<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>test taking strategy – GMAT</title> <atom:link href="https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog/tag/test-taking-strategy/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat</link> <description>GMAT Prep Course, Best GMAT Class & Study Books | Manhattan Prep GMAT</description> <lastBuildDate>Thu, 05 Sep 2019 16:05:21 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.2</generator> <item> <title>Avoiding the C-Trap in Data Sufficiency</title> <link>https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog/avoiding-the-c-trap-in-data-sufficiency/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Stacey Koprince]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 16 Apr 2014 17:10:37 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Data Sufficiency]]></category> <category><![CDATA[How to Study]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Quant]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Taking the GMAT]]></category> <category><![CDATA[GMAT]]></category> <category><![CDATA[gmat c trap]]></category> <category><![CDATA[gmat strategies]]></category> <category><![CDATA[gmat strategy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[gmat testing strategy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Graduate Management Admission Test]]></category> <category><![CDATA[test strategy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[test taking strategy]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/?p=7133</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>Have you heard of the C-Trap? I’m not going to tell you what it is yet. Try this problem from GMATPrep® first and see whether you can avoid it * “In a certain year, the difference between Mary’s and Jim’s annual salaries was twice the difference between Mary’s and Kate’s annual salaries. If Mary’s annual […]</p> <p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog/avoiding-the-c-trap-in-data-sufficiency/">Avoiding the C-Trap in Data Sufficiency</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat">GMAT</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-7134" alt="c-trap" src="https://cdn2.manhattanprep.com/gmat/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2014/04/c-trap.png" width="403" height="403" srcset="https://cdn2.manhattanprep.com/gmat/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2014/04/c-trap.png 403w, https://cdn2.manhattanprep.com/gmat/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2014/04/c-trap-150x150.png 150w, https://cdn2.manhattanprep.com/gmat/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2014/04/c-trap-300x300.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 403px) 100vw, 403px" />Have you heard of the C-Trap? I’m not going to tell you what it is yet. Try this problem from GMATPrep® first and see whether you can avoid it</p> <p>* “In a certain year, the difference between Mary’s and Jim’s annual salaries was twice the difference between Mary’s and Kate’s annual salaries. If Mary’s annual salary was the highest of the 3 people, what was the average (arithmetic mean) annual salary of the 3 people that year?</p> <p>“(1) Jim’s annual salary was $30,000 that year.</p> <p>“(2) Kate’s annual salary was $40,000 that year.”</p> <p>I’m going to do something I normally never do at this point in an article: I’m going to tell you the correct answer. I’m not going to type the letter, though, so that your eye won’t inadvertently catch it while you’re still working on the problem. The correct answer is the second of the five data sufficiency answer choices.</p> <p>How did you do? Did you pick that one? Or did you pick the trap answer, the third one?</p> <p>Here’s where the C-Trap gets its name: on some questions, using the two statements together will be sufficient to answer the question. The trap is that using just one statement alone will also get you there—so you can’t pick answer (C), which says that neither statement alone works.</p> <p>In the trickiest C-Traps, the two statements look almost the same (as they do in this problem), and the first one doesn’t work. You’re predisposed, then, to assume that the second statement, which seemingly supplies the “same” kind of information, also won’t work. Therefore, you don’t vet the second statement thoroughly enough before dismissing it—and you’ve just fallen into the trap.</p> <p>How can you dig yourself out? First of all, just because two statements look similar, don’t assume that they either both work or both don’t. The test writers are really good at setting traps, so assume nothing.<br /> <span id="more-7133"></span><br /> Second, imagine that you’re teaching your 10-year-old niece how to do algebra. She’s never done this before but she’s pretty bright. She understands your explanation of what variables are and how they work. She knows that, if you give her an equation with 3 variables, and then give her values for 2 of those variables, she’ll be able to solve for the third one. What answer is she going to pick on the above problem?</p> <p>Hmm. She’d pick (C) also, since that gives her values for two of the three variables in the equation that she can write from the question stem.</p> <p>It’s obvious, in fact, that using the two statements together will allow you to find all three salaries, in which case you can average them. In the test-prep world, this is what’s known as a Too Good To Be True answer. If your 10-year-old niece, who just learned algebra, could get to the same answer, then chances are you’re falling into a trap. Stop, take a deep breath, and scrutinize those statements individually!</p> <p>Here’s how to solve the problem.</p> <p><i>Step 1: Glance Read Jot</i></p> <p>Take a quick glance; what have you got? DS. Story problem: understand the story before writing.