Component skills to master GMAT reading comprehension

GMAT reading comprehension tests you on many component skills.

There are a lot more analytical skills that go into high performance in the verbal. Here is a set of skills – of recognizing the fine differences between the list of terms.

Label passages into narrative, argumentative, expository, descriptive
Recognize- main points of the passage, factors, examples
Relate- between causes and effects, major and minor ideas
Critique- the author’s assertions
Translate- abstract and figurative expressions into more precise and literal language
Apply- information in the passage in hypothetical contexts
Draw- logical conclusions, inferences
Analyze- a text for weaknesses, strengths, validity
Compare and contrast different points of view
Recognize the organization of the passage
Integrate- new ideas into the passage
Defend/ rebut-the author’s position

For high score verbal, acquire a copy of RC topper module at.
Email your queries to urmentor@semanticslearning.com



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GMAT sentence correction error types

Re-write the following sentences correctly

Error type: Subject verb disagreement
1. When temperature increases, the ice caps melt and presumably, causes flood in summer.

Error type: Parallelism
2. The panel of contractual savings has suggested three major recommendations, namely, benchmarking of small savings against government securities, retain tax sops only on savings with maturities in excess of six years and transferring of the entire proceeds of small savings collections to states.

Error type: idiomatic construction
3. Some of’ the biographers of Leonardo have actually expressed regret that such a man, endowed by divine artistic genius would waste precious years of his life on such a lowly pursuit like engineering.

Error type: Misplaced modifier
4. Instituted by the law council, three years to a review of the legal profession was devoted by the task force.

Error type: Tense consistency

5. Debono’s recent research on cognitive processes had revealed that managers used intuition in distinct ways.

Error type: Countable, non countable noun use
6. During the economic recession, the wages of much unskilled workers were so less that many of them lived in abject poverty.

Error type: Pronoun and noun agreement
7. Almost a century ago biologists found that if it separated an animal embryo into two parts at an early stage, they would survive and develop as two normal embryos.

Error type: Illogical comparison
8. Unlike Singapore, the roads in Hong Kong are asphalted twice a year when the monsoon comes to an end.

Error type: Adjective adverb use
9. This perfect sound method to portray the text as it originally stood, is quite imaginative and with creativity than the new interpretation.

Error type: Faulty Diction
10. A policy outlook on the status of children in a country is essential but not quiet well enough condition to make a difference to the future of a generation.


There are 15 more error. In total there are 25 error types often tested in the GMAT. To know more information click http://www.semanticslearning.com/gmat-usage.asp


To download the entire error list and study notes click here.http://www.semanticslearning.com/downloads/GMATSentence_Correction.zip

Email me at enquiry@semanticslearning.com for doubts and queries. A GMAT verbal faculty will answer them.



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How to improve your GMAT score by 100 points

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

He visited me, a month back. He had written GMAT and had got a score of 500. He had prepared for a month earlier. This was his preparation

1. He devoured the official guide twice. He practiced 25 sentence correction questions, 50 math(problem solving and data sufficiency questions) and 5 RC passages daily.
2. He had 3 GB of downloaded GMAT material, from which he practiced random questions daily.
3. He took up the GMAC test software twice, a week before the exam.

These were the observations I could make out.

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 he had a fairly strong vocabulary. 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.

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. 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. (Engineering knowledge was useful here:-)) There are 7 different types of CR questions. Hence 7 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 two 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 650.
I wish he had met me earlier, he could have saved one GMAT attempt cost $250.

For further guidance mail me at george@semanticslearning.com. Lets see who I interact with next. Ill post my experiences of mentoring him/her.


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An Analytical focus to GMAT

IIM CAT gets lots of space in discussion forums(thanks to the Prometric goof up), while its international cousin, GMAT, though revered for its reliability, is hardly discussed. Now that GMAT is used by a good number of B. Schools in India, IIMA( PGPX), ISB Hyderabad, IIMB( PGSEM), GLIM Chennai, to name a few, let’s give it its due and take a closer look at it.

GMAT tests verbal( sentence correction, critical reasoning and reading comprehension), math(problem solving and data sufficiency), and analytical writing skills.

