How do we conquer the fear of GMAT math?

 

Let start with a show of hands

 How many of us go blank when we see a math sum?

I can see that most of you are raising your hands, the others must be one of lucky 2%.

 

Now the big question.

Why some of us go blank and others seem to have the knack of solving math sums?

 

Well you can blame it on your mathematics teacher @ school or on your genes. But nevertheless while preparing for GMAT or in fact while doing an MBA, you will encounter lot of math.

I can hear lots of groans. :-)

 

Few years back I read this book ‘How to solve it’ by George Polya. I modified my teaching style from just teaching question answers, question answers, question answers, question answers……to question logic answers, question logic answers, question logic answers…..

 

I found that I could tutor a person to achieve 45+(raw score in GMAT) within few weeks as instead of few months. Wow!! The best part of it I could see that students are able to solve math problems independently without me intervening.

 

In the book, Polya gives a detailed step by step process on how to approach math problems in general

 

I will modify the process and present it to you in context with GMAT math

Keep these steps in mind when you approach a math problem in the future.

 

Step 1: Understanding the problem

Answer the following questions first

1. Do you understand all the words used in stating the problem?
2. What are you asked to find or show?
3. Can you think of a picture or diagram that might help you understand the problem?
4. Is there enough information to find the solution?
5. What information, if any, is missing?

The answer to these questions will channelize your thinking towards the answer.

 

Step 2: Devise a plan

What will be the best approach to address the problem?

Approaches can only be devised. If a tutor explains a sum to you, then you will be able to understand only that problem. But when you encounter a new problem, you will go blank again.

Ideally when you encounter a new problem, you will have to use the existing ideas plus any new ideas you can conjure up. These process are mostly done mentally and involve little computation/calculation.

 

To get an idea, do any/all of the following.

1. Make a systematic list/table
2. Write an equation
3. Consider special cases
4. Use direct reasoning- for example If A>B and B>C then A>C.
5. Use indirect reasoning.-Think of an earlier sum where you encountered a similar problem
6. Look for a pattern
7. Draw a picture
8. Solve a simpler problem- break the problem into small parts and solve each part.
9. Use a model- Make a general assumption and solve by guessing.
10. Work backwards. –work with answer options

Now that you have got an idea. Put pen on paper and solve to get an answer

Stage 3: Carry out the plan

 

Solve the problem with great care and patience

Discard the plan if it does not work and devise a new plan

Record what you have done to avoid repetitive work – For future use.

While attempting Data sufficiency questions, it is imperative you check your results. So

Stage 4: Looking back or checking

Have you addressed the problem?

Is your answer reasonable?

Can the method applied to other similar problems?

Is It consistent.

Now go ahead and repeat this thought process on different math problem and the next time when you see a math problem you will not go blank.

Watch this video to understand mathematical reasoning...

Take a GMAT math diagnostic test here.. . Ping me your scores... We can chalk out a plan together..

To schedule a counselling session.

Click here.: https://semanticslearning.com/

My contact details are here:

LinkedIn profile : https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgeanand/

Facebook learning group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/semanticsGMAT/

How to bounce back from failure?

 You did your GMAT mock.. It turned out to be a total disaster. 

Or you did a section test. You forgot all your concepts and got an abysmal score.

Failure is part of the learning curve. All of us fail. There is no shame in admitting it.

But

What we do after the failed event?.. how we pick ourselves up?... That is what defines us.

As future Management Graduates. Failure is going to be part of your life.. Learn how to deal with it. in this video

GMAT Reading Comprehension Vocabulary list 1

 

Take home, some GMAT jargon. Just gorge on them

Yes, you heard it right…there are words typical to GMAT verbal ( critical reasoning and reading comprehension).. here’s a list comes handy in RC/CR.

1. Allusion : Indirect reference to a person, place or event to another.

2. Archaism : The use of words and expressions that have become obsolete in common speech.

3. Burlesque : An incognito imitation; it imitates the matter or form of a play in an amusing manner.

4. Connotation and denotation : The denotation of a word is its primary meaning; connotation is the range of accompanying meanings in which it suggests or implies.

5. Motif and theme : A motif is an element – an incident, device or formula – which recurs frequently.

6. Prosody : Systematic study of writing verse (poem); principles in the use of rhyme, stanza etc.

7. Anecdote : Simple narration of a single incident.

8. Pastoral elegy : Represents both the mourner and the one he mourns.

9. Figurative language : Deviates from what we apprehend as the standard significance or sequence of words, in order to achieve special meaning or effect.

