My story goes like this.. I have been preparing for GMAT since July 2010. In my first attempt on September 1, I scored 580 (Q 45, V 25, 5.0).. My scores before the exam are as follows..
660 (Q 45 V 35): MGMAT CAT 3 (2 days before the test)
640 (Q 43 V 34): MGMAT CAT 2 (4 days before the test)
670 (Q 48 V 33): MGMAt CAT 1 (5 days before the test)
GMAT Prep 1 (attempt 1): 600 (2 months before the test)
GMAT Prep 2 (attempt 1): 600 (one week after GMAT prep 1)
GMAT Prep 1 (attempt 2): 690 (3 weeks before the test)
GMAT Prep 2 (attempt 2): 590 (10 days before the test)
Probably Prep 2 (att 2) was the indicator but I was expecting somewhere around 630-650 seeing my MGMAT CAT scores..
So, came back disappointed and had a break for 10-15 days. Hit the books again and repeated all the problems from OG 10 to start off and then Kaplan Premier. Was more strict on the error logs and made a thorough review of basics and errors.
Tested myself with ScoreTop Sets (21-30) and was getting around 80% right in Q and 70% in V. Thought I could improve a lot on SC as the rules are strict and I did so. CR was always my strong point since beginning and that was the case in Sets too. RC was around 50-60 %.
I changed the strategy after my first attempt at GMAT to allot more time in the beginning as I was just guessing the answer after 3 minutes/question.
So decided to reinstall GMAT Prep thinking the database might update with new questions, but it didn't. However, my scores were very good..
GMAT Prep 2 (attempt 1*): 680 (Q 48, V 33): 3 weeks ago - This test was harder if you see my last score on Prep 2. Around 13 questions in verbal were repeated.
GMAT Prep 1 (attempt 1*): 710 (Q 48, V 39): 2 weeks ago - This was a bit easier when compared to my last attempt at Prep 1. Around 15 questions in verbal were repeated.
In the last 4 days, I took 2 MGMAT CATs successively . My scores are
MGMAT CAT 4: 650 (Q 46 V 33). 90% in SC were right. Surprisingly CR was the biggest blow (9 wrong out of 14 in total of 17 mistakes).
MGMAT CAT 5: 650 (Q 46 V 33). SC was on par as before except for 3 consecutive mistakes at the end due to time pressure. So, I should say silly mistakes. CR was again a blow.
Previously I use to get 80 % right in CR but it dipped to 40% in MGMAT CATs. I use to get around 70% right in LSAT CR too...
I guess my mind was a bit tired by the time I reached verbal in both the recent CATs as I was taking AWAs too unlike before. When I looked at the solutions, I was surprised to know that the CR Qs I went wrong were tricky and subtle where one or two words played a key role in determining the answer. I didn't catch them during the test. But thought the answers were straight forward when I diagnosed the solutions. Still CR performance was not acceptable.
Anyways I was expecting around 700 in MGMAT CATs. I was planning to take the test in this week but I'm not sure with these scores. I have an important university deadline coming up this November 30. So, I request someone to guide me on how I should proceed further. The earlier I take the test the better but I don't want shell out $250 and get around "650" for all the preparation I went through in the last two months. I have exhausted all my test resources. My strongholds are ditching me just before the the test. I need some serious help guys!!
GMAT Forum
- gurucharan.kodali
- Students
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 7:12 pm
- StaceyKoprince
- ManhattanGMAT Staff
- Posts: 9361
- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 9:05 am
- Location: Montreal
Re: Help needed in regards to my GMAT preparation
I'm sorry you're having a tough time with the test.
Notice how you took 3 practice tests in the 5 days before the real test, and notice how your best score of the three was the 1st one? DON'T take practice tests that close to the real test! All you're doing is tiring yourself out. That's like running a practice marathon 2 days before the real marathon - there's not enough time to learn anything or get better, and you're exhausted when the real marathon day rolls around.
Second, your quant scores are maintaining, but your verbal scores are dropping on the real test. Ah, and I think I found the major reason why. You said later on that you were not writing the essays on those tests. So, on the real test, when you started the verbal section, you were used to the test being almost over at that point. For most of your verbal section on the real test, you were already done on your practice tests. You already weren't adequately prepared for the necessary stamina, PLUS you tired yourself out even more in the few days before the test.
This is a bad idea. There is no question on the test on which you should spend 3m, whether you're guessing or not. And the earlier questions are not worth any more than the later ones - that's a myth.
You also mention that you had 13 to 15 repeated questions on your re-takes of GMATPrep. With that many repeated questions, your score is inflated, unfortunately. You can't take those scores as an indication of what might happen on the real test.
Okay, so where to start? First, you mention timing only once in passing, but the way that you talk about it leads me to believe that you might have some timing problems that we need to fix. I need more data from you though.
Conduct the analysis described in the below article and then come back here to post. Use your most recent MGMAT test. If you deviated from official conditions (including essays) in ANY way, include that info in your post.
http://www.manhattangmat.com/articles/e ... -part1.cfm
Next, I again don't know for sure, but from the way you talk about working through your problems (including taking so many practice tests in a short period of time), and from your comment that you have "exhausted" your materials, I am also guessing that you were focused too much on the quantity of study at the expense of the quality of your study.
For example, CAT exams are really good for (a) figuring out where you're scoring right now, (b) practicing stamina, and (c) analyzing your strengths and weaknesses. The actual act of just taking the exam is NOT so useful for improving. It's what you do with the test results / between tests that helps you to improve.
Probably about 80% of what you learn comes from reviewing and analyzing practice probelms and your work on those problems after you have already tried them for the first time. Only about 20% comes from doing new problems in the first place.
Read this article; it explains what I'm talking about in much more detail:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/articles/a ... roblem.cfm
And here are three more articles analyzing specific verbal questions based upon the above model (start with the above article first, then look at the below):
http://www.manhattangmat.com/articles/GMATprep-SC.cfm
http://www.manhattangmat.com/articles/CR-assumption.cfm
http://www.manhattangmat.com/articles/a ... estion.cfm
That's the kind of study that you need to be doing if you want to hit 700+ on this test. You haven't exhausted your materials if you haven't been doing that kind of analysis on your problems. (Tip: for verbal especially, use official problems as much as possible.)
I'll also give you one more article right now, in case you do have timing problems:
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2009/12/ ... management
That will give you a start and I'll talk more about timing in my next post if you come back and tell me that you do have timing issues. (Again, I need the detail from your analysis of your practice test - from that first article I posted above.)
Notice how you took 3 practice tests in the 5 days before the real test, and notice how your best score of the three was the 1st one? DON'T take practice tests that close to the real test! All you're doing is tiring yourself out. That's like running a practice marathon 2 days before the real marathon - there's not enough time to learn anything or get better, and you're exhausted when the real marathon day rolls around.