The test assesses diverse competencies the prerequisites of which are strong fundamentals, the ability to think laterally and an analytical approach to sentence formation( grammar), critical reasoning, reading comprehension and quantitative problem solving.

Retake ,retake
GMAT is arguably the most repeated test. Twice, thrice. At times four attempts. Given that B.chools require 670+/800 thorough preparation is indispensable. The preparation cannot be confined to taking computer based tests or solving questions from the official guide. An overload of practice material in the internet has also mostly caused confusion among test takers- how much of it is adequate and if all relevant topics are covered.

Miracles do not happen
A reading comprehension section requires one to analyse and evaluate varied topics from economics, literature, philosophy, science, history. One who is planning to do GMAT should start early by extensive reading of such texts( The Hindu, Tuesday open page, Thursday Science and Technology and Sunday literary magazine are excellent sources. )this can be followed by reading comprehension(RC) tests of good quality. Always analyse the passages after the test. To score well in the Reading Comprehension a good diction is a must. For instance you must know the fine difference between explain, argue, propose, analyse, evaluate(words that summarise the primary purpose of the passage). And disinterested(not uninterested), biased, apprehensive - to cite a few terms depicting the author’s attitude toward the issue under discussion.
For the critical reasoning section there is a lot to learn about argument formation, argument types, argument evaluation and fallacies in arguments. One should know all the terminology that comprise the philosophy of argument( inductive generalization, argument by analogy, flaws in reasoning, post hoc fallacy to mention a few) from a whole spectrum of logic.
Sentence correction needs a lot of preparation. Requirements of standard written English, syntactical formats( eg. hardly…when, as much …as, so…that ), effective expressions( placing modifiers at the right place, avoiding unnecessary repetitions , ambiguity, choosing appropriate words).


The problem solving section of the GMAT is not as challenging as that of CAT. However, since most GMATers have a gap in academics, a thorough review of basics of math is a good start. This can be followed by strategy building- analyzing numerical problems, diagramming problems, substitution of suitable values, forming equations, forming hypothesis and testing , assessing the adequacy of data and the like.
The essays need attention- brainstorming on topics, learning the intricacies of argument analysis and adequate practice on timed organized writing.

In sum, to a reasonable degree, GMAT tests a candidate’s preparedness for the rigours of business education and business careers thereafter. Those competencies involve quantitative analysis, critical thinking, decision making, divergent thinking, Interpreting and evaluating complex data, and expressing ideas coherently and persuasively. These skills are reflected in the GMAT. Study well and crack it the first attempt itself.

For guidance email urmentor@semanticslearning.com







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Happy New year

Lets GMAT all its followers a very very happy new year. May all of you get 750+ in the GMAT:-)


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Merry Christmas

letsgmat wishes you a Merry Christmas:-)



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Check your GMAT skills

Your GMAT prep – how should it be? What skills should you build

Conceptual clarity

Basic mathematics- strong fundamentals in algebra, arithmetic, geometry- theorems, rules, equations, formula, counting methods, speed of calculation.

Basic skills: verbal – reading skills- familiarity with a wide range of topics- science, history, philosophy, economics- literature. Ability to read varied texts with speed. Ability to speak and write correct English, a good vocabulary- ability to glean the meaning of words in context.
Basic skill – writing- ability to organize ideas in a logical order. Ability to write grammatically correct sentences. Ability to use forceful words to express ideas. General knowledge- awareness of varied current issues and topics of interest.

Analytical skills
Ability to analyse quantitative problems , arguments- identify logic underlying arguments, flaws in reasoning- ability to analyse abstract passages, complex sentences for errors.
Ability to analyse question requirement – critical reasoning, reading comprehension and certain quantitative questions accompanying problems. Ability to analyse purpose of arguments, passages.

Strategy application skills:
Ability to transfer learning to similar problem contexts, ability to identify commonness of problems and questions. Ability to improvise a solution plan. To evaluate arguments and assertions. To gauge the subtle differences between options.





