When to start on "advanced section" in books.

[Dav.lee777]

When should someone start on the advanced sections in the books? Typically what type of difficulty range does the advanced sections cover?

[StaceyKoprince]

Decide chapter by chapter - you may be ready for one chapter before you're ready for another. And there isn't a consistent difficulty level across all advanced chapters; it depends on the material.

Every advanced chapter has an equivalent "regular" chapter or chapters. When you feel that you have
(a) mastered the material in the equivalent regular chapters
AND
(b) you don't have any major glaring weaknesses in regular chapters that are a better use of your time right now

then you can move on to the more advanced material in those chapters where (a) applies.

For example, you've finished Exponents and Roots in your Number Properties guide and you feel good about it. You're talking a class and have finished the other material on your syllabus / homework list for the week - you do have some weaknesses, but nothing that's absolutely awful. So you take a look at the Advanced Exp & Roots chapter.

Or, you've finished Exp & Root, feel good about it, but really felt lost during an earlier chapter, divis & primes. Go back to divis & primes first.

Or, you're not talk a class, so you're not following a certain set syllabus or list of homework assignments. You feel good about Exp & roots, but you also know that you're really struggling with algebra in general. Algebra's really common on the test, so move over and start tackling that subject - you can come back to advanced exp & roots later on once you start feeling better about algebra.

[Dav.lee777]

Thank you for the reply Stacey. So if my goals is to get over 650, in general, do you think the advanced section is needed?

[StaceyKoprince]

Likely you'd need some, but 650's a combined score. You'd need to tell me the breakdown of what you expect / want to get in quant vs. verbal.

If you are looking to score 75th+ percentile in quant alone, then you need at least some of the advanced material (and you'd decide which pieces based on your own strengths and weaknesses). Ditto for verbal.

If you are looking to score 90th+ percentile in quant alone, then you need most of the advanced material. Ditto verbal.

You can score at about the 75th percentile in both sections and get about 650. Or you can be higher in one area and lower in the other, or vice versa.

[Dav.lee777]

Thank you very much, that was very helpful!!!

[StaceyKoprince]

I'm glad! Good luck!