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GMAT Quant: The Problem with Pattern-Matching

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Manhattan Prep GMAT Blog - GMAT Quant: The Problem with Pattern-Matching by James Brock

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“Can we do another problem like that?” It’s one of the most common requests I get in both class and tutoring sessions. It’s a perfectly good request and a necessary part of studying, but I always chuckle a little as I ask in return, “What exactly is like that?” After all, it could be that it involves exponents like the previous problem or that it has a C trap like the previous problem or that it requires testing cases—or all of the above!

Sometimes the desire to practice more problems “like that” can stem from a deeper misconception about the best way to succeed in GMAT Quant, and that deeper misconception goes to our fundamental approach to most math problems. For most people, when they see a GMAT Quant problem, their first question is, “What have I seen before that looks like this…and how did I do that one?” That’s what I call “pattern-matching”—and there are some problems with it.

You might be shocked right now, because you’re thinking that that’s exactly how you do math and, in fact, that’s exactly how you’ve always done math. And for some people, it works well enough, even well enough to hit their target score on the GMAT. It just depends how good you are at holding a whole bunch of patterns in your head and how flexible you are at applying them to new problems. However, for most of us, there’s a better way, especially if you want to maximize your GMAT Quant score improvement.

What are the problems with pattern-matching on GMAT Quant?

  1. There are a lot of patterns. There is a pretty big chunk of Quant content (quantent) on the GMAT and a number of different ways to test each content area.
  2. The test writers can mix and match in new ways. You could straight-up memorize every problem in the Official Guide and still see questions on test day that look totally unfamiliar.
  3. Under pressure, it’s easy to make mistakes. Even if the patterns all make sense during practice, in the pressure-filled environment of the test, it’s easy to apply the wrong pattern to a particular GMAT Quant problem and make mistakes in doing so.

So, what’s the better approach?

The better approach is to combine a solid content foundation with a flexible process.

First, the flexible process. Instead of asking “What have I seen like this before?”, you can ask “Do I understand the story the problem is telling?”, and if the answer is yes, “What’s the best plan to approach this?” Most strategies and plans can be boiled down to 1) Algebra 2) Throwing Numbers 3) Language/Logic or 4) Pictures/Diagrams. So you can use that four-fold framework to decide whether you have a plan for this particular GMAT Quant problem, and if not, take your guess and move on! That flexible process gives you a single approach that you can use for pretty much any Problem Solving question.

Second, the solid content foundation. As you review questions, focus on trying to understand the content underneath the question more than just the mechanics of getting it right. Ask yourself if you really understand why you are taking each step, not just following the pattern of “this is how you do this kind of problem.” Trying multiple approaches as you review each question not only gives you more tools on test day, but also gives you a better understanding of the underlying content.

If you approach each GMAT Quant problem with the mindset of flexible process and solid content foundation, you can see your Quant score start to improve and not get thrown off when you run into unfamiliar questions. Happy studying! ?

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James Brock is a Manhattan Prep instructor based in Virginia Beach, VA. He holds a B.A. in mathematics and a Master of Divinity from Covenant Seminary. James has taught and tutored everything from calculus to chess, and his 780 GMAT score allows him to share his love of teaching and standardized tests with MPrep students. You can check out James’s upcoming GMAT courses here.