10. Symbol : A word or set of words that signifies an object or event which itself signifies something else.

11. Historicism : A theory that history is determined by unchangeable laws and not by human agency or, it is a theory that all cultural phenomena are historically determined and that historians much study each period without imposing any personal or absolute value system.

12. Historical School : A school of economics maintaining that any economic theory must be based on historical studies of economic institutions.

13. Idealism : A philosophical system or theory that maintains that are real is of the nature of thought or that the object of external perception consists of ideas; the pursuit of high noble principles.

14. Existentialism : A philosophical movement that stresses the individual’s position as a self-determining agent responsible for his or her own choices.

15. Humanism : Assumes the dignity and central position of man in the universe and emphasizes on moral and practical rather than purely aesthetic values.

16. Aberrant/Aberration: deviating from the norm.

17. Aesthetic: dealing with, appreciative of, or responsive to art or the beautiful.

18. Anomaly: deviation from the normal order, form, or rule, abnormality.

19. Archaic outdated: associated with an earlier, perhaps more primitive, time.

20. Aver:  to state as a fact; to confirm or support.

21. Bolster: to provide support or reinforcement.

22. Bombast / bombastic: self–evident or pompous writing or speech; pompous; grandiloquent.

23. Buttress:  to reinforce or support.

24. Capricious: inclined to change one’s mind impulsively; erratic; unpredictable.

25. Censure:  to criticize severely; to officially rebuke.

Read list 2 here:

http://letsgmat.blogspot.com/2020/08/gmat-reading-comprehension-vocabulary_23.html

The big 50 point jump in GMAT - Stuck at 650.. How do i jump..

 

Are you aspiring for a 700 in the GMAT and trying to figure out why your score is stuck at 650 and not hitting the 700 mark?

 Here are 3 potential reasons.

Firstly, are you ready for higher order reasoning and problem solving?  Find out, how consistently you have performed in data sufficiency questions, inference questions in reading comprehension and weaken/strengthen questions in critical reasoning( assuming  you worked out Official guide questions)

 

Secondly, while taking the computer based tests, did you fall short of time and guessed more than 5 question in either/both QA and VA section. If so penalty and poor pacing and time management is the issue.

 

Thirdly, your concentration wears of while you are working on the last part of the Verbal Ability section. Build stamina, slowly and steadily by taking many 4hrs tests.

 

To raise your score from 650 to 700, let’s say a re-taker do spend 30 days reworking on concepts, practicing with hundreds of tougher questions and analyse these questions to improve your performance.

 

Lets have a chat, if you want a customized study plan...

 

My contact link is here:

LinkedIn profile : https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgeanand/

Facebook learning group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/semanticsGMAT/

 

Can you ACE THE GMAT in 1 month?

Can you ace the GMAT in 1 month?…..YES..... You can....

Let me take you through my plan.

This 1- month plan has been tried and tested on our students. 

The course books, 8 of them, are designed for GMAT aspirants with no prior preparatory experience. The books are designed by academicians with over 15+ years of GMAT teaching experience. 

Does this plan work?

Yes…

Some of our students have jumped 250 points from 450 to 700. Others have jumped from 650 to 720. Others have hit 780.  

I’m confident. You will score high, if you follow the plan.

We make a customized study plan for each student..as each learner is different

Lets take each section of the exam

Reading comprehension

GMAT passages are mostly abstract, drawn from varied sources- sciences, history, art, philosophy, literary criticism. The questions require you to read critically. We teach you critical reading dynamics. That is

• Drawing inferences from the passage
• Distinguishing between topic and the emotional content of a passage
• Recognizing the tone of a passage, attitude of the author
• Identifying the organisation and structure of the passage

Extensive passage analysis and discussion will empower you to read GMAT passages critically. Follow up reading practice ensures that you practice all types of passages and questions that appear in the exam.

Our action plan: Read 150 passages.

Students are given a curated compilation of passages.  First easy passages, then medium, then difficult..

Sentence correction (SC)

GMAT SC tests both correctness and effectiveness of expression. A thorough survey of all rules that constitute standard sentence formation constitutes the first module of  SC course.

An exhaustive list of idioms tested on the GMAT is discussed with illustrative sentences. Clear distinction between awkward vs effective, clear vs ambiguous, wordy vs concise etc in the context of real GMAT questions will give you test confidence. The most common GMAT SC errors- 25 error types- are discussed with multiple illustrations, and practised on hundreds of multiple choice questions. Notes and drills ensure review of rules.