Second, your quant scores are maintaining, but your verbal scores are dropping on the real test. Ah, and I think I found the major reason why. You said later on that you were not writing the essays on those tests. So, on the real test, when you started the verbal section, you were used to the test being almost over at that point. For most of your verbal section on the real test, you were already done on your practice tests. You already weren't adequately prepared for the necessary stamina, PLUS you tired yourself out even more in the few days before the test.
I changed the strategy after my first attempt at GMAT to allot more time in the beginning as I was just guessing the answer after 3 minutes/question.
This is a bad idea. There is no question on the test on which you should spend 3m, whether you're guessing or not. And the earlier questions are not worth any more than the later ones - that's a myth.
You also mention that you had 13 to 15 repeated questions on your re-takes of GMATPrep. With that many repeated questions, your score is inflated, unfortunately. You can't take those scores as an indication of what might happen on the real test.
Okay, so where to start? First, you mention timing only once in passing, but the way that you talk about it leads me to believe that you might have some timing problems that we need to fix. I need more data from you though.
Conduct the analysis described in the below article and then come back here to post. Use your most recent MGMAT test. If you deviated from official conditions (including essays) in ANY way, include that info in your post.
http://www.manhattangmat.com/articles/e ... -part1.cfm
Next, I again don't know for sure, but from the way you talk about working through your problems (including taking so many practice tests in a short period of time), and from your comment that you have "exhausted" your materials, I am also guessing that you were focused too much on the quantity of study at the expense of the quality of your study.
For example, CAT exams are really good for (a) figuring out where you're scoring right now, (b) practicing stamina, and (c) analyzing your strengths and weaknesses. The actual act of just taking the exam is NOT so useful for improving. It's what you do with the test results / between tests that helps you to improve.
Probably about 80% of what you learn comes from reviewing and analyzing practice probelms and your work on those problems after you have already tried them for the first time. Only about 20% comes from doing new problems in the first place.
Read this article; it explains what I'm talking about in much more detail:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/articles/a ... roblem.cfm
And here are three more articles analyzing specific verbal questions based upon the above model (start with the above article first, then look at the below):
http://www.manhattangmat.com/articles/GMATprep-SC.cfm
http://www.manhattangmat.com/articles/CR-assumption.cfm
http://www.manhattangmat.com/articles/a ... estion.cfm
That's the kind of study that you need to be doing if you want to hit 700+ on this test. You haven't exhausted your materials if you haven't been doing that kind of analysis on your problems. (Tip: for verbal especially, use official problems as much as possible.)
I'll also give you one more article right now, in case you do have timing problems:
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2009/12/ ... management
That will give you a start and I'll talk more about timing in my next post if you come back and tell me that you do have timing issues. (Again, I need the detail from your analysis of your practice test - from that first article I posted above.)
Stacey Koprince
Instructor
Director, Content & Curriculum
ManhattanPrep
Instructor
Director, Content & Curriculum
ManhattanPrep
- gurucharan.kodali
- Students
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 7:12 pm
Re: Help needed in regards to my GMAT preparation
I'm sorry to say this but I'm seeing this post only 15 days after my second attempt. I scored 630 (Q 46, V 31, 5.0). I was expecting around 650. So pretty near I guess!!
I took the 3 remaining MGMAT CATs in the week before my actual test date. I relaxed myself completely one day before the actual exam. The CAT scores are as follows.. All are practiced with essays.
CAT 4 (Q 46, V 33): 650 - 5 days before the test
CAT 5 (Q 46, V 33): 650 - 3 days before the test
CAT 6 (Q 45, V 34): 650 - 2 days before the test
I was scoring 710 in the GMAT prep tests though 13-15 questions were repeated..
As I said before I've exhausted all my resources but seeing your post I would reevaluate all my past materials in a different way. But in one of the articles that you sent me, you suggested reviewing a practice test. So, should I take another test now and review it or review the old ones as I have already finished all my MGMAT CATs?
Yes timing has been my issue. Most of the time, I commit more mistakes in the first 10 and the last ten questions. Worse, the last 5 questions where at least 2 or 3 would be wrong. The middle 15 and 20 questions are my best regardless of the question type. I can send you the reports from my MGMAT CATs.
The other big problem I have is that my mistakes are inconsistent. One day I do one section very well and the other day it's a disaster. I understood that most of the time it's in my head but how to prepare myself to do the best on the D-Day remains a mystery!!
One more issue I have is that I'm not learning much from my past mistakes. I maintained an error log but somehow I don't review it much except once in a while. I'm also unable to relate my mistakes to similar problems in the past as I have done lots of problems but my moto behind doing lots of problems is to practice more and more.
I kindly request you to guide me over the next two months so that I can break 700. I know I have the potential to do so but somehow I'm missing it. Please help me!! I need to know which material to start with and how to go about achieving my target. I appreciate your work a lot.
I took the 3 remaining MGMAT CATs in the week before my actual test date. I relaxed myself completely one day before the actual exam. The CAT scores are as follows.. All are practiced with essays.
CAT 4 (Q 46, V 33): 650 - 5 days before the test
CAT 5 (Q 46, V 33): 650 - 3 days before the test
CAT 6 (Q 45, V 34): 650 - 2 days before the test
I was scoring 710 in the GMAT prep tests though 13-15 questions were repeated..
As I said before I've exhausted all my resources but seeing your post I would reevaluate all my past materials in a different way. But in one of the articles that you sent me, you suggested reviewing a practice test. So, should I take another test now and review it or review the old ones as I have already finished all my MGMAT CATs?
Yes timing has been my issue. Most of the time, I commit more mistakes in the first 10 and the last ten questions. Worse, the last 5 questions where at least 2 or 3 would be wrong. The middle 15 and 20 questions are my best regardless of the question type. I can send you the reports from my MGMAT CATs.
The other big problem I have is that my mistakes are inconsistent. One day I do one section very well and the other day it's a disaster. I understood that most of the time it's in my head but how to prepare myself to do the best on the D-Day remains a mystery!!
One more issue I have is that I'm not learning much from my past mistakes. I maintained an error log but somehow I don't review it much except once in a while. I'm also unable to relate my mistakes to similar problems in the past as I have done lots of problems but my moto behind doing lots of problems is to practice more and more.
I kindly request you to guide me over the next two months so that I can break 700. I know I have the potential to do so but somehow I'm missing it. Please help me!! I need to know which material to start with and how to go about achieving my target. I appreciate your work a lot.
- StaceyKoprince
- ManhattanGMAT Staff
- Posts: 9361
- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 9:05 am
- Location: Montreal
Re: Help needed in regards to my GMAT preparation
To start, I think it's okay to review your most recent practice test and use that to develop several weeks' worth of study ideas. Then go ahead and do that studying and, when you feel you've made significant progress, you can try another test.
Don't do that. :) Part of your problem is that you need to learn how to analyze the data for yourself - that's what that article can help you to do. After you do the analysis, come here and post what you discovered and we'll help you to figure out what to do. Don't post the data; post your analysis (with the article's help) of the data.