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Management options for students with 0 years work experience

If you have just finished college and you want to opt for a management program, chances are that the top Business schools in the world will not admit you to their MBA programs. Instead you can opt for the masters program in management from the same colleges..

These programs require 0 years work experience and the universities offer 100% scholarship for their programs. Student with 15 years of education can apply to these programs. Here are some of the universities.

University	Masters Program	Admission criteria	Work experience
London School of Economics	Finance	GMAT (Average  score 700)	0
SDA Bocconi Italy	International management, Marketing management, Finance, Economics, Economics and Social science, Economics and Management of Innovation and Technology	GMAT (Average  score 650)	0
HEC France	finance, financial economics, Sustainable development, International Business	GMAT(Average  score 620)	0
HSG( St gallen Switzerland)	Information, media and technology management, Accounting and Finance, Economics	GMAT(Average  score 650)	0
Nanyang university Singapore	Finance	GMAT (Average  650)	0
Esade Spain	Management	GMAT (Average  680)	0
Rotterdam School of management, Netherlands	Human resource management, Organizational change, accounting	GMAT(Average  score 650)	0
Hult	International Business	GMAT (Average  score 600)	0

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What to write for your MBA essays

Is cooking up info in your essays good?

How do you project your uniqueness?

What is your long term goal? Entrepreneurship?

Many of you often ask me: what should I write for MBA essays.

Lets read what the ISB’s admissions director had to say about this.

http://www.isb.edu/Blog/admissionsdirector





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a new course from ISB for senior executives

Here is a program tailor made for Executives in the fourties.
If life begins at 40, a new career horizon can also begin at 40.Atleast that is what ISB hyderabad believes with the introduction of the 15 month part time PGPMAX.

Who doesn't want to go back to the classroom. Those who have not yet conquered the highest levels of the leadership pipeline(let us says levels: functional management, group management & enterprise management),this could well be the passport to those positions.

The program involves overseas trip, classes at Wharton,and meeting head honchos of the industry. Program will commence from June 2010.

Visit www.isb.edu for more details



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MBA aspirants preferring Indian Bschools over foreign Bschools

As per figures available with GMAC, 42% of the full time MBA programs in the US reported a decline in the number of foreign applicants, of these as many as 70% reported the largest decrease in number of applications from India, says a recent report.
Many MBA graduates claim that a one-year program from an Indian Bschool will get a better job profile in India (if he wants to settle and work in India) than a foreign MBA. Cost is also another major factor which makes MBA aspirants apply to Indian Bschools (which use GMAT scores for admission). MBA aspirants perceive that Indian schools offer quality education at a comparatively lower cost.
There are 24 Indian bschools (including select programs from the IIM’s) which accept GMAT scores.
A partial list:
ISB Hyderabad, GLIM Chennai, NMIMS Mumbai, IIMA PGPX, MDI PGPX, Exec MBA programs from top B-schools…..



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Hypothesis testins as a tool for GMAT math problem solving

Certain problems require you to formulate a hypothesis and verify. The relationships between relevant variables which are yet unknown but promise to offer solution in full or in part forms the basis of this method. Such formulations are tested for validity and accepted or rejected. More than one hypothesis can be formulated in a problem context. These hypothesis have to be examined and reformulated.

Errors which occur during hypothesis testing
(1) Overlooking certain data
(2) Overemphasizing data which give positive conclusions while failing to give sufficient importance on data which falsifies information.

The following sum is a tough mathematical problem where skill of hypothesizing information and testing it comes forth.

Fifteen years back Mrs. John had only three daughters Rachael, Annie, Mary and their combined age was half of hers. During the next 5 years, Thomas was born. At that time Mrs. John’s age equaled the total of all her children’s ages. After some years George was born and then Rachael was as old as Mary and Thomas together. And now, the combined age of all the children is double Mrs. John’s age, which is only equal to that of Rachael and Annie together. Rachael’s age is also equal to the combined age of the two sons’.

What is Mrs. John’s age?

1. 39        2. 34          3. 29         4.24

This sum takes a long time if you solve by writing equations.

It can be solved faster by hypothesizing a data and testing the hypothesis wrt to other conditions.