</p> <p>The question asks for the average of the three salaries. What do you actually need to know in order to find an average? Right, the sum. So can you find the sum of the three salaries?</p> <p>Jot that on your scrap paper: <i>M</i> + <i>J</i> + <i>K</i> = ?</p> <p><i>Step 2: Reflect Organize</i></p> <p>The first sentence provides an equation, so translate it. (Note that the second sentence says Mary’s salary is the highest.)</p> <p>The positive difference between Mary’s and Jim’s salaries has to be <i>M</i> – <i>J</i>, since <i>M</i> is larger. Likewise, the positive difference between Mary’s and Kate’s salaries has to be <i>M</i> – <i>K</i>, since <i>M</i> is larger.</p> <p>Here’s the translated formula:</p> <p><i>M</i> – <i>J</i> = 2(<i>M</i> – <i>K</i>)</p> <p><i>Step 3: Work</i></p> <p>By itself, that doesn’t look very helpful, but anytime DS gives you a formula that isn’t simplified, simplify it. Multiply out the right-hand side and also get “like” variables together:</p> <p><i>M</i> – <i>J</i> = 2(<i>M</i> – <i>K</i>)</p> <p><i>M</i> – <i>J</i> = 2<i>M</i> – 2<i>K</i></p> <p>– <i>J</i> = <i>M</i> – 2<i>K</i></p> <p>Notice two things: first, negatives are annoying. Second, this formula (so far) doesn’t look anything like the question: <i>M</i> + <i>J</i> + <i>K</i> = ?</p> <p>Is there any way to remedy those two things?</p> <p>Move the –<i>J</i> over: 0 = <i>M</i> – 2<i>K</i> + <i>J</i>.</p> <p>Notice that 2<i>K</i> is never going to fit the question, which has only <i>K</i>. Move that away from the others: 2<i>K</i> = <i>M</i> + <i>J</i>.</p> <p>Interesting. The right-hand side now matches part of the question. In fact, you could substitute:</p> <p><i>M</i> + <i>J</i> + <i>K</i> = ?</p> <p>2<i>K</i> = <i>M</i> + <i>J</i></p> <p>Therefore, the question becomes 2<i>K</i> + <i>K</i> = ?</p> <p>If you know what <i>K</i> is—only <i>K</i>!— then you can solve. (Note: we call this process <i>Rephrasing</i>. Use the information given in the question stem to rephrase the question in a more simplified form.)</p> <p>“(1) Jim’s annual salary was $30,000 that year.”</p> <p><i>J</i> = 30,000. If you plug that into <i>M</i> + <i>J</i> + <i>K</i> = ?, it isn’t sufficient. If you plug that into 2<i>K</i> = <i>M</i> + <i>J</i>, you get 2<i>K</i> = <i>M</i> + 30,000, which still isn’t sufficient. Knowing only <i>J</i> doesn’t get you very far. This statement is not sufficient; eliminate answers (A) and (D).</p> <p>“(2) Kate’s annual salary was $40,000 that year.”</p> <p>Bingo! If you know Kate’s salary, then you know the sum of all three. This statement is sufficient to answer the question.</p> <p>The correct answer is (B).</p> <p>If you don’t rephrase up front, and instead go through all of the work of plugging in the values for statements (1) and (2), then you may still discover the correct answer. You’ll take longer, though. You may also fall into the trap of assuming that statement (2) won’t work because it looks so very similar to statement (1) and that one didn’t work.</p> <p><b>Key Takeaways: Data Sufficiency</b></p> <p>(1) Don’t just write down the information in the question stem, shrug, and go straight to the statements. Push yourself to try to <i>rephrase</i> the question before you go to the statements.</p> <p>(2) Use standard math steps <i>and</i> your test-taker savvy to help you know how to simplify. It’s standard algebra to try to get “like” variables together in equations. A negative sticking out in front of an equation is ugly, so that was clue #2. Finally, you’re ultimately trying to match the information in the question (<i>M</i> + <i>J</i> + <i>K</i> = ?), so try to rearrange your rephrased equation to match the question as much as possible. Then see whether you can substitute in to make that question simpler!</p> <p>(3) Keep an eye out for Too Good to Be True answers. If an answer seems pretty obvious, then there’s a good chance you’re falling into a trap!</p> <p>* GMATPrep® questions courtesy of the Graduate Management Admissions Council. Usage of this question does not imply endorsement by GMAC.</p> <p> </p> <p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog/avoiding-the-c-trap-in-data-sufficiency/">Avoiding the C-Trap in Data Sufficiency</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat">GMAT</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>When is it Time to Guess on Quant?</title> <link>https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog/when-is-it-time-to-guess-on-quant/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dave Mahler]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 24 Mar 2014 18:14:48 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Quant]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Taking the GMAT]]></category> <category><![CDATA[GMAT]]></category> <category><![CDATA[gmat quant strategy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[gmat strategy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[gmat test taking strategies]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Graduate Management Admission Test]]></category> <category><![CDATA[quant]]></category> <category><![CDATA[test strategy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[test taking strategies]]></category> <category><![CDATA[test taking strategy]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/?p=7101</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>So you’ve been told over and over that guessing is an important part of the GMAT. But knowing you’re supposed to guess and knowing when you’re supposed to guess are two very different things. Here are a few guidelines for how to decide when to guess. But first, know that there are two kinds of […]</p> <p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog/when-is-it-time-to-guess-on-quant/">When is it Time to Guess on Quant?