Because you've taken 6 MGMAT CATs now, you may not want to thoroughly analyze the CAT questions - you will start to see repeats on future CATs. Instead, analyze OG and GMATPrep questions really thoroughly, and then you won't remember as much when you do take another MGMAT CAT.
If you do see repeats, follow these guidelines to minimize the chance of artificially inflating your score. First, anytime you see a problem that you remember (and this means: I know the answer or I'm pretty sure I remember the answer, not just "hmm, this looks vaguely familiar..."), immediately look at the timer and make yourself sit there for the full length of time for that question type. This way, you don't artificially give yourself more time than you should have. Second, think about whether you got this problem right the last time. If you did, get it right again this time. If you didn't, get it wrong again. If you *completely honestly* think that you would get it right this time around if it were a new question (even though you got it wrong last time) because you've studied that area and improved, then get it right this time.
No, stop, don't keep doing this! You don't learn much when doing problems. Most of what you learn is from reviewing and analyzing problems. Go look at those "how to analyze" articles that I linked in my last post; they'll get you started. And stop doing so many practice tests - it's a waste of time to take a test more than once a week!
Use the "how to analyze" articles to thoroughly analyze problems you have already done. Do that for at least a week before you even think about doing more new problems. :) (Note to others reading this: you don't automatically have to analyze for a week before doing new problems; ideally, you're analyzing all along from the start. But if you are in a similar situation - you've done tons and tons of problems but haven't analyzed them much or at all - then start analyzing what you've done recently before you try to do more new stuff.)
Try this article to help you learn how to minimize your careless errors:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/articles/error-log.cfm
It does involve keeping an error log, but it also involves taking actions with respect to what's in your log - that's the next step you need to take.
I can send you the reports from my MGMAT CATs.
Don't do that. :) Part of your problem is that you need to learn how to analyze the data for yourself - that's what that article can help you to do. After you do the analysis, come here and post what you discovered and we'll help you to figure out what to do. Don't post the data; post your analysis (with the article's help) of the data.
Because you've taken 6 MGMAT CATs now, you may not want to thoroughly analyze the CAT questions - you will start to see repeats on future CATs. Instead, analyze OG and GMATPrep questions really thoroughly, and then you won't remember as much when you do take another MGMAT CAT.
If you do see repeats, follow these guidelines to minimize the chance of artificially inflating your score. First, anytime you see a problem that you remember (and this means: I know the answer or I'm pretty sure I remember the answer, not just "hmm, this looks vaguely familiar..."), immediately look at the timer and make yourself sit there for the full length of time for that question type. This way, you don't artificially give yourself more time than you should have. Second, think about whether you got this problem right the last time. If you did, get it right again this time. If you didn't, get it wrong again. If you *completely honestly* think that you would get it right this time around if it were a new question (even though you got it wrong last time) because you've studied that area and improved, then get it right this time.
my moto behind doing lots of problems is to practice more and more.
No, stop, don't keep doing this! You don't learn much when doing problems. Most of what you learn is from reviewing and analyzing problems. Go look at those "how to analyze" articles that I linked in my last post; they'll get you started. And stop doing so many practice tests - it's a waste of time to take a test more than once a week!
Use the "how to analyze" articles to thoroughly analyze problems you have already done. Do that for at least a week before you even think about doing more new problems. :) (Note to others reading this: you don't automatically have to analyze for a week before doing new problems; ideally, you're analyzing all along from the start. But if you are in a similar situation - you've done tons and tons of problems but haven't analyzed them much or at all - then start analyzing what you've done recently before you try to do more new stuff.)
Try this article to help you learn how to minimize your careless errors:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/articles/error-log.cfm
It does involve keeping an error log, but it also involves taking actions with respect to what's in your log - that's the next step you need to take.
Stacey Koprince
Instructor
Director, Content & Curriculum
ManhattanPrep
Instructor
Director, Content & Curriculum
ManhattanPrep
- gurucharan.kodali
- Students
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 7:12 pm
Re: Help needed in regards to my GMAT preparation
I have taken MGMAT CAT 1A (repetition after the 1st 6 tests). I scored 690 (Q 45, V 38). I'm presently analyzing according to the given guidelines. I have few questions regarding the analysis.
Firstly, while taking the test I could identify quite a few questions from the past tests but was able to remember the answers for only a few (1-4). I approached the ones I identified as any other question. So is the score inflated? I didn't take the essays too. So probably the score was inflated by 20-30 points.
I'm trying to put as many points as I can in the analysis but I feel its getting too long to shortlist areas for improvement. With the help of article 1 in analyzing a test, I figured time in the middle of a section played a role in my score.
However, when I moved to article 2, which guides in analyzing section by section or question by question by means of five 'buckets', the analysis is getting complicated. There are hardly more than 3 questions in each sub-category and its getting tough to divide based on average time and percentage right. The first reason is sometimes the average times vary for right and wrong answers. The second reason is that since there are fewer questions in each sub-category, dividing into > 50 % or < 50 % is tougher too. So, I'm confused in selecting a right bucket. How should I go about this issue?
I prepared a word document of my analysis. How can I send it to you? I figured its taking lot of time for analyzing each question though its productive. Is there any better way to find out problematic areas?
Firstly, while taking the test I could identify quite a few questions from the past tests but was able to remember the answers for only a few (1-4). I approached the ones I identified as any other question. So is the score inflated? I didn't take the essays too. So probably the score was inflated by 20-30 points.
I'm trying to put as many points as I can in the analysis but I feel its getting too long to shortlist areas for improvement. With the help of article 1 in analyzing a test, I figured time in the middle of a section played a role in my score.
However, when I moved to article 2, which guides in analyzing section by section or question by question by means of five 'buckets', the analysis is getting complicated. There are hardly more than 3 questions in each sub-category and its getting tough to divide based on average time and percentage right. The first reason is sometimes the average times vary for right and wrong answers. The second reason is that since there are fewer questions in each sub-category, dividing into > 50 % or < 50 % is tougher too. So, I'm confused in selecting a right bucket. How should I go about this issue?
I prepared a word document of my analysis. How can I send it to you? I figured its taking lot of time for analyzing each question though its productive. Is there any better way to find out problematic areas?
- gurucharan.kodali
- Students
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 7:12 pm
Re: Help needed in regards to my GMAT preparation
Here is my analysis part 1 (time factor).. Analysis part 2 is on basis of each question (turned out to be 4 pages for both Quant and verbal).. I'm having little troubling breaking this data into a smaller form so that I can work on those troublesome areas. Can you help me go further from here.
- Score 690 (Q 45, V 38)
- Didn’t take the essays.
- I could recollect the answers for 4 V questions and 1 Q question that are repeated. For the remaining questions that repeated (around 50-60%), I had to work through like an unknown question.
- I didn’t use the pause button but my concentration wasn’t 100% as there were few disturbances/noises at home. So had to mentally remind myself to concentrate more whenever I was stuck on a question.