Our action plan: We will take you through the 25 SC errors in-depth. 

 You will 

• learn how to identify these errors using clues.
• be able to spot errors in less than 30 seconds.

You will be working on 500+ SC questions..

A PARTIAL LIST OF SC ERRORS.

• Misplaced modifier 
• Wordiness
• Un-idiomatic construction
• Conditionals
• Tense inconsistency
• Unclear use of 'which'
• countable vs non-countable nouns         
• Illogical comparison
• Lack of clear subject
• Incomplete comparison     
• Faulty diction
• Meaning conformity           

 

Critical reasoning (CR)

Let’s face it. Few college books teach you to think critically. Hence, essential skills of reasoning have to be mastered now for GMAT CR success. This is precisely why our course is designed with an introductory module on basics of logic theory carefully illustrated with arguments as they appear in GMAT. Elements of logic theory comprise inductive and deductive arguments, methods of argument analysis and evaluation, common logical fallacies.

In our interactives we’ll teach you, step by step, how to analyze issues, reason logically, and argue effectively. Our approaches to the 15 different types of CR questions - the first ever exhaustive listing - will ready you for the real test. The specific skills you acquire are:

• breaking down argument into its parts, to see what conclusion is drawn and how it is supported
• recognizing the line of reasoning employed in an argument
• checking logical validity of claims
• offering counter arguments using relevant hypothetical data
• supplying additional information
• drawing inference from the argument
• identifying logically similar arguments
• defining relationship between arguments
• evaluating a given argument for consistency

Our action plan: We will teach you the 15 question types and the algorithm for each type.

You will be put through drills (500+ cr questions)

Problem solving and Data Sufficiency

The questions you get in the quantitative section of the GMAT, are drawn from arithmetic, algebra, geometry and statistics. We teach you math in 3 stages.

• Stage 1 of your preparation will involve thorough review of elementary math concepts
• Stage 2 involves application of concepts to problems in quantitative setting
• Stage 3 involves quantitative reasoning – strategies for data sufficiency, short cuts approaches to problem solving such as
• problem conversion and simplification
• working with answer option
• verifying adequacy of data
• estimating ranges of values which can satisfy the given relationship

 Our action plan

• refresh math concepts thrice
• learn reasoning skills, which can help a student solve a question in less than 30 seconds

You need to work on 700+ questions.

Also

GMAT Integrated reasoning (IR)

 tests your ability to analyse, synthesise, compare, contrast, infer from, integrate and judge data presented in multiple formats such as verbal texts, graphs, tables and charts.

IR tests both your numerical ability and logical skills. Your math and reasoning skills learnt in the other sections of the test will help you in this section.

We teach you how to interpret graphs, sort tabular data, draw conclusions by integrating data from multiple sources, and make decisions.

Extensive practice of IR questions will prepare you for the test.

Our action plan: You  are made to work on 50 Integrated reasoning questions.

GMAT Analytical writing assessment (AWA) 

tests your ability to critically analyse a case study. Your reasoning skills learnt in the other sections of the test will help you in this section.

Our action plan: You need to write 10 analytical writing essays using the approaches taught earlier in SC and CR.

Also 

You need to do 

• 20 math section tests and 20 verbal section tests
• 5+ mock CATs to get test confidence.

 

Hope to hear from you..

To reach me: 

• My linkedin profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgeanand
• My facebook group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/semanticsGMAT

How to enhance your critical thinking - Tedx talk

How to think critically

GMAT requires you to 

1.  read a paragraph critically

2.  analyse a math question

3. identify elements in a sentence correction question and apply logic

So how does one think critically.. Watch this video

GMAT sentence correction- the analytical way

Doubts are best clarified in class

Preparing for GMAT is no child’s play. And definitely not the verbal section of the GMAT. Iam sure many of you there agree with me.

The intricacies of sentence corrections are better understood when you are made to think with the sentence(for god-sake its not just math that involves thinking)

Your problems with sentence correction will be over the day you start thinking with grammar. Cos there is no grammar separate form meaning and no meaning separate from accepted knowledge- philosophical or scientific.

When you with a verbal expert, you are made to think with the sentence.

Here’s an example

The set of propositions which was discussed by the panel have been published in the society journal.

A. which was discussed by the panel have been

B. which were discussed by the panel have

C. that was discussed by the panel was

D. which were discussed by the panel has

E. discussed by the panel has been

Explanation:

Step 1: identify subject/verb/standard sentence structures(not only...but also or X and Y.....)

