying to study for this test without spending a ton of money, here's my advice:

Here are the things that you absolutely must budget for:
- a copy of the Official Guide (OG). You can buy used ones online, and it doesn't matter which edition you get.
- the test itself. Don't just set aside $250 to take the GMAT once. Set aside enough money to take it at least twice. Many students don't do as well as they hoped the first time. Take the pressure off by telling yourself you'll take it twice - then if you get the score you want the first time, bonus $250!

Things you need, and that most people purchase, but that have optional workarounds:
- Practice tests (CATs). Most prep companies allow you to take *one* practice test for free, so you could just take one from each company. However, purchasing a bundle from a single company will allow you to run metrics and track patterns in your strengths and weaknesses. Otherwise, you'd have to do this by hand.
- Content explanation. There is a lot of content tested on the GMAT, which is why we publish giant bundles of strategy guides! But - you can certainly assemble (almost all of) this information on your own if you're organized. Use Khan Academy or this forum, and compile your own notes on rules and strategies.

Here are the free resources you should use:
- GMATPrep software from mba.com: https://www.mba.com/us/the-gmat-exam/pre ... tware.aspx
- this forum
- blogs from prep companies. Manhhattan Prep's is full of useful advice on general strategies and specific problem types:

Here's your Study Plan:

1. Review the tests you've taken in depth - right and wrong answers - and compile a list of topics that need work. Create an Error Log to track your mistakes and look for patterns: https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... -studying/

2. Research topics / question types that need work (in strategy guides or online free resources), and take notes.

3. Then find problems in the OG that correspond specifically to that topic. (Search on this forum for problems by topic, or use a tool like Mprep's Navigator). Track your work. Aim to cover 5-10 topics per weeks, alternating btw quant and verbal.

4. Take a practice test every 2 weeks. Review deeply, and track your work.

5. Take 1 test a week for the last 2 weeks. Save the GMATPrep tests for last.

Look through this forum for a more detailed study plan, but that's the basics.


If you're interested, here are the Mprep resources that might be helpful to you:
Blog: https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog/
Free CAT: https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/stor ... tice-test/
Bundle of CATs w/ analytics: https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/stor ... ice-tests/
Free OG tracker (Navigator): https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/stor ... al-guides/
OG tracker full access: https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/stor ... navigator/
How to track your work: https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... -studying/
Other: https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/store/

Here are resources specifically on DS strategy:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/how-do-i-mak ... tml#737862
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog/ ... ncy-works/
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... questions/
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... ncy-traps/
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... est-cases/
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... fficiency/
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... at-part-1/
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... ms-part-1/
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... -part-1-2/
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... fficiency/

Good luck!