1. Time Analysis
Quant
a. Q 16 - 19 were all wrong. I took 13 minutes for these 4 questions. All are 700+ difficulty questions. Q 15 took more than 5 minutes but selected the right option. So probably Q 15 had an effect on these 4 errors.
b. Finished the last 10 (7 Wrong) questions in 4’ 25". Reason is lack of time/more time spent earlier in the section.
c. I spent too much time (3+) on 6 (5 PS - 2 wrong, 1 DS - 1 wrong) questions.
d. The total time taken for these 6 (3 wrong) too slow questions is around 27 minutes (24 for PS, 3 for DS).
e. No specific patterns for these 6 questions.
f. I had 1 too fast (< 1minute, no wrong 700+ questions (6) included) question.
Verbal
a. No strings of more than 4 errors continuously. Although, had 3 errors, which included 2 RC questions.
b. Finished the last 10 (5 Wrong) questions in 4’ 35". Reason is lack of time/more time spent earlier in the section.
c. I spent too much time (3+’ for CR, 2+’ for SC, and 5+’ for 1st Qs, 2.5+’ for subsequent Qs) on 9 (5 CR - 2 wrong, 3 SC - 1 wrong, and 1 RC - 1 wrong) questions.
d. Total time taken for these 9 (4 wrong) questions is 36 minutes (18 for CR, 11 for SC, 6’ 30" for RC respectively).
e. In the 5 CR "˜too long’ questions, 2 were Assumption based. In the 3 SC questions, Verbs is the common sub-testing point apart from different main testing points.
f. I had 1 too fast (< 30-50 seconds, no wrong 700+ questions (2) included) question.
2. Assessment by question type, average timing and difficulty
- PS, CR - 5 questions took too much time, which affected other sections.
- RC - 50 % right with average difficulty 685 and worked too fast.
- Rest of the sections are above 50% and 700.
- PS - Too much average time for right answers.
- SC - Too much average time for wrong answers.
- Too much discrepancy in average time for right vs. wrong answers in Word translations (50 % right), number properties (14 %) and FDPs (57%).
3. Assessment by sub-category
Quant
1. Strengths (>50% + right time) - Basic equations, Inequalities, Polygons, Triangles and Diagonals, Circles and Cylinders, Algebraic translations, Exponents and roots, and FDP Connections.
2. Possible Weaknesses (<50% + right time) - Odds and evens, Divisibility and Primes, Quadratic equations, Exponential Equations, Percents, and Coordinate plane.
3. Careless (<50% + Too fast) - Variable in choices, Non-standard word problems, Consecutive integers, Fractions, and Decimals.
4. Weaknesses (>50% + Too slow) - Probability, Combinatorics, and Statistics.
5. Biggest Weaknesses (<50% + Too slow) - Overlapping sets, Ratios, and Positives and Negatives.
Verbal
1. Strengths - Strengthen, Explain, Subject-Verb, Parallelism, Inference, and Quantity Expressions.
2. Possible Weaknesses - Weakening, Evaluate, Concision, Clarity of Meaning, Idioms, Specific detail, and Connecting Punctuation.
3. Careless - None
4. Weaknesses - Conclusion, Mimic the argument, Main Idea, and Analyze argument/Bold Face, and Comparisons.
5. Biggest Weaknesses - Assumption, Modifiers, and Verbs.
- Score 690 (Q 45, V 38)
- Didn’t take the essays.
- I could recollect the answers for 4 V questions and 1 Q question that are repeated. For the remaining questions that repeated (around 50-60%), I had to work through like an unknown question.
- I didn’t use the pause button but my concentration wasn’t 100% as there were few disturbances/noises at home. So had to mentally remind myself to concentrate more whenever I was stuck on a question.
1. Time Analysis
Quant
a. Q 16 - 19 were all wrong. I took 13 minutes for these 4 questions. All are 700+ difficulty questions. Q 15 took more than 5 minutes but selected the right option. So probably Q 15 had an effect on these 4 errors.
b. Finished the last 10 (7 Wrong) questions in 4’ 25". Reason is lack of time/more time spent earlier in the section.
c. I spent too much time (3+) on 6 (5 PS - 2 wrong, 1 DS - 1 wrong) questions.
d. The total time taken for these 6 (3 wrong) too slow questions is around 27 minutes (24 for PS, 3 for DS).
e. No specific patterns for these 6 questions.
f. I had 1 too fast (< 1minute, no wrong 700+ questions (6) included) question.
Verbal
a. No strings of more than 4 errors continuously. Although, had 3 errors, which included 2 RC questions.
b. Finished the last 10 (5 Wrong) questions in 4’ 35". Reason is lack of time/more time spent earlier in the section.
c. I spent too much time (3+’ for CR, 2+’ for SC, and 5+’ for 1st Qs, 2.5+’ for subsequent Qs) on 9 (5 CR - 2 wrong, 3 SC - 1 wrong, and 1 RC - 1 wrong) questions.
d. Total time taken for these 9 (4 wrong) questions is 36 minutes (18 for CR, 11 for SC, 6’ 30" for RC respectively).
e. In the 5 CR "˜too long’ questions, 2 were Assumption based. In the 3 SC questions, Verbs is the common sub-testing point apart from different main testing points.
f. I had 1 too fast (< 30-50 seconds, no wrong 700+ questions (2) included) question.
2. Assessment by question type, average timing and difficulty
- PS, CR - 5 questions took too much time, which affected other sections.
- RC - 50 % right with average difficulty 685 and worked too fast.
- Rest of the sections are above 50% and 700.
- PS - Too much average time for right answers.
- SC - Too much average time for wrong answers.
- Too much discrepancy in average time for right vs. wrong answers in Word translations (50 % right), number properties (14 %) and FDPs (57%).
3. Assessment by sub-category
Quant
1. Strengths (>50% + right time) - Basic equations, Inequalities, Polygons, Triangles and Diagonals, Circles and Cylinders, Algebraic translations, Exponents and roots, and FDP Connections.
2. Possible Weaknesses (<50% + right time) - Odds and evens, Divisibility and Primes, Quadratic equations, Exponential Equations, Percents, and Coordinate plane.
3. Careless (<50% + Too fast) - Variable in choices, Non-standard word problems, Consecutive integers, Fractions, and Decimals.
4. Weaknesses (>50% + Too slow) - Probability, Combinatorics, and Statistics.
5. Biggest Weaknesses (<50% + Too slow) - Overlapping sets, Ratios, and Positives and Negatives.
Verbal
1. Strengths - Strengthen, Explain, Subject-Verb, Parallelism, Inference, and Quantity Expressions.
2. Possible Weaknesses - Weakening, Evaluate, Concision, Clarity of Meaning, Idioms, Specific detail, and Connecting Punctuation.
3. Careless - None
4. Weaknesses - Conclusion, Mimic the argument, Main Idea, and Analyze argument/Bold Face, and Comparisons.
5. Biggest Weaknesses - Assumption, Modifiers, and Verbs.
- StaceyKoprince
- ManhattanGMAT Staff
- Posts: 9361
- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 9:05 am
- Location: Montreal
Re: Help needed in regards to my GMAT preparation
Responding to the first of your last two posts.
