Showing posts with label GMAT study tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GMAT study tips. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 9, 2021

5 study tips for GMAT preparation

 

GMAT is one of the most revered standardized tests, dreaded by most, tamed by some, few have a clear understanding of how and how long to prepare for the test. Any gap in preparation and you are in for a shock; retake a costly mistake. Do it right the first time itself.

Use every weapon in your armory to improve your score even by 10 points. 

A verbal section has 36 questions on grammar, reading comprehension and critical reasoning. and a math section that comprises 31 questions based on fundamental math concepts and data sufficiency.

Here are 5 study tips which can help you prepare for the GMAT.

1. Be systematic in your preparation

Study daily. 

Devote 30 to 60 minutes.

A sample 60 min daily schedule

Day 1:
30 mins- reading comprehension practice
15 mins – Revise sentence correction rules. Apply SC rules in questions
15 mins- Revise number system concepts. Apply number system concepts on practice sums

Day 2:
30 mins- reading comprehension practice
15 mins – Revise critical reasoning rules. Apply CR rules in questions
15 mins- Revise geometry concepts. Apply geometry concepts on sums

repeat...

2. Focus on building accuracy first… speed later

You have 36 question in the verbal section. You need to complete the section in 65 mins. 
You got less than 2 minutes per question.

When you start your prep you might take 10 minutes to solve a math question or  
30 minutes to read and answer the questions in a reading comprehension passage.

Do not worry. Take you time. Focus on getting all the questions correct.

When you review the questions again, look for
  • alternate approaches while solving a math question. These approaches can minimize problem solving time.
  • clue words which can help you identify SC errors fast
  • cue words, which can help you make inferences, while analyzing Reading comprehension passages ….

When you identify these clues, you will be able to arrive at an answer faster.

So be patient. 
Seek help if you need more speed-building techniques  ..

My contact info is here..

3. Aim to finish you prep as soon as possible

The top scores in the GMAT spend 120+ hours, on average. 

The length of each study session can be 1 hr to 2 hrs, depending on your attention span.

Do not prolong your preparation, you might get demotivated. 

4. Use the right study material

Your study material should have
1.  in-depth concept discussion 
2.  practice questions
3.  test taking strategies

Some of you might require additional material, apart from the GMAT course material. For example
  • basic math refresher course 
  • basic verbal course 
  • basic course on reasoning.
Do your research and choose the right material. 

We, at semantics, have designed course-ware for GMAT aspirants with no prior preparatory experience. Covering all areas of testing extensively, the course package provides all learning material required and experiences ideal for you to master the exam and score high.


5. Follow a study plan

Before you start your preparation, you need to make a study plan. 

This is not a test that you can cram for. To ace the GMAT you need to study daily. 

You need to gradually build your skills and stamina, so that you can hit peak performance on test day.

Remember GMAT tests more than the formulae in math and grammar rules in the verbal 

GMAT tests your ability to 
  • Make decisions 
  • Think critically
  • Reason with numbers
  • Identify patterns and so on

If you need help in making a study plan. Feel free to contact me..

Happy learning...



Tuesday, February 21, 2012

10 must NOT DOs for GMAT math - Data sufficiency

10 must NOT DOs for GMAT math
the directions to Data sufficiency qns ( some tips below may require you to revisit these directions)This problem consists of a question and two statements, labeled (1) and (2), in which certain data are given. You have to decide whether the data given in the statements are sufficient for answering the question. Using the data given in the statements plus your knowledge of mathematics and everyday facts (such as the number of days in July or the meaning of counterclockwise), you must indicate whether:

A statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient to answer the question asked;
B statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient to answer the question asked;
C BOTH statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question asked, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient;
D EACH statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question asked;
E statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient to answer the question asked, and additional data specific to the problem are needed.


Now here are some simple not dos
1.Assume that a given number is positive only. The numbers given can be zero, negative fractions or decimals.
i.e. sample
Main statement- is the modulus of X less than 3?
Sub statement 1- X(X+3) <0 Sub statement 2- X(X-3)>0
X can be zero, negative, fraction or decimal.

2. Assume that in a ‘Is...( refer main st in point 1 above ) question type, no is an invalid answer. ‘yes,’ can be a valid answer; no can be a valid answer. ‘sometimes yes and sometimes no’ are invalid.

3. Ignore minimum factors required( that can be gauged from the main st) to answer the qn, if either of the sub statements do not have the min factors, automatically the ans cannot be A or B.
Main st: Is X grater than Y?
Sub st 1. X is greater than Z
Sub st 2. Y is lower than Z
Here as per directions, the ans cannot be A or B.

4. Conclude based on the outcome, while substituting a number to arrive at the answer. Check the outcome while substituting varied numbers i.e. zero,+ve integer,-ve integer,+ve fraction and –ve fraction

5. Hurriedly Mark either A (or B) as the answer option when statement 1(or 2) yields an answer. Study statement 2(or 1)also . If this also leads to answer mark D, else mark A(or B)

6. Spent time deriving absolute values when approximation is sufficient in arriving at a decision.


7. Arriving at numerical values when the question requires only counting the occurrences.


8. Attempt a complex combinatronics problem by attempting to pick/select many objects at a time. pick/select one object at a time. This doesn’t change the final outcome.

9. Follow faulty logic.
i.e. A sample sum
Main statement- is the modulus of X less than 3?
Sub statement 1- X(X+3) <0 Sub statement 2- X(X-3)>0

Correct logic
Determine the range of numbers which satisfy the sub statements
Check whether these numbers satisfy the main statement.


Wrong logic
Determine the range of numbers which satisfy the main statement
Check whether these numbers satisfy the sub statements.

10. Ignoring additional information required to solve the problem
Sample problem
Main statement- A and B takes x and y days respectively to complete a work. How many days will A and B together take to complete it?
Sub statement 1 x=5
Sub statement 2 B alone takes twice as many days as A alone to complete the work

additional information on the efficiency of each person’s work per day is a factor needed. If A works at 50% efficiency, A will take 10 days to complete the work.