Advice for math major who forgot middle school math tricks

[eMpHIL]

Hi There,

Let me give you a quick background about myself so you can better assist me. I am currently a junior in college and I am majoring in math. I have always been good at the subject and I feel that I have mastered the various concepts+methods+techniques that the GMAT quant section tests at some point or the other within the last 8 years or so. Of course, the kind of math that a student learns at the college level is very different from the middle/high school level and I have forgotten quite a few of these techniques simply due to a lack of practice. I realized that I had forgotten these techniques when I took my first MGMAT CAT a week ago and scored a disappointing 36 on the Quant section. As I reviewed the questions and answers in the answer key following this dismal performance, I realized that I did not lack knowledge of any of the mathematical concepts tested in the GMAT (or at least in that particular test). As I read through the various solutions put forward by the solution key, I understood these methods and approaches perfectly and never did I have to stop and learn how to apply a certain method or find out why the book was adopting the process it adopted for that particular answer. It was one of those moments where you want to slap yourself in the forehead because the solution was so obvious and you couldn't believe you forgot how to solve it. However, the fact is that I did forget how to solve it even though I understand how to apply the method perfectly when reminded of it.

Following this test+review, I decided that the best way to spend my time preparing for the GMAT would be to read through every MGMAT math book and complete them. By complete, I mean read through the entire book and make notes of all the forgotten concepts (flash cards, etc.,), complete the problems at the end of every section and review the solutions and explanations given by the book for both the wrong as well as right answers and finally, complete and review the OG problems in the appendix of the MGMAT books in the same manner as above. I started doing this last week and so far I have completed the Algebra and Number properties books. It has taken me an average of about 6-8 hours to complete each book in the fashion outlined above. I feel that I have done a thorough job of reading and understanding these books and I am about to advance to the next math book.

So here lies my question. For a person who has always been good in math but who has forgotten the concepts learnt in middle school, how do you suggest he study for the GMAT. Do you think I am taking the right approach? Also, I have heard of people taking considerably longer than 5 hours to finish these MGMAT math books. As a result, I keep doubting whether I "properly" understood and completed the book since it only took me about 5-8 hours, even though I followed the "complete" process that I outlined above. Is it common for people who are good at math (math/engineering/comp sci majors) and who just require a revision of the forgotten concepts to finish these books rather quickly? If so, how long would you estimate the total quant preparation time period to be for these folks? My goal is to score about a 740 so I need to increase my quant score from 36 to the 48-50 range. Lastly, after I complete all of the books, what should I do to further work on the quant section (remember that I will have completed all of the OG problems listed on the appendices of these books)?

I do realized that I haven't spoken about my verbal scores yet but I will do that as soon as I figure out how to improve my quants.

Thanks for your help.

[eMpHIL]

bump!

[eMpHIL]

BUMP! Can an instructor please take a look and give me some advice? I would really appreciate it since I am waiting on this reply before I continue with my preparation. Thanks.

[StaceyKoprince]

Please remember to read the forum guidelines before posting. Please don't "bump" your own post. We respond to all posts in order, oldest first, and the date of your post is based on the date of the last post in the thread, not the first. If you bump your own post, you will wait longer for a response - I would have gotten to your post yesterday or the day before if you had not bumped it twice.

Please also note that the forums are a free service, open to the public. Because of the volume of traffic we receive, it is not unusual to wait a week from the date of the last post (sometimes longer) for a response. If you see that older posts (below yours) in the same folder have not yet been answered, then you know that we haven't missed you - we just haven't gotten to your question yet.

Okay, on to your question! I like that you are going through each book carefully and making flashcards for concepts that you need to learn. I wouldn't wait until you are done with a book, though, to start trying OG problems.

At the end of each chapter, try 1-2 lower-to-medium level OG problems. When you finish a book, make yourself a set of 5 or 6 problems, one from each chapter. Mix up the problems so that you don't know ahead of time which topic is which - the real test will mix things up, too.

After you finish two books, start including a couple of problems from the previous book(s) when you make yourself a new end-of-book OG problem set. This will help you to review previous topics.

Do NOT do all of the OG problems in this way. Save some for future practice.

You can look here for more info on how to create OG problem sets:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... blem-sets/

Next, this is REALLY important. What you're doing right now is what we call the first level of GMAT study: learning all the basic rules, formulas, and concepts. You are also, though, going to have to kick things up to the second level of GMAT study: how to apply this stuff to GMAT-format questions.

Read this: https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... lly-tests/

In fact, read that every day for the next week or two, until you've fully internalized it. How you study and how you take the test are completely driven by the mindset discussed in that article.

Next, read this:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -the-gmat/

You're going to use that when reviewing your OG questions - a process that takes a long time. If you're spending less than 5 minutes reviewing an OG question (after you've finished doing it), then you're not learning what you could be learning. Doing questions does not equal learning. Stop plowing through the questions and learn how to learn. :)

If you have a math / science / engineering background, then you will probably take less time than average for the first level. At the second level, though, you may take more time than average. A lot of people who have the technical background will continue to try to take the quant section as though it is a math test. (It's really not. You'll learn why when you read the above articles.)

If you can get the right mindset going early, though, then you'll find the second level of learning easier! (Not easy. But easier.)