If you recognize the questions, you can do things to minimize inflation. First, you have to spend the full normal time on that question - literally look at the clock and take the full average time. Did you do that? If not, then you'll often work more quickly than you would have if you were seeing the question for the first time, so that gives you a time advantage. If it happens a lot, that's a major time advantage. The other thing you need to do is make sure that you don't just automatically answer correctly all the ones for which you remember the answer. If you got it wrong last time, get it wrong again this time.
For most people, skipping the essays also leads to an inflated score.
In terms of how much these two things inflated your score, there's no way to tell unfortunately. It could be just 20 or 30 points; it could be substantially more. That's why it's so important to follow the guidelines, so that you don't have to guess about that.
It looks like you posted the analysis again after you asked your other questions in the 1st of the 2 posts, so I'll go there now. (And just so you know for future, you can't actually send us documents for review. That would be the kind of thing you could do with a tutor, but not on the forums.)
Okay, let me go take a look at your next post!
If you recognize the questions, you can do things to minimize inflation. First, you have to spend the full normal time on that question - literally look at the clock and take the full average time. Did you do that? If not, then you'll often work more quickly than you would have if you were seeing the question for the first time, so that gives you a time advantage. If it happens a lot, that's a major time advantage. The other thing you need to do is make sure that you don't just automatically answer correctly all the ones for which you remember the answer. If you got it wrong last time, get it wrong again this time.
For most people, skipping the essays also leads to an inflated score.
In terms of how much these two things inflated your score, there's no way to tell unfortunately. It could be just 20 or 30 points; it could be substantially more. That's why it's so important to follow the guidelines, so that you don't have to guess about that.
It looks like you posted the analysis again after you asked your other questions in the 1st of the 2 posts, so I'll go there now. (And just so you know for future, you can't actually send us documents for review. That would be the kind of thing you could do with a tutor, but not on the forums.)
Okay, let me go take a look at your next post!
Stacey Koprince
Instructor
Director, Content & Curriculum
ManhattanPrep
Instructor
Director, Content & Curriculum
ManhattanPrep
- StaceyKoprince
- ManhattanGMAT Staff
- Posts: 9361
- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 9:05 am
- Location: Montreal
Re: Help needed in regards to my GMAT preparation
Your data is great! Your next step is to start with certain areas and dive into the problems themselves, using that "how to analyze a problem" article that I linked to above.
Start with areas 2, 3, and 4. For area 5, your first goal is to learn how to get them wrong faster - that's all. For area 1, you can push yourself to more advanced materials, but your main priority first should be areas 2, 3, 4.
Delete the last 5 words in that sentence. It DOES NOT MATTER that you got it right. I would much rather that you had gotten it wrong in 2 minutes. When you blow 3 extra minutes on one question, that's most likely going to affect you on 3 to 6 questions later in the section - because you'll try to do a bunch of questions 30 to 60 seconds faster, not just one or two questions in 5 seconds.
Also, just FYI - since I wrote that article, I've changed my parameters a little. I count any questions under 1m15s as way too fast, unless it was a really hard problem and you moved on quickly because you knew that you didn't know how to do it.
Finally, you did have a bunch on which you went way too fast even though they were 700+. Did you go too fast because you KNEW that you didn't know how to do them? If so, that's okay. Or did you go way too fast because you had to - it sounds like this was the case? If you ever get a question wrong because you were having to rush due to spending too much time elsewhere, count that question in the "missed opportunities" category.
Your quant data shows that you're tending to get sucked into PS problems and you're sacrificing DS as a result. In addition, look for other kinds of similarities on the "too long" problems - do they tend to be long, wordy paragraph kind of problems? Theory problems where you either have to understand the concepts or test a bunch of numbers? Something else?
You are having timing issues, so go take a look at that timing article I linked to before and look at the end of this post for more on timing.
Now, in terms of the sub-categories where you had only 1 question, yes, we obviously can't draw a general trend from that. Dive into the problem itself. Why did whatever happened happen? That too fast and wrong problem - did you know how to do it but just were running out of time? Try it again under normal timing conditions - maybe you're okay with that one. That too slow and wrong problem - what slowed you down? At what point should you have abandoned the problem? How could you have made a guess? What about those too slow and right problems - what slowed you down there? Can you learn how to do the problem in a reasonable amount of time? Or should you really have abandoned that one too?
Finally, I think you would also benefit from this timing exercise for quant: learning about how long one minute is without looking at a watch or stopwatch. If you don't have one already, buy yourself a stopwatch with lap timing capability. When you go to do a set of problems, start the stopwatch but turn it over so you can't see the time. Every time you think you're one minute into a new problem, push the lap button. When you're done with that problem, push the lap button again, then repeat the process for the next problem. When you're done with the set, see how good you were - and whether you tend to over or underestimate. Get yourself to the point where you're within 15 seconds either way on a regular basis (that is, you can generally predict between 45 sec and 1min 15 sec). Also check your timing for the entire question, of course.
Now, how do you use that when doing problems? If you're not on track by one minute, make an educated guess** and move on. (The general idea is that if you're not on track by the halfway mark, you're unlikely to figure out what's holding you back AND have time to do the whole problem in the 1 min you have left.)
** This also requires you to know HOW to make an educated guess depending upon the type of problem and the content being tested. So that's something else to add to your study: how to make educated guesses on different kinds of problems. Here are a couple of articles on that:
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2010/07/ ... s-on-quant
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2010/08/ ... -on-verbal
Start with areas 2, 3, and 4. For area 5, your first goal is to learn how to get them wrong faster - that's all. For area 1, you can push yourself to more advanced materials, but your main priority first should be areas 2, 3, 4.
Q 15 took more than 5 minutes but selected the right option.
Delete the last 5 words in that sentence. It DOES NOT MATTER that you got it right. I would much rather that you had gotten it wrong in 2 minutes. When you blow 3 extra minutes on one question, that's most likely going to affect you on 3 to 6 questions later in the section - because you'll try to do a bunch of questions 30 to 60 seconds faster, not just one or two questions in 5 seconds.
Also, just FYI - since I wrote that article, I've changed my parameters a little. I count any questions under 1m15s as way too fast, unless it was a really hard problem and you moved on quickly because you knew that you didn't know how to do it.
Finally, you did have a bunch on which you went way too fast even though they were 700+. Did you go too fast because you KNEW that you didn't know how to do them? If so, that's okay. Or did you go way too fast because you had to - it sounds like this was the case? If you ever get a question wrong because you were having to rush due to spending too much time elsewhere, count that question in the "missed opportunities" category.
Your quant data shows that you're tending to get sucked into PS problems and you're sacrificing DS as a result. In addition, look for other kinds of similarities on the "too long" problems - do they tend to be long, wordy paragraph kind of problems? Theory problems where you either have to understand the concepts or test a bunch of numbers? Something else?
You are having timing issues, so go take a look at that timing article I linked to before and look at the end of this post for more on timing.
