Read a Math ? fully first or Jot down while reading

[exl2]

I'm conflicted as to which option is the better option: Read a math question first, then go back and jot down key information or jot down information while you are reading. It seems that when I begin jotting down the information in the beginning, then I am wasting valuable time as there could be quick shortcuts I can take to conceptualize the problem and solve it without being so meticulous (since when jotting down information, I'm usually jotting more than is necessary because I do not yet know what the concept is). However, if I were to not jot down the information, and the question is quite dense, then I would have to revisit and read the problem again, wasting valuable time. Perhaps a hybrid option is best? Thoughts?

[exl2]

So I took GMAT prep 2 today using the method of initially reading the question without taking any notes. I actually managed to stay ahead of the quantitative time curve for the first time. And the quant questions felt extraordinarily simpler. It wasn't even a matter of just a little bit simpler than MGMAT, but way simpler. I can either attribute this to 1) MGMAT math is wayyyyy harder or 2) my method worked or 3) I was better mentally prepared because I wasn't behind on time. Of course, I also tried to decrease my variance by skipping questions that may be hard after reading the question.

What I mean by variance is:
MGMAT Cat 1 : 730 (Q: 49 V:41) No AWA
MGMAT Cat 2: 660 (Q: 44 V:36) FULL simulation
GMATPrep 2: 740 (Q:49 V:41) FULL simulation

I would like to note, that I took MGMAT cat 2 after studying for 10 hours during midnight and highly caffeinated. (not the brightest idea :) )

Anyway, thoughts? I think i'm going to stick with this method. Also I adopted some other methods such as writing landscape on the scratch pad. Hence, I'm not sure if reading initially really is truly better (because the experiment I carried out had many other variables) :(. Or if there is a hybrid method.

My test is this thursday, so any help before then would be great :)

[StaceyKoprince]

I think it's a combination of the three. People scoring well on math tend to find our math harder than GMATPrep. People scoring well on quant also tend to say that the real quant is harder than GMATPrep but either easier than ours or about the same as ours.

In general, I'd say that the choice is personal - different options will work better for different people. It does sound like reading first and then writing works better for you, so I'd stick with it. I personally tend to write things I KNOW I'll need, especially if the problem is quite short (like a formula or something), but I hold off a bit if it's a wordy, long problem until I understand what's really going on.

Good luck - let us know how it goes!

[exl2]

Thanks Stacy!

I followed that advise pretty much for the GMAT prep 1 just now.

Got a 720 49 Q 38 V i believe, so my math seems to be staying steady at 49. My problem mainly is making silly mistakes on math, as I made a few on this one. But I am definitely like this method way more than before because I can conceptualize the problem way faster. But like you said, for problems with just equations, you might as well jot it down since you will have to anyway.

I'm unsure if you can answer this question before my exam date, but what do you do with geometry problems? Do you redraw the diagram?

Thanks!

[StaceyKoprince]

I can't remember what your exam date is - hopefully this is still before!

Yes, for geometry, I re-draw the diagram. "Quick and dirty" meaning I don't take pains to make it exactly perfect, but I do get it mostly right (which isn't too hard because your scrap paper is actually graph paper). I also make sure to make it large enough that I can write on it / add to it while still being able to read my own writing.

The diagram is then basically the reference point for all of your work. You may, at times, go off to the side to work out an equation or whatever, but everything always comes back to the diagram.

[exl2]

thanks stacy. i, unfortunately already took it :)

i got a 710, 49 Q 38 V. I'm wondering if i should take it again. I had a giant headache throughout the test, and I took too long of a break :(

But I'm not sure if it is worth it....

[StaceyKoprince]

Wow - 710 is a great score already! Congratulations!

I actually just wrote a two-part article on deciding whether to take the test again - you might want to read and see whether the info can help you.

http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2010/12/ ... how-part-1
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2010/12/ ... how-part-2

If you have any questions, you can either come back here to post or you can add a comment directly to the article (I'll then get an automatic email notification that there's a new comment).