Step 2: Bracket out modifiers/prepositional clasues

Step 3: check meaning..

There are in total 25 errors that GMAT wants you to identify...

Lets look at the analysis of this question

The set ( of propositions that were/are discussed by the panel) was/ has been published in the society.

Bracket out all word groups- the prepositional phrase- has been bracketed out. The set was/has been—both are right, since no specific time reference.

The point here is that relative pronoun which/that refers to propositions and not ‘the set’. Hence are/were/ have been must refer to propositions and not ‘the set’

Hence we narrow down to E. drop the ‘ which are’/ that are…wordiness.

The sentence correction tip you gave me is good.

No need, the sentence correction tip that you gave me is good.

Lets chat if you have verbal queries.. We can chalk out a study plan together...

linkedin profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgeanand/

My Blog: https://letsgmat.blogspot.com/

GMAT math concept - difficulty level - hard

Difficulty level - hard
Concept - Maxima - minima of functions

In GMAT, you will encounter problems based on functions.

These questions require higher order reasoning skills.

Ideally, you need to know calculus  to solve. But, it is not necessary. 

Some of you don't have a math background, don't worry. 

This tip can help you crack questions from this chapter.


Remember to : 

Develop math reasoning skills. The math section test you on reasoning 
  
This video will give you insights into the reasoning skills required..




Now lets take a problem

A and B can complete a work in x and y days respectively. Working together they can complete the same work in 15 days. If X and Y are integers, what can be the maximum difference between x and y? 

This problem is from the concept of time and work.

As you know. You will have to represent the equation wrt the amount of work done in a day.

Hence A will complete the job in 1/x days

B will complete the job in 1/y days.

As they together take 15 days to complete the work.

We need to calculate the maximum value of (x - y)
that means x should be the largest possible number and y should be lowest number

TIP: to calculate the maximum value of x- y  or maximum value of x+y, always factorize the equation 

15y+15x= xy

15y-xy +15x = 0

y(15-x) + 15x = 0

To factorize the equation i need to reduce the above equation in this format

(x+a)(y+b) = constant

I need (15-x) so lets add 225 which is 15²

i need to add +225 and -225

y(15-x)  +15x +225 -225 =0

y(15-x)  +15x -225 +225 =0

y(15-x) -15(15- x) +225 =0

(15-x) (y-15) = -225

(x-15)(y-15) = 225 or

(x-15)(y-15) = (225)(1)

Which is

x-15 =225 and y-15 =1

X = 240 and y = 16

Hence maximum difference is 224

Hope you understood this sum.. 

You can reach me if you are targeting Q51 in the math section. There are few skills you need to master. 

my linkedin profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgeanand

My facebook learning community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/semanticsGMAT

What next

You can try this problem and check your reasoning skills.

solution here:

http://letsgmat.blogspot.com/2020/07/gmat-math-thinking-skills-4.html

GMAT math program for beginners

If you 

1. are touching math after a long break

2. scared of math

3. know math but you want to ace the math section

we got a math program for you..

Remember that 

GMAT tests you on math reasoning and not math ability

Its possible to 

• brush up your basics

• learn to apply the basics on math questions

• solve questions in less than 20- 30 seconds 

within a month

Get live classes, study books, progressive section tests,tips/strategies and more..

Check this video to understand better. 

You can opt for 

1. 30 hr program

2. 50 hr program

Lets chat up and work together 

Contact me - whatsapp - 9884123808
Catch me on linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com//in/georgeanand
Join our facebook community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/semanticsGMAT/

The Top Executive MBA programs in the world

If you  

• have more than 3 years of relevant work experience
• want to take a 1 year sabbatical 
• desire a career shift
• want to up-skill

Then opt for an executive MBA program


. 

Feel free to message me, I can evaluate your profile and offer guidance on how to build  a strong profile... 

Here is my linkedin profile…

These colleges require a GMAT score of 680+ / 800

These are the top colleges in the world

Ranking   School                           Location
1              HEC Paris                        France/Qatar/China
2              Kellogg/HKUST               China
3              TRIUM                             France/UK/US/China
4              Columbia/HKU/LBS         US/China/UK
5              CEIBS                              China/Switzerland/Ghana
6              Columbia/LBS                  US/UK
7              Washington: Olin              US/China
8              LBS                                  UK/UAE
9              Tsinghua/INSEAD            China/Singapore/France/UAE
10            Oxford: Saïd                     UK
11            Jiao Tong: Antai                China
12            IESE                                 Spain/US
13            Arizona: Carey                  China
14            ESCP                                France/UK/Germany/Spain/Italy/Lebanon
15            MIT: Sloan                         US

Source: FT.com (Based on the Return on investments (ROI))

How to train your brain to focus - Tedx talk

GMAT preparation requires you to
1. focus continuously for 3hrs+ during the exam
2. Study extensively for a long duration
3. Remove the chatter in your brain, while preparing.