Now, in terms of the sub-categories where you had only 1 question, yes, we obviously can't draw a general trend from that. Dive into the problem itself. Why did whatever happened happen? That too fast and wrong problem - did you know how to do it but just were running out of time? Try it again under normal timing conditions - maybe you're okay with that one. That too slow and wrong problem - what slowed you down? At what point should you have abandoned the problem? How could you have made a guess? What about those too slow and right problems - what slowed you down there? Can you learn how to do the problem in a reasonable amount of time? Or should you really have abandoned that one too?
Finally, I think you would also benefit from this timing exercise for quant: learning about how long one minute is without looking at a watch or stopwatch. If you don't have one already, buy yourself a stopwatch with lap timing capability. When you go to do a set of problems, start the stopwatch but turn it over so you can't see the time. Every time you think you're one minute into a new problem, push the lap button. When you're done with that problem, push the lap button again, then repeat the process for the next problem. When you're done with the set, see how good you were - and whether you tend to over or underestimate. Get yourself to the point where you're within 15 seconds either way on a regular basis (that is, you can generally predict between 45 sec and 1min 15 sec). Also check your timing for the entire question, of course.
Now, how do you use that when doing problems? If you're not on track by one minute, make an educated guess** and move on. (The general idea is that if you're not on track by the halfway mark, you're unlikely to figure out what's holding you back AND have time to do the whole problem in the 1 min you have left.)
** This also requires you to know HOW to make an educated guess depending upon the type of problem and the content being tested. So that's something else to add to your study: how to make educated guesses on different kinds of problems. Here are a couple of articles on that:
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2010/07/ ... s-on-quant
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2010/08/ ... -on-verbal
Stacey Koprince
Instructor
Director, Content & Curriculum
ManhattanPrep
Instructor
Director, Content & Curriculum
ManhattanPrep
- gurucharan.kodali
- Students
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 7:12 pm
Re: Help needed in regards to my GMAT preparation
Thanks for the appreciation and quick reply.
Firstly, What do you exactly mean by the 'how to analyze a problem' article?
Is it this one
1. http://www.manhattangmat.com/articles/e ... -part2.cfm, which analyzes on a question by question basis in each bucket.
or is it this one
2. http://www.manhattangmat.com/articles/a ... roblem.cfm
I ask this question because it took me one week to complete the analysis of each question in the test according to the 1st link mentioned above. I know the second article is different but isn't it redundant after I already completed a short analysis of each question from all 5 sections or 'buckets' ?
Here is a sample analysis of verbal questions in Bucket 4..
Category 4 (Is it Tough and long / consistent problem - (What is the Best possible way (BPW) and/or best detection of toughness), How to guess)
1. Main Idea
- Moon - Purpose (14) - Long (map the passage, confusing options), eliminate using key words that alter the meaning of an option.
2. Conclusion
- Lemonade sales (4) - Medium (Pre-phase/elimination, presence of calculations), putting it in an arithmetic form and/or elimination.
3. Mimic the argument
- Tennis match (26) - Tough and consistent (Alternate approach - use a logic notation/flow chart, long options with similar (but not same) arguments), similar sounding option.
4. Comparison
- Bird’s eye view (8) - Tough (knowing difference between subject/object and relative pronouns, multiple errors - pronouns, comparison, and meaning), the most concise and clearest option.
5. Assumption
- Sam Li (25) - Tough (understanding the "˜doubts about the assumption’ question type), (BPW - summarize the argument and understand the question properly, best detection - negated question (unlikely to be true)), pick the odd one out.
6. Analyze the argument/Bold Face
- City transportation (13) - Medium (break down the argument into a chronological order with premise and conclusion, options with unknown key words), clearest one.
7. Modifier
- Pest control (7) - Medium (identify the errors before scanning the options vertically, whole sentence is underlined), use a chronological order of events to eliminate.
Is the above analysis sufficient or should I go more in detail using the link no. 2 I mentioned above. If sufficient, what's the next step. I'm assuming if I can score around 740 in these repeated tests, I'm in the balpark of 700 in the actual test. Do you think I can take the test this month seeing my study and progress?
Secondly, I can understand why you say to get the wrong answers (in section 5) wrong in a faster way but the problem with me is I usually check the clock once every 10 questions. So, in the middle if I stumble upon a question I don't check the time because time makes me conscious and I get it wrong. If you remember in my 1st attempt at GMAT (580), I prepared myself to make a guess and move on if I stumble upon a question for more than 3 minutes but that strategy proved wrong because I ended up guessing far more questions than I would have usually done. Right now I'm spending as much time as I can in the beginning questions and rushing through the last ones.. It's a wrong strategy seeing no improvement in my Quant scores at least but for tougher questions I get the idea only after a minute or so. But isn't it important to get as many tougher questions right as possible to improve your score? However, I have no clue of gauging which is 600+ question or 700+ question to make an educated guess.. Most of the time, it is time that is the toughness factor for me.
I think most of the questions in my 3rd bucket are 'missed opportunities'.
I will go through the other articles but somehow I feel like I'm not taking home any self recommendation on a particular category of questions. Previously when I analyze a test, I look at the errors and come to a conclusion such as 'work on SC or CR'. I'm assuming it's not the right strategy.
Finally, after analyzing each question and making a note of the analysis, I'm not sure if I'll remember my error or corrected it. Is error log the only way to confirm or go about this?
Firstly, What do you exactly mean by the 'how to analyze a problem' article?
Is it this one
1. http://www.manhattangmat.com/articles/e ... -part2.cfm, which analyzes on a question by question basis in each bucket.
or is it this one
2. http://www.manhattangmat.com/articles/a ... roblem.cfm
I ask this question because it took me one week to complete the analysis of each question in the test according to the 1st link mentioned above. I know the second article is different but isn't it redundant after I already completed a short analysis of each question from all 5 sections or 'buckets' ?
Here is a sample analysis of verbal questions in Bucket 4..
Category 4 (Is it Tough and long / consistent problem - (What is the Best possible way (BPW) and/or best detection of toughness), How to guess)
1. Main Idea
- Moon - Purpose (14) - Long (map the passage, confusing options), eliminate using key words that alter the meaning of an option.
2. Conclusion
- Lemonade sales (4) - Medium (Pre-phase/elimination, presence of calculations), putting it in an arithmetic form and/or elimination.
3. Mimic the argument
- Tennis match (26) - Tough and consistent (Alternate approach - use a logic notation/flow chart, long options with similar (but not same) arguments), similar sounding option.
4. Comparison
- Bird’s eye view (8) - Tough (knowing difference between subject/object and relative pronouns, multiple errors - pronouns, comparison, and meaning), the most concise and clearest option.
5. Assumption
- Sam Li (25) - Tough (understanding the "˜doubts about the assumption’ question type), (BPW - summarize the argument and understand the question properly, best detection - negated question (unlikely to be true)), pick the odd one out.
