GMAT Quantitative Tips
The GMAT quantitative section has two question types :
- Problem Solving
- Data Sufficiency
Lets discuss a few important tips and strategies. Please remember that this is not a definitive list, but this list constitutes the most important steps you ought to take.
Read the question closely and carefully :
Fortunately for most of us, GMAT tests only on basic, high school level math concepts. There is no calculus or trigonometry involved (phew!!). But, that does not mean that GMAT problems are easy. GMAT quantitative problems can get really tricky and difficult.
The difficulty lies in the way the problem is presented. Most of the times, it is the wording of the problem that makes the problem difficult or tricky. Sometimes, the questions are “new” math concepts that are a mixture of 2-3 different concepts.
Get into the habit of reading the questions carefully. Read it twice if you have to and make sure you know what is being said and what is being asked. This is very crucial.
Check if there is a short-cut, there almost always is :
You have to understand that GMAC is not out to test how accurately or how fast you calculate. It is out to test, how sound your understanding of underlying math concepts is. For this very reason, you will almost never face long computations.
The GMAT test-makers design the problems in such a way that it is generally unnecessary to carry out calculations. If you find yourself doing a long calculation, you most likely have done something wrong; You must have missed something critical in the question, or have taken the wrong approach.
So be on the look-out for traps and avoid falling into them. There always is a short-cut in the problem, provided you have trained yourself enough to see it.
Simply put, avoid unnecessary work !
Use your scratch paper :
Use the scratch paper to note down every important detail (with the mathematical units, if applicable) from the question. Otherwise, you may miss out something important under the exam stress.
Use the scratch paper to simplify the trickily worded questions into equations, diagrams, sketches or anything. Performing steps mentally, can actually slow you down. So, it is a good idea to get the habit of using the scratch paper.
Also, you have to be very careful while copying down details from the computer screen, as you run the risk of miscopying something. Use the scratch paper extensively during your practice to get used with copying information from questions and to get used to writing down as you think. Remember to use the scratch paper even for the simplest of problems.
Practice, Practice, Practice :
With practice, you can internalize all the above tips into your mental system. When you have enough practice, you will perform some steps almost intuitively and thus save a lot of time. Practice as many problems as possible and remember, each problem can teach you something. The more you practice, the more you get to learn.
Nothing beats practice.