OG Archer vs GMAT Results

[andrepamp]

MGMAT Staff,

I am a lawyer working as an investment banker and have now decided to pursue my MBA. I bought all the MGMAT guides and I am using the OG Archer tool to help my studies. As I target at a 700+ score at the test (ideally 720), what's the performance (broken down by easy, medium and hard questions) I should be aiming at when using the OG Archer?

Cheers!

[StaceyKoprince]

There's no real way to use OG Archer performance results to know at that granular a level. The test scoring algorithm is unbelievably complex - it's not something you can actually calculate on paper. You also can't take problems that you've done statically and rate them on an adaptive scale (the real test changes based upon your performance on the previous questions).

Clearly, for a 700+ level, you want to be able to get the easy OG questions right in less than the normal time spent for that question type. Beyond that...

So here's what you do. Have you taken a practice CAT yet? If not, go take one.

Wait! First, read these two articles:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... lly-tests/
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -the-gmat/

Then take one of our CATs and use the below to analyze it:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... ice-tests/

Figure out what you think you should do based on that analysis. Then come back here and tell us; 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!)

Then you're going to start working on whatever those weaknesses are and some time later (maye 3, 4, 5 weeks), when you feel you've made substantial progress, you're going to take another CAT. Then you're going to analyze it, come up with a new study plan, and repeat.

[andrepamp]

Hey Stacey.

Thanks for the response!

I finished 2 CAT tests to date already, one when I started studying (~1 month ago) and one last weekend). This is a short analysis, let me know if you agree:

Test 1: 610 (Quant: 35 / 35% || Verbal: 39 / 88%)
Test 2: 660 (Quant: 42 / 57% || Verbal: 40 / 90%)

Timing analysis: I haven't found timing problems in neither of my Verbal tests. I typically spend some more time on RC questions (sometimes even a little longer than the 2:30 min), but catch up easily in my CR and SC. The problem is my Quant Sections. Even though I don't have to rush in the end of the section, I am always worried about the time I am taking in any given question (which is a little distractive) and every now and then I find a mid-level question that takes me forever to solve. Strategy: Have been practicing Quant questions using the OG Archer, and will continue to do so. I am bookmarking questions that takes me longer than 2:30 to solve so I review then and find a more time-efficient strategy within 2 min.

Verbal - Even though I am not a native English speaker, my verbal score is pretty consistent across the 3 types of questions and this is a real strength I guess. I haven't had any timing problems in this section whatsoever. Strategy: I am currently dedicating ~5 - 10% of my study time to Verbal (SC, CR and RC, in that order), specially when I want to take a break between my sets of Quant questions. Basically I am doing small sets of hard questions from the OG (starting from the end of the book). This seems to be working, so I will keep it up.

Quant - This is my weakness, so I will detail my analyzes a little further:

Area / % Right - Comment

Geometry / 70% (BEST) - This is my real strength within the Quant Section. I get virtually all geometry questions right, except when it is about the coordinate plane (then I get pretty much all wrong! =P) Strategy: Review the Coordinate Plane theory and try to solve / review a lot of those exercises.

Number Properties / 32% (WORST) - This is tricky... I read all the theory a few times and believe understood it. However, when I get a problem (specially DS), it is usually pretty challenging for me. Strategy: Actually I am a little lost here. Should I just focus on exercises to get familiar to the type of questions asked and how the GMAT "thinks"?

Algebra / 54% - I really like Algebra and should be able to improve it a little more easily by reviewing my mistakes as I go through the OG and QR books.

Word Problems / 37% (SECOND WORST) - This is the type of problem that takes me the longest to get right (or wrong). On average, I spend 2:13 on questions I get right and 2:21 on questions I get wrong. I have lots of room for improvement here, I guess. Any suggestions?

Fractions, Decimals, & Percents / 58% - I really don't think I have major problems here and should be able to improve this rating a little... Several of my mistakes here were careless mistakes...

Question Solving Strategy: I am spending 6-8 hours/day on OG/QR books from Mondays to Saturdays. As I go through the OG, I am bookmarking the questions I get wrong or that teach me something new because I am don't know something, and marking the questions I am spending more than 2:30 min to solve. I typically review the bookmarked questions on Fridays and Saturdays and prepare flashcards for future review.

Finally, to keep me motivated and on track, I scheduled my GMAT for early November, so I have time to retake it before round 2 deadlines in case I need it.

Any comments on my strategy? Any suggestions are more than welcome!

Many Thanks!

[StaceyKoprince]

I am bookmarking questions that takes me longer than 2:30 to solve so I review then and find a more time-efficient strategy within 2 min.

That's only one possible way to deal with "too long" questions. The other is to learn how to cut yourself off efficiently and guess. (Don't make the mistake of thinking that you'll learn well enough that someday you won't need to guess. You'll still need to guess - the questions just keep getting harder!)

Go read the very first article I linked again (What the GMAT really tests). Then post again and explain to me why the quote above is only half of your story and why you will continue to struggle until you make the mindset switch that the goal is NOT the old school goal of getting everything right. :)

Then look at your analysis again and tell me what you need to change to "whatever, I'll just guess." Everybody has something like this on quant, but you told me you're going to get better at *everything*.

For NP, yes, they like to disguise these. Here are some things that can help you learn how they "think" in this area and you can use that to push your studies further.

http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -gmatprep/

For Word Problems are you getting hung up on the translation stage? Try these two articles:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... into-Math/
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... them-real/

Which ones should you bail on in this category?

You mention spending a lot of time on doing problems. What resources do you have that teach you how to get better at the problems? The OG explanations are almost never the best way to do the problem (plus the OG materials aren't designed to teach you HOW to get better).

What's the ratio of time spent doing vs. time spent reviewing?

If you spend 20 minutes doing a set of 10 problems, it should take you a minimum of an hour of review (afterwards) to thoroughly study those 10 problems. In many / most cases, it should be a lot longer than that. The review is where you actually learn how to get better and includes all study activities such as looking up alternate solutions (OG Archer, online forums, etc), looking things up in content books that teach you what you need to know, making flashcards, figuring out why you made a certain kind of error and how you could minimize the chances of repeating that error in future, doing drills when you discover weak skill areas, etc.

Go back to the 2nd article I posted, the "2nd level" of GMAT study, and look at the how to learn section.