6. Analyze the argument/Bold Face
- City transportation (13) - Medium (break down the argument into a chronological order with premise and conclusion, options with unknown key words), clearest one.
7. Modifier
- Pest control (7) - Medium (identify the errors before scanning the options vertically, whole sentence is underlined), use a chronological order of events to eliminate.
Is the above analysis sufficient or should I go more in detail using the link no. 2 I mentioned above. If sufficient, what's the next step. I'm assuming if I can score around 740 in these repeated tests, I'm in the balpark of 700 in the actual test. Do you think I can take the test this month seeing my study and progress?
Secondly, I can understand why you say to get the wrong answers (in section 5) wrong in a faster way but the problem with me is I usually check the clock once every 10 questions. So, in the middle if I stumble upon a question I don't check the time because time makes me conscious and I get it wrong. If you remember in my 1st attempt at GMAT (580), I prepared myself to make a guess and move on if I stumble upon a question for more than 3 minutes but that strategy proved wrong because I ended up guessing far more questions than I would have usually done. Right now I'm spending as much time as I can in the beginning questions and rushing through the last ones.. It's a wrong strategy seeing no improvement in my Quant scores at least but for tougher questions I get the idea only after a minute or so. But isn't it important to get as many tougher questions right as possible to improve your score? However, I have no clue of gauging which is 600+ question or 700+ question to make an educated guess.. Most of the time, it is time that is the toughness factor for me.
I think most of the questions in my 3rd bucket are 'missed opportunities'.
I will go through the other articles but somehow I feel like I'm not taking home any self recommendation on a particular category of questions. Previously when I analyze a test, I look at the errors and come to a conclusion such as 'work on SC or CR'. I'm assuming it's not the right strategy.
Finally, after analyzing each question and making a note of the analysis, I'm not sure if I'll remember my error or corrected it. Is error log the only way to confirm or go about this?
- gurucharan.kodali
- Students
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 7:12 pm
Re: Help needed in regards to my GMAT preparation
I'm sorry if I'm troubling you Stacey but can I get a reply??
- StaceyKoprince
- ManhattanGMAT Staff
- Posts: 9361
- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 9:05 am
- Location: Montreal
Re: Help needed in regards to my GMAT preparation
Be really careful about replying to your own post! We respond in order from oldest post first, and the date is based upon the date of the LAST post in the thread - so I responded to a bunch of others over the last couple of days before I got to yours. :(
Strictly speaking, this is the analyze a problem article:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/articles/a ... roblem.cfm
The first article leads into this above one. The idea is that you need to analyze every single problem - not just the ones that were problematic for you in some way - and that there are a lot of different things to think about. You don't need to do every single possible type of review on every single problem - you do what each problem needs. Your overall goal is to (a) understand the problem, and (b) be able to recognize a similar (but new) problem or issue in future.
So if you feel you've already done that, then you're fine. If not, then you need to dig in a bit more. Your sample analysis shows some things, but I'm not sure that it addresses point (b) above. And from what you're saying, it sounds like you're not sure either - you say you're not sure that you'll remember later. More analysis is needed, then.
And then you test yourself periodically to see whether you're continuing to make the same mistakes, whether you're recognizing more things than you used to.
This recognition thing will help you with your timing as well. Right now, you're doing too much "figuring out from scratch" and not enough "quickly recognizing something you've seen before" - I can tell that because you're telling me that it takes you a minute to figure out what's going on for the tough ones. That's where you need to either (a) recognize, or (b) make an educated guess and move on. The more you do to learn to recognize, the more chance you'll have on many problems, and the fewer times you'll have to guess and move on (though you'll still always have to do that too).
No. This is the opposite of the best strategy. (Well, if you can get them all right in normal time, then yes, that's the best strategy. But that's not the situation we're discussing.)
Let's say that you want a 700, and let's say you see a mix of questions ranging from 600 to 750. If you are already capable of scoring 700, then all you need to do is answer correctly the questions that you already know how to do, which will mostly be the sub-700 level questions. You don't need to get a 730 level question right in order to score a 700. You do need to make sure that you don't spend so much time on that 730 level question that you mess up on a 650 level as a result.
In terms of how to know how difficult a certain question is, there's no way to know the official difficulty rating, and you shouldn't even be attempting to figure that out while taking the test. Even the people writing the test questions don't know how difficult they are, exactly - that's part of the reason why the questions are given as experimental questions first.
Do what you know how to do in the given timeframe. Know what you don't know how to do, or can't do in the given timeframe, so that you can just acknowledge that and move on.
Generally speaking, it's not worth it to spend more than about 30 to 45 seconds beyond the expected average for any single question. (And for someone who's already struggling with time, I tell them no more than 30 seconds over the average, period.) The more you go over, the more you're just pulling your score down in the end...
Strictly speaking, this is the analyze a problem article:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/articles/a ... roblem.cfm
The first article leads into this above one. The idea is that you need to analyze every single problem - not just the ones that were problematic for you in some way - and that there are a lot of different things to think about. You don't need to do every single possible type of review on every single problem - you do what each problem needs. Your overall goal is to (a) understand the problem, and (b) be able to recognize a similar (but new) problem or issue in future.
So if you feel you've already done that, then you're fine. If not, then you need to dig in a bit more. Your sample analysis shows some things, but I'm not sure that it addresses point (b) above. And from what you're saying, it sounds like you're not sure either - you say you're not sure that you'll remember later. More analysis is needed, then.
And then you test yourself periodically to see whether you're continuing to make the same mistakes, whether you're recognizing more things than you used to.
This recognition thing will help you with your timing as well. Right now, you're doing too much "figuring out from scratch" and not enough "quickly recognizing something you've seen before" - I can tell that because you're telling me that it takes you a minute to figure out what's going on for the tough ones. That's where you need to either (a) recognize, or (b) make an educated guess and move on. The more you do to learn to recognize, the more chance you'll have on many problems, and the fewer times you'll have to guess and move on (though you'll still always have to do that too).
But isn't it important to get as many tougher questions right as possible to improve your score?
No. This is the opposite of the best strategy. (Well, if you can get them all right in normal time, then yes, that's the best strategy. But that's not the situation we're discussing.)
Let's say that you want a 700, and let's say you see a mix of questions ranging from 600 to 750. If you are already capable of scoring 700, then all you need to do is answer correctly the questions that you already know how to do, which will mostly be the sub-700 level questions. You don't need to get a 730 level question right in order to score a 700. You do need to make sure that you don't spend so much time on that 730 level question that you mess up on a 650 level as a result.
In terms of how to know how difficult a certain question is, there's no way to know the official difficulty rating, and you shouldn't even be attempting to figure that out while taking the test. Even the people writing the test questions don't know how difficult they are, exactly - that's part of the reason why the questions are given as experimental questions first.
Do what you know how to do in the given timeframe. Know what you don't know how to do, or can't do in the given timeframe, so that you can just acknowledge that and move on.
Generally speaking, it's not worth it to spend more than about 30 to 45 seconds beyond the expected average for any single question. (And for someone who's already struggling with time, I tell them no more than 30 seconds over the average, period.) The more you go over, the more you're just pulling your score down in the end...
