One Page to Bind them All
For the uninitiated, this list will act as the starting point. For those who’re already familiar with various GMAT strategies, this will act as a revision list:
GMAT Quant Strategies:
When you don’t have a formula, always go back to the basics:
- An equation with 2 variables x and y can be solved for both variables only if there is another equation.
- The angle on a straight line, a triangle and a semi-circle are always 180 degrees.
- Fractions, ratio, proportions, number properties problems can be easily understood and solved using a number line!
- When you do have a formula but you can’t seem to find the right answer, try a backup method.
- If the backup method doesn’t work, guess and move on.
- On DS questions, try reading the second statement first and then analyze the first one. You are less likely to mentally carry facts from the first statement to the second.
- 2 minutes is generally the limit. But, if you don’t know how to solve a question, you should quit immediately and guess, instead of wasting your time.
GMAT Verbal Strategies:
- A reading comp passage is not for “detailed scrutiny”. Read it in under 4 minutes without delving into the details.
- Directional words and tone are important on RC.
- For Critical reasoning questions, always remember that assumptions are the key in most cases.
- Always try to identify and differentiate between premises, examples, intermediate conclusions, and main conclusion.
- If you are unable to differentiate between the main and intermediate conclusions, try reading the whole argument and draw a logic diagram if you need to. Sort of like A->B B->C so C->A or A->C?
- Be careful not to invert causal relationships. The test makers love it when you do that. i.e. if A leads to C, its not necessary that C will also lead to A!
- For sentence correction questions, when all else fails, just look at the meaning and the relationships between nouns, pronouns, subjects, verbs and objects.
GMAT Test Taking Strategies
- Practice timing. Utilize one of the many timing strategies freely available on gmat forums.
- Hide the clock when possible.
- Do not fret about the first two sections. It’s the last two that count for the 800 score.
- Carry eatables, such as MARS bars, that release energy quickly. And utilize your breaks.
- Take a minor 30 second break after every 10 questions.
- If you fall behind on time, guess a question. It’s better than to rush in the end and get a series of questions wrong.
- Learn to leave your ego behind. When something doesn’t get solved, just quit. Not worth ruining your score over a single question.
- DO NOT practice much on the day before or even right before the test.
- DO NOT fall for the trap of learning something new right before the test.
- Stay calm. It’s just a test and you can take it again if it doesn’t go well.
GMAT Practice Strategies:
- Practice under timed conditions.
- However, when learning a new concept, you can practice untimed until you grasp the concept.
- Do not solve a hundred questions a day! Practice answering just 15 questions a day.
- Once the 15 questions are done, analyze them until you have extracted every last bit of information from those questions.
- Use a matrix to keep track of your progress in various sub-sections such as SC, DS, RC, etc.
- Keep a journal in which to note down new concepts or ‘thumb rules’ you run into while practicing.
- Keep an error log and revisit the question you answered incorrectly after a few weeks. Answer them and see if you get them right.
- Take the GMAT Prep test as many times as you want. Questions don’t always repeat and the software has a ton of new questions to offer.
- Test prep companies are in business for a reason. Most of them offer free flash cards, practice tests, etc. Utilize their services or books. But remember to rely on your hard work.
- When in doubt, ask people on the forums for their answers.
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Thanks for posting this collection of educational blogs.
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