Focus on quant with 3 weeks to go

[21727]

Right folder this time:

Hi all,

I have prepped using the self-study package for around 2 months and have 3 weeks left until the exam - I have a quick question about how to structure my remaining prep time.

My most recent MGMAT CAT (#3) landed at 700 (Q42/54% ; V42/96%), and I am now wondering specifically how to target my weaknesses in Quant, as Quant is the area I need to focus on. I have done all the problems in the OG13 and have kept an error log.

At this stage, should I just do random timed sets from the OG13 Review books, or should I do only the problems related to my weak areas for a week, take a new CAT, identify new weaknesses, and repeat? Targeting my weaknesses is obviously important, but I am unsure as to how exactly to do that, while still getting a broad review over these last 3 weeks.

Thanks so much in advance!!
Chris

[StaceyKoprince]

Great job on verbal!

For the quant, you do want to target weaknesses, not just review everything. In particular, you want to target the "low hanging fruit" weaknesses:
1. Careless mistakes: you already know how to do these, but maybe your mechanics need some work, or you need to build the habit to write everything down, etc.
2. Holes in your foundation on commonly tested topics. Don't worry about things that aren't that common, such as combinatorics and probability. If you're struggling with exponents & roots, though, then you need to study - those are common. See below for a list of common topics.
3. Correct but too-long answers. If you spent 2.5 to 3.5 minutes, can you learn to do this in under 2.5? If you spent 3.5+ minutes then it would've been better to get it wrong faster. (Seriously! You potentially cost yourself multiple other questions when you spend that long to get just one question right.)

The wrong and too slow ones are NOT a priority to improve. Shrug, get them wrong faster, and use that time elsewhere.

You can still work in a more comprehensive review while you work on the above 3 areas. When you're going to do a problem set, include several problems in areas you've been studying AND several randomly-chosen problems. If you do that frequently, that will constitute a large part of your review - get it right in a reasonable amount of time, great. Get it wrong, take too long, whatever, and then you know you need to review that area and decide whether you need to study, whether you should have got it wrong faster, etc.

If you want to do a more in-depth analysis (and I recommend it), you can use the below to analyze your most recent MGMAT CAT in great detail (this should take you a minimum of 1 hour):
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... ts-part-1/

This will help you to know where to prioritize your studies. Also, feel free to come back here and tell us your analysis and what you think you should do based on that analysis. We'll tell you whether we agree and advise you further. (Note: do share an analysis with us, not just the raw data. Part of getting better is developing your ability to analyze your results - figure out what they mean and what you think you should do about them!)

Finally, read this:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... lly-tests/

And if you're having ANY timing issues (most people are!), read this:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... nt-part-1/