How To Break Through 300-500 Quant?

[LeyandraP293]

Hello,

I just took my second CAT exam and did way worse than on my first. I was extremely burnt out on this one and do think I was suffering from decision fatigue ( I read about this on a previous post). After going through my assessments I'm noticing that I can't break the 300-500 level for quant (especially in Word Problems) and I'm struggling with timing. It takes me too long to answer questions even when I get them right. I'm also guessing too quickly.

I'm doing better in verbal and mostly just struggling with CR questions.

Can you provide any advice for mastering quant 300-500 and moving out to other levels of quant as well as mastering how to solve these questions on time?

Thank you!

[StaceyKoprince]

I'm sorry you're finding quant so annoying. Have you been using the Foundations of Math (FoM) book? Often, when someone's struggling at that level, it's because there are holes in the foundation that are making it hard for you to work efficiently / effectively.

Open up that book (you have it right? the system is telling me you're taking a class) and just start right in with chapter 1. Test your skills using the problem sets at the end of each chapter. There are also two FoM workshops you can join - we hold them live (online) once a month or you can watch tapes of the classes.

How far are you into your course? In the past, I've recommended to students who were having similar problems that they take several weeks to work carefully through FoM before joining the course - even postponing a course they'd already joined, if necessary. I think you can switch to a different course as long as you do so within the first 3 classes. (Note: don't quote me on this - I could be wrong about the details. You'll need to talk to our Student Services team to see what's allowed.)

You can also put a course on hold and pick up again from that class later on - eg, if you just had class 5, you could "suspend" your studies and come back in a month and pick up with a different class from class 6.

What do you think? (You can contact our student services team at 800.576.GMAT or gmat@manhattanprep.com)

If you do that, just concentrate on solidifying all of those foundations - don't worry about time, more advanced problems, etc. You'll be able to concentrate on that stuff once the foundational material comes together and you're not using so much brain energy trying to get that part of things to work.

[LeyandraP293]

Hi Stacey,

Thanks for such a quick reply. I actually just had the last session of my class today, although I had to miss a few classes in between that I'm making up in the next month. I have already talked to the center coordinator about possibly signing up again but I'm going to definitely take your advice and go through the Foundations book before I retake the course or even think about moving forward with any other studying. I should have definitely done the Foundations book before the class but now I know for next time.

Thanks again!

[StaceyKoprince]

Yes, definitely - I think a lot of people would benefit from doing Foundations first. A relative of mine is taking my class now and I made him spend 3 weeks doing Foundations of Math beforehand.

If you have the time, I recommend joining the Foundations workshops live - they're held once a month. (You don't have to pay extra if you're already taking / have taken the class.)

Take a look here for schedules:
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/prep/workshops/

The next ones are coming up in a week, so you probably won't be ready by then, but they'll be held again in approx. 1 month.

If you can make the timing work, I'd work through the book first on your own, then join the workshops, then do the online problem sets that are associated with the workshop.

Good luck - let me know how it goes!