Stacey Koprince
Instructor
Director, Content & Curriculum
ManhattanPrep
Instructor
Director, Content & Curriculum
ManhattanPrep
- gurucharan.kodali
- Students
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 7:12 pm
Re: Help needed in regards to my GMAT preparation
Thanks for the information.
I will work more on 'How to recognize' section. But there are so many types of problems that I'm trusting my brain to do the job when I need it the most. Is it the best I can do? Or should I periodically(once a week) go through the error log and my analysis to make sure I remember those formats and errors I committed?
I have started working on the 2,3, and 4 'buckets' from my CAT 1A analysis. I started with sample problems from OG 12 and surprisingly most of my mistakes are careless errors. So I'm making a note of them using the article previously mentioned in this thread.
But do you think I can take the test in the next 10 days? It's a personal deadline. However, I have no 'untouched tests' remaining to predict my actual score level right now. Is GMAT Prep the best one to go ahead? I haven't taken it in almost 2 1/2 months.
I will work more on 'How to recognize' section. But there are so many types of problems that I'm trusting my brain to do the job when I need it the most. Is it the best I can do? Or should I periodically(once a week) go through the error log and my analysis to make sure I remember those formats and errors I committed?
I have started working on the 2,3, and 4 'buckets' from my CAT 1A analysis. I started with sample problems from OG 12 and surprisingly most of my mistakes are careless errors. So I'm making a note of them using the article previously mentioned in this thread.
But do you think I can take the test in the next 10 days? It's a personal deadline. However, I have no 'untouched tests' remaining to predict my actual score level right now. Is GMAT Prep the best one to go ahead? I haven't taken it in almost 2 1/2 months.
- StaceyKoprince
- ManhattanGMAT Staff
- Posts: 9361
- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 9:05 am
- Location: Montreal
Re: Help needed in regards to my GMAT preparation
Do take a look through the error log periodically. In particular, look for repeated errors of the same type. If you made an error 8 weeks ago and have never made the same error again, that's fine. If you've made the same error three times over the past month, you need to do more about that error. You may need to change your habits in terms of how you write something down, how you keep track of your answers, how you do a certain calculation. You might need to make flash cards. You might need to do drills of a certain kind of calculation or construction of a sentence over and over to reinforce. Etc.
Re: what test to take, take the one that would have the fewest number of questions that you've seen before (or would remember). If that's GMATPrep, then take GMATPrep. (And, if so, TIME yourself on each question for that test. If you don't already have one, get a stopwatch with lap timing capability and learn how to use it before that test.)
Make sure to take that test under 100% official conditions, including essays.
Do you mean the real test or the practice test? If the real test, your score was 690 and you gave several reasons why your score might be inflated a bit on that test. Your goal is 700. You'll have to make the call for yourself, but that doesn't sound to me like a great time to take the real test. You're close, yes, but you're not there yet, if your goal is still 700. My general rule is: you want to take a practice test under 100% official conditions and score at or above your goal score. And then you want to do that again. Then you're ready.
If you're talking about the practice test, sure - as long as you feel like you've made good progress since your last test.
Re: what test to take, take the one that would have the fewest number of questions that you've seen before (or would remember). If that's GMATPrep, then take GMATPrep. (And, if so, TIME yourself on each question for that test. If you don't already have one, get a stopwatch with lap timing capability and learn how to use it before that test.)
Make sure to take that test under 100% official conditions, including essays.
But do you think I can take the test in the next 10 days?
Do you mean the real test or the practice test? If the real test, your score was 690 and you gave several reasons why your score might be inflated a bit on that test. Your goal is 700. You'll have to make the call for yourself, but that doesn't sound to me like a great time to take the real test. You're close, yes, but you're not there yet, if your goal is still 700. My general rule is: you want to take a practice test under 100% official conditions and score at or above your goal score. And then you want to do that again. Then you're ready.
If you're talking about the practice test, sure - as long as you feel like you've made good progress since your last test.
Stacey Koprince
Instructor
Director, Content & Curriculum
ManhattanPrep
Instructor
Director, Content & Curriculum
ManhattanPrep
- gurucharan.kodali
- Students
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 7:12 pm
Re: Help needed in regards to my GMAT preparation
What's the extent of repetition in MGMAT CATs? I have done GMATPrep 3 times. I'm assuming MGMAT CATs are the better choice here. What do you suggest?
My issue with error log is that most of the times I feel my errors are new or I guess I'm unable to recollect if I made that error before too. Presently I'm trying to cross-check my errors in OG-12 with errors in CAT 1A.
I will take a practice test this friday and decide if I can go ahead with the real test on Monday or Tuesday. I need to submit my application to Tepper before March 7, 2010. I need to get into that university at any cost. So finger crossed.
My issue with error log is that most of the times I feel my errors are new or I guess I'm unable to recollect if I made that error before too. Presently I'm trying to cross-check my errors in OG-12 with errors in CAT 1A.
I will take a practice test this friday and decide if I can go ahead with the real test on Monday or Tuesday. I need to submit my application to Tepper before March 7, 2010. I need to get into that university at any cost. So finger crossed.
- StaceyKoprince
- ManhattanGMAT Staff
- Posts: 9361
- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 9:05 am
- Location: Montreal
Re: Help needed in regards to my GMAT preparation
It depends upon how much your level has changed. If your scoring was relatively level throughout the first set of 6, or it hasn't changed much since the last several you took, and you're starting a new "possible repeat" set, then you're more likely to see repeats.
If your scoring level has changed significantly, though, then you're less likely to see repeats.
It also depends on how much you think you'll remember. If it's been a while since you've done some of those tests and/or you haven't reviewed the questions exhaustively, then you likely won't remember many of the questions - so even if they get repeated, it won't matter.
Add a column to your log where you give a major category for that error or very briefly summarize the type of error. You might even color-code it: blue is for algebra manipulation errors, green is for answering the wrong question (they asked me x, I gave them y), pink is for overlooking a word that made all the difference (eg, I missed the word "not"), whatever. Then you can more easily see whether you're repeating certain categories of things.
good luck!!
If your scoring level has changed significantly, though, then you're less likely to see repeats.
It also depends on how much you think you'll remember. If it's been a while since you've done some of those tests and/or you haven't reviewed the questions exhaustively, then you likely won't remember many of the questions - so even if they get repeated, it won't matter.
I guess I'm unable to recollect if I made that error before too.
Add a column to your log where you give a major category for that error or very briefly summarize the type of error. You might even color-code it: blue is for algebra manipulation errors, green is for answering the wrong question (they asked me x, I gave them y), pink is for overlooking a word that made all the difference (eg, I missed the word "not"), whatever. Then you can more easily see whether you're repeating certain categories of things.
good luck!!
Stacey Koprince
Instructor
Director, Content & Curriculum
ManhattanPrep
Instructor
Director, Content & Curriculum
ManhattanPrep