First let us interpret the problem carefully and diagram it.

PROBLEM ANALYSIS

Information which is direct
• 15 years back Mrs. John had only three children Rachael, Mary and Annie. Mrs. John’s age was double the sum of the ages of her children.
• Sometime between 15 and ten years back, Thomas was born. At that time Mrs. John’s age was equal to the sum of the 3 children
• Between 10 years back and present time, George was born. At that time Rachael was as old as Mary and Thomas together.
• At present the combined age of all the children is double Mrs. John’s age. Mrs. John’s age is equal to the sum of Rachael and Annie. Rachael’s age is equal to the sum of George and Thomas

Implicit information
• All the ages are whole positive number, there are no fractions.
• Thomas’s age must be less than 15 and near 15. As 15 years back Mrs. John had only 3 children
• The last statement states that Rachael’s age + Annie’s age = Mary’s age + Thomas’s age + George’s age.
Rachael’s age = George’s age + Thomas’s age and Mrs. John = Rachael’s age + Annie’s age

PROBLEM CONVERSION

Mrs. John -  Time line- Rachael-Annie-Mary-Thomas-      George

T+G+A    -   Present  - T+G    -A      -A      -T         -G

Where T is Thomas age, A is Annies age and G is Georges age
We can conclude that Annie and Mary were twins


We will assume data from the questions
Let us hypothesize that Thomas’s age is 12. (9 is far away from 15).
{If we don’t get the answer using T =12 we can conclude that T = 9. Other options are wrong.}

Lets verify our hypothesis.

Rachael must be the eldest daughter . Let us assume that Rachael age must be 21 other options are close to 15 and as she is the eldest we will assume the biggest number
So George’s age must be 9 ( question 4 seems to be satisfied)

Mrs. John -  Time line- Rachael-Annie-Mary-Thomas-George

                    15 yrs back-6     -

                     12 yrs back-9    -                         -0(Thomas born)

                      10 yrs back-11 -                        - 2

                      9 yrs back - 12 -                        -3     -0(Georges born)

                      5 yrs back  - 16-                        7       - 4

T+G+A              Present  -21 -     A-   A-       12      -   9

Using the info: Between 10 years back and present time, George was born. At that time Rachael was as old as Mary and Thomas together.
It can be concluded that Mary was 9 as 12 = Mary’s age + 3
Hence Annie’s age was also 39

Mrs. John -  Time line- Rachael-Annie-Mary-Thomas-George

                    9 yrs back- 12     -  9      -9     -  3        - 0(Georges born)

Filling our table
All the children’s age 9 yrs back can be calculated.
Their present ages can also be calculated including Mrs. John age

Mrs. John -  Time line- Rachael-Annie-Mary-Thomas-George

39            -  Present   - 21        -18    - 18   -   12      -  9

Mrs. John -  Time line- Rachael-Annie-Mary-Thomas-George

24          -  15 yrs back -  6     -      3  -   3

               -12 yrs back  -  9      -    6   -   6 -  0(Thomas born)

               - 10 yrs back - 11                        -  2

                - 9 yrs back  - 12     -   9    -   9  -  3       -0(Georges born)

               -  5 yrs back   -16                         - 7        -  4

      39       -Present     - 21       -  18    -  18  -12     -   9

Now the table can be completed and the all the answers can be calculated

What is Mrs. John’s age? - 39
What is the age of the eldest daughter? - 21
What is the age of the eldest son, Thomas ? -12
What is the age of the youngest child? - 9



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How do I start my GMAT prep

For GMAT first timers

To all of you who are starting you GMAT math prep try these set of sums and check your math readiness. Email me your score and the approximate month you will be taking your GMAT. Ill mail you your study plan along with the relevant study resources.

 

You can email me your scores at mrgeorge.anand@gmail.com
Cheers



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Financing your MBA

Recession or no recession, a MBA degree from USA or UK remains the number one priority for many undergraduate/ graduates in countries across the world. The only constraint for many students is the huge fee.

