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How To Improve
[#permalink]
09 Dec 2018, 19:39
09 Dec 2018, 19:39
Hello everyone,
I am looking for advice on my current situation. I recently took my first ETS practice test. I scored a 156V and 146Q. Prior to the practice test, I spent roughly 100 hours relearning the math material necessary. During this time the only topics I did not cover were data interpretation and geometry. My practice tests asked roughly 8 or so geometry questions I simply did not know the formulas to and I had not seen data interpretation prior to my test. In addition to this, I noticed I have timing issues and have a hard time completing the math section.
I am needing a 157-159Q. I do not have a test date yet and the masters program I am applying to is being pretty flexible with deadline dates, as the rest of my application is competitive. I simply just need to get a decent math score to round out my application.
Is there anyone who could offer some insight on what it takes to make this much of an improvement? I am willing to study/work as much as possible. I wasn't the best at standardized test in high school and have a hard time staying in the right mindset. Some people say this jump is possible with the right kind of studying and other people say it is too big of a jump. Does anyone have any thoughts?
Thanks for the help in advance!
I am looking for advice on my current situation. I recently took my first ETS practice test. I scored a 156V and 146Q. Prior to the practice test, I spent roughly 100 hours relearning the math material necessary. During this time the only topics I did not cover were data interpretation and geometry. My practice tests asked roughly 8 or so geometry questions I simply did not know the formulas to and I had not seen data interpretation prior to my test. In addition to this, I noticed I have timing issues and have a hard time completing the math section.
I am needing a 157-159Q. I do not have a test date yet and the masters program I am applying to is being pretty flexible with deadline dates, as the rest of my application is competitive. I simply just need to get a decent math score to round out my application.
Is there anyone who could offer some insight on what it takes to make this much of an improvement? I am willing to study/work as much as possible. I wasn't the best at standardized test in high school and have a hard time staying in the right mindset. Some people say this jump is possible with the right kind of studying and other people say it is too big of a jump. Does anyone have any thoughts?
Thanks for the help in advance!
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Re: How To Improve
[#permalink]
21 Dec 2018, 18:07
21 Dec 2018, 18:07
Expert Reply
Hi alw2aj,
I’m glad you reached out, and I’m happy to help. First off, a quant increase from 146 to 157+ IS POSSIBLE, so don't’ let anyone tell you otherwise
. That being said, since you scored a Q146, it’s clear that you lack the GRE quant fundamentals you need for a high score. To improve your quant skills, you need to follow a linear study plan that allows you to learn gradually so that you are starting with the foundations of each quant topic and then moving to more advanced concepts. Let me expand on this idea further.
Let’s say you are learning about Number Properties. First, spend time learning about the various topics within Number Properties, such as LCM, GCF, units digit patterns, divisibility, remainders, etc. Once you have developed conceptual knowledge, practice what you have learned by answering 50 or more questions just from Number Properties. When you do dozens of questions of the same type one after the other, you learn just what it takes to get questions of that type correct consistently. If you aren't getting close to 90 percent of questions of a certain type correct, go back and seek to better understand how that type of question works, and then do more questions of that type until you get to around at least 90 percent accuracy in your training. If you get 100 percent of some sets correct, even better. Number Properties is just one example; follow this process for all quant topics.
When you are working on learning to answer questions of a particular type, start off taking your time, and then seek to speed up as you get more comfortable answering questions of that type. As you practice, do a thorough analysis of each question that you don't get right. If you get a remainder question wrong, ask yourself why. Did you make a careless mistake? Did you not properly apply the remainder formula? Was there a concept you did not understand in the question? By carefully analyzing your mistakes, you will be able to efficiently fix your weaknesses and in turn improve your GRE quant skills.
Each time you strengthen your understanding of a topic and your skill in answering questions of a particular type, you increase your odds of hitting your score goal. You know that there are types of questions that you are happy to see and types that you would rather not see, and types of questions that you take a long time to answer correctly. Learn to more effectively answer the types of questions that you would rather not see, and make them into your favorite types. Learn to correctly answer in 1 minute and 45 seconds or less questions that you currently take five minutes to answer. By finding, say, a dozen weaker quant areas and turning them into strong areas, you will make great progress toward hitting your quant score goal. If a dozen areas turn out not to be enough, strengthen some more areas.
So, work on accuracy and generally finding correct answers, work on specific weaker areas one by one to make them strong areas, and when you take a practice GRE or the real thing, take all the time per question available to do your absolute best to get right answers consistently. The GRE is essentially a game of seeing how many right answers you can get in the time allotted. Approach the test with that conception in mind, and focus intently on the question in front of you with one goal in mind: getting a CORRECT answer.
In order to follow the path described above, you may need some additional quant materials, so take a look at the GRE Prep Club reviews of the top quant courses. Also, you may find it helpful to read this article about how to improve your GRE quant score.
Please reach out with any further questions.
Good luck!
I’m glad you reached out, and I’m happy to help. First off, a quant increase from 146 to 157+ IS POSSIBLE, so don't’ let anyone tell you otherwise
. That being said, since you scored a Q146, it’s clear that you lack the GRE quant fundamentals you need for a high score. To improve your quant skills, you need to follow a linear study plan that allows you to learn gradually so that you are starting with the foundations of each quant topic and then moving to more advanced concepts. Let me expand on this idea further.Let’s say you are learning about Number Properties. First, spend time learning about the various topics within Number Properties, such as LCM, GCF, units digit patterns, divisibility, remainders, etc. Once you have developed conceptual knowledge, practice what you have learned by answering 50 or more questions just from Number Properties. When you do dozens of questions of the same type one after the other, you learn just what it takes to get questions of that type correct consistently. If you aren't getting close to 90 percent of questions of a certain type correct, go back and seek to better understand how that type of question works, and then do more questions of that type until you get to around at least 90 percent accuracy in your training. If you get 100 percent of some sets correct, even better. Number Properties is just one example; follow this process for all quant topics.
When you are working on learning to answer questions of a particular type, start off taking your time, and then seek to speed up as you get more comfortable answering questions of that type. As you practice, do a thorough analysis of each question that you don't get right. If you get a remainder question wrong, ask yourself why. Did you make a careless mistake? Did you not properly apply the remainder formula? Was there a concept you did not understand in the question? By carefully analyzing your mistakes, you will be able to efficiently fix your weaknesses and in turn improve your GRE quant skills.
Each time you strengthen your understanding of a topic and your skill in answering questions of a particular type, you increase your odds of hitting your score goal. You know that there are types of questions that you are happy to see and types that you would rather not see, and types of questions that you take a long time to answer correctly. Learn to more effectively answer the types of questions that you would rather not see, and make them into your favorite types. Learn to correctly answer in 1 minute and 45 seconds or less questions that you currently take five minutes to answer. By finding, say, a dozen weaker quant areas and turning them into strong areas, you will make great progress toward hitting your quant score goal. If a dozen areas turn out not to be enough, strengthen some more areas.
So, work on accuracy and generally finding correct answers, work on specific weaker areas one by one to make them strong areas, and when you take a practice GRE or the real thing, take all the time per question available to do your absolute best to get right answers consistently. The GRE is essentially a game of seeing how many right answers you can get in the time allotted. Approach the test with that conception in mind, and focus intently on the question in front of you with one goal in mind: getting a CORRECT answer.
In order to follow the path described above, you may need some additional quant materials, so take a look at the GRE Prep Club reviews of the top quant courses. Also, you may find it helpful to read this article about how to improve your GRE quant score.
Please reach out with any further questions.
Good luck!
gmatclubot
Re: How To Improve [#permalink]
21 Dec 2018, 18:07
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