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat">GMAT</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-7102" alt="gmat-quant-strategy" src="https://cdn2.manhattanprep.com/gmat/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2014/03/gmat-quant-strategy.png" width="403" height="403" srcset="https://cdn2.manhattanprep.com/gmat/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2014/03/gmat-quant-strategy.png 403w, https://cdn2.manhattanprep.com/gmat/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2014/03/gmat-quant-strategy-150x150.png 150w, https://cdn2.manhattanprep.com/gmat/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2014/03/gmat-quant-strategy-300x300.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 403px) 100vw, 403px" />So you’ve been told over and over that guessing is an important part of the GMAT. But knowing you’re supposed to guess and knowing when you’re supposed to guess are two very different things. Here are a few guidelines for how to decide when to guess.</p> <p>But first, know that there are two kinds of guesses: random guesses and educated guesses. Both have their place on the GMAT. Random guesses are best for the questions that are so tough, that you don’t even know where to get started. Educated guesses, on the other hand, are useful when you’ve made at least some progress, but aren’t going to get all the way to an answer in time.</p> <p>Here are a few different scenarios that should end in a guess.</p> <p><strong>Scenario 1: I’ve read the question twice, and I have no idea what it’s asking.</strong></p> <p>This one is pretty straightforward. Don’t worry about whether the question is objectively easy or difficult. If it’s too hard for you, it’s not worth doing. In fact, it’s so not worth doing that it’s not even worth your time narrowing down answer choices to make an educated guess. In fact, if it’s that difficult, it may even be better for you to get it wrong!</p> <p>To make the most of your random guesses, you should use the same answer choice every time. The difference is slight, but it does up your odds of getting some of these random guess right.</p> <p><strong>Scenario 2: I had a plan, but I hit a wall.</strong></p> <p>Often, when this happens, you haven’t yet spent 2 minutes on the problem. So why guess? Maybe now you have a better plan for how to get to the answer. I know this is hard to hear, but don’t do it! To stay on pace for the entire section, you have to stay disciplined and that means that you only have one chance to get each question right.</p> <p>The good news is that no 1 question you get wrong will kill your score. But, 1 question can really hurt your score if you spend too long on it! Once you realize that your plan didn’t work, it’s time to make an educated guess. You’ve already spent more than a minute on this question (hopefully not more than 2!), and you probably have some sense of which answers are more likely to be right. Take another 15 seconds (no more!) and make your best educated guess.</p> <p><strong>Scenario 3: I got an answer, but it doesn’t match any of the answer choices.</strong></p> <p>This is another painful one, but it’s an almost identical situation to Scenario 2. It means you either made a calculation error somewhere along the way, or you set the problem up incorrectly to begin with. In an untimed setting, both of these problems would have the same solution: go back over your work and find the mistake. On the GMAT, however, that process is too time-consuming. Plus, even once you find your mistake, you still have to redo all the work!</p> <p>Once again, though it might hurt, it’s still in your best interest to let the question go. If you can narrow down the answer choices, great (though don’t spend longer than 15 or 20 seconds doing so). If not, don’t worry about it. Just make a random guess and vow to be more careful on the next one (and all the rest after that!).</p> <p><strong>Scenario 4: I checked my pacing chart and I’m more than 2 minutes behind.</strong></p> <p>Pacing problems are best dealt with early. If you’re more than 2 minutes behind, don’t wait until another 5 questions have passed and you realize you’re 5 minutes behind. At this point, you want to find a question in the next 5 that you can guess randomly on. The quicker you can identify a good candidate to skip, the more time you can make up.</p> <p>This is another scenario where random guessing is best. Educated guessing takes time, and we’re trying to save as much time as possible. Look for questions that take a long time to read, or that deal with topics you’re not as strong in, but most importantly, just make the decision and pick up the time.</p> <p><strong>Wrap Up</strong></p> <p>Remember, this test is not like high school exams; it’s not designed to have every question answered. This test is about consistency on questions you know how to do. Knowing when to get out of a question is one of the most fundamental parts of a good score. The better you are at limiting time spent on really difficult questions, the more time you have to answer questions you know how to do.</p> <p>Plan on taking the GMAT soon? We have the world’s best <a href="//www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/Programs" target="_blank">GMAT prep</a> programs starting all the time. And, be sure to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MGMAT" target="_blank">find us on Facebook</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/116542823700601542205" target="_blank">Google+</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/manhattangmat" target="_blank">follow us on Twitter</a>!</p> <p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog/when-is-it-time-to-guess-on-quant/">When is it Time to Guess on Quant?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat">GMAT</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> </channel> </rss>