Public sector banks in India for instance offer loans up-to INR 20 lakhs, interest rates vary from 10-13%.Banks abroad provide similar funding. In fact there is a concession ranging from 50 – 100 basis points for female students.

Banks insist on students depositing 15% of the total loan if the overseas loan size exceeds Rs.4lakhs. No collateral is required for loans up-to Rs.4lakh. For loans beyond INR 4lakhs it is required to furnish suitable tangible collateral security like fixed deposits, NSS etc.

Repayment of loans begins immediately after student secures employment or six months, post completion of the course. Repayment tenure is 5 years to 7 years.
It is also possible to get loans from banks based in the US. Several B-schools have tie up with banks, it is advisable to apply to those colleges which offers loan cum admission.

To get scholarships in the UK visit www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk and check whether your educational provider is registered with UK border agency.

Cost of MBA program in the US : $25000-$70000 per annum*
Cost of MBA program in the UK : 10000- 40000Pounds per annum*
*inclusive of tuition fee and living expense.

Source- The Economic Times



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Science of high performance in the GMAT -1 : Is GMAT Official guide sufficient?

Official guide- published by the GMAC has a list of 800+ questions (11th edition). There are around 230 problem solving (math) questions.. However I feel that this list represents the easier problems in the GMAT.

To break into the 720+ it is imperative that you have to solve tougher higher difficulty problems. (This is true for the verbal section also)

What is a higher order problem?
A higher order problem is problem which has
• A situation which can otherwise be solved by identifying the concept/formula and applying the same directly
• A complexity present in the problem which acts as a stumbling block, thereby preventing you from getting an answer directly.

When approaching a higher problem first

1. Identify the concept involved
2. Identify the complexity in the problem
3. Remove the complexity and if possible arrive at a result
4. Modify the complexity in such a manner the complexity gets integrated into the problem and this results in  a   newer problem
5. Solve the new problem by directly applying the concept.

Let me highlight a higher order problem. Watch how I analyzed the problem and how I solved.

A car moving at 45 kmph and is chasing a two wheeler that is moving at 30 kmph. The distance between the car and the two wheeler at 10:00 am is 48 kms. The car stops at 11:30 am for 15 mins to fill fuel and moves at 45 kmph. When will the car meet the two-wheeler?

1.12.42 pm      2.1:42 pm           3.1:57 pm          4. 1:47 pm  5. 1:30pm

Try this problem independently first, then read further.
Let me take you through the problem in the science of thinking* approach toward higher order problem solving.

The concept – Time, speed and distance, Relative velocity involving two bodies moving towards each other.
The complexity – The stoppage time of the car. At 11:30 am the car stops for 15 mins.

Eliminate the complexity first
If the car didn’t stop at 11:30 then the time taken by both the bodies to meet is determined using the relationship
Time taken to meet = Initial distance between the bodies/ relative velocity
= 48/(45 -30) { Relative velocity when two bodies move in the same direction = difference of their speeds, hence 45-30 =15)
= 48/15= 3.2hrs

Modification of the complexity
As you would have observed if the complexity is eliminated the problem can be solved directly. As per the problem. The car travels till 11:30 and then stops for 15mins. So you might calculate the distance travelled by each body from 10:00 till 11:30 and then calculate the distance travelled by the two wheeler for that extra 15mins and then proceed. This complicates the problem.
Instead you can restructure the problem in such a way that the complexity gets integrated into the problem and doesn’t get noticed.

Here you can shift the 15min time interval from 11:30 to 10:00 such that the car starts only at 10:15 instead of 10:00. Hence the initial distance increases from 48 to 48 + (distance travelled by two wheeler for 15mins) = 48 + 7.5 =55.5kms

Hence now there is no stoppage time at 11:30.
Time taken to meet = Initial distance between the bodies/ relative velocity
= 55.5/(45 -30) = 55.5/15= 3.7hrs = 3hrs 42minutes
Meeting time =10:15 + 3 : 42 = 13: 57
You would get higher order problems only if the adaptive algorithm decides that you deserve questions of this difficulty.
So for those of you who aim to crack the 720+ barrier. Practice on higher order problems.


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