Watch this video to hone your focusing skills

How you can jump 100+ points in the GMAT, in one month?

I trained a student for GMAT. Let me share my experiences with you:

He had written GMAT and got a score of 500. He had prepared for 2 months. This was his preparation

1. He had 2 GB of downloaded material- different books/different videos. He went through them once.
2. He studied GMAT official guide twice.
3. He went through different forums. And collected strategies from different answers posted there

This is my observation:

His knowledge of mathematical formula was strong.

He could remember the formula for area of the equilateral triangle, formulae in trigonometry and other conceptual formulae. He could also remember intricate details like the height of the equilateral triangle, the formula to arrive at the in-centre of the circle….

However. when he saw tough problems he couldn’t proceed beyond the first stage in the problem solving process (identifying what formula to use). He knew which formula to apply but he didn’t know how to apply the formula.

In verbal his vocabulary was strong.

He knew some grammar concepts like subject verb agreement, errors due to misplaced modifier, pronoun errors, ambiguous use of ‘which’ and ‘it’ and few more error types.

In critical reasoning he went by his gut feeling to get his answers.

He could eliminate 3 options, but two options were very close. He guessed the answer.

Extra reading

He briefly dilly dallied by reading the local newspaper.

Here is a typical case of GMAT student who presume he/she can prepare for GMAT in less than a month.

I suggested the following things and I closely monitored his training

• I selected (edited obviously) GMAT like passages from various sources in the net, the topics covered business, philosophy, anthropology, science….

• I exposed him to 25 different errors commonly asked in GMAT sentence correction. I didn’t go back to high school grammar. I found that, the knowledge in high school grammar is too elementary to teach sophisticated error identification.

• For critical reasoning, I took him through a course in logic. I taught him how to identify arguments, how to identify fallacies in the argument. I designed an algorithm (a step by step process) to arrive at an answer for critical reasoning questions. There are 10 different types of CR questions. Hence 10 different algorithms.

• For math I taught him how to critically analyze mathematical problem, how to determine the variables in a problem, how to define relationships in the variables, how to derive hidden relationships. How to diagram the problem.

• Further I taught him faster means of solving equations, working backwards with the answer options and also how to effectively eliminate answers by using deductive reasoning.

• I taught him for 3 weeks and then I gave him problems to practice on and told him to classify problems in the OG.

• I told him to take 4 full tests. He was averaging around 620 in them.

He eventually got 660.

I wish he had met me earlier, he could have saved one GMAT attempt .

For him 650 was his target score.

For a person to reach 720+, a different strategy is employed.  More on that in my next post.

GMAT sentence correction - online live classes

Contact me  @ 9884123808.. (This is also  my Whatsapp number)

"Purposeful" practice vs "just" practice..

"Purposeful" practice vs "just" practice.. I read this book before. I feel like sharing this page A GMAT coach will work on making a better you... A coach will

• teach you the basic skills
• reinforce the basic skills through drills
• re-orient your path, if the current path is not working
• motivate you to achieve high performance
• help you maximize your performance in minimum time using time-tested approaches.

Feel free to chat and lets work on a study plan together... George.. GMAT coach(since 2008)
My linkedin profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgeanand

GMAT math thinking skills 4

Topic: Number system

Difficulty level: Average

You will get word problems like this in your exams.

The concepts involved in this problem are

1. Equations

Method 1:

This method will take time as you need to read the question,  write equations, and solve them. Time consuming!!

First let us assume variable x

Method 2:

The previous approach involves equations. Some of us

• don’t like solving equations
• tend to make errors while solving equations..

This approach is faster, involves using answer options as an additional tool to arrive at the answer

First you need to arrive at the equation as described earlier

Hence option D should be the correct answer

Take-away:

Use the answer options . substitute them in the equation and check if  the Left hand side of the equation  = right hand side of the equation)

Watch this tutorial video and understand mathematical reasoning skills..

You can excel in math once you learn these skills.

Ready for more

Try another sum

Solution here

http://letsgmat.blogspot.com/2020/08/gmat-math-thinking-skills-5.html