Feeling a bit lost on studying for the quant section...

[correlatesoftheory]

Greetings,

 

 

I began studying for the GRE about three weeks ago and registered for the actual exam on September 9th. I started off using just Magoosh and the official book and based my studying habits off of Magoosh's 90 day study plan. However, after a while, I felt it was going a bit slow, and so I just focused on the quantitative stuff versus the verbal (I feel that verbal is my strength). However, after doing one practice question after another, I just didn't feel like I was improving. 

 

So, I signed up for Kaplan's GRE tutoring. I took a diagnostic exam and got a 157V and a 144Q. This freaked me out--a lot. After one session with Kaplan's tutoring, and doing some research on their quant preparation, I realized it wouldn't be enough to step me up to the 160s, which is what I'm aiming for, and so I decided to ditch Kaplan.

 

Now, I feel lost. I have a few simple questions: first, did you make a lot of mistakes on GRE quant problems before getting better? How should I prepare for the next month and a half? Or am I just screwed? I see that Magoosh has a one-month study plan, and will probably focus mainly on the quant stuff. 

 

Let me know your experience in studying for this thing. I'm willing to take the GRE more than once (once in September, October, and November). 

 

Thanks! 

Edited July 19, 2015 by correlatesoftheory

[PoliticalOrder]

There is no easy solution to improving the quant section. But the best way to improve is just to learn the concepts and do as many questions as possible.

 

If you are scoring below 150 you have to realize that you are not up to par on the basic techniques of the test. You have to think of the quant section like a tree. You need to be able to take the low hanging fruit and efficiently before you can get the higher and tougher fruit (which will give you the higher score).

 

Hammer out a lot of number properties, algebra, and arithmetic questions. These basic fundamentals are tied to virtually every question in the section. If you can't do basic concepts like algebraic expressions, exponents, radicals, and fractions then you won't able able to tackle the medium and tougher questions on the test. 

 

Algebra is especially important...75% of questions regardless of type you will need to use at least simple algebra to solve it.

 

If you are using Magoosh, watch the lesson videos on those subjects...then line up 50 easy or medium questions and watch the explanation videos of all them except when you totally understand the question and got it right quickly. Then do it again, and again, until there are no questions left except the hard ones.

Edited July 19, 2015 by PoliticalOrder

[firewitch]

I really like PoliticalOrder's advice.

 

Like you, I felt very comfortable with my verbal, and so I focused my study time (all summer!) on the quantitative. I don't think Magoosh was available, but used the number2.com website, and whatever was free at Kaplan, plus I had a book. I kept taking practice tests, and whatever types of problems I got wrong, I went back over my study guides for those topics, plus lots of mundane algebra practice to make it as much second-nature as possible.

 

In all of my practice tests, the highest I got on Q was 154, and that's what I ended up getting on exam day. I did well on the verbal, so I did not regret my strategy.

[GREMasterEMPOWERRichC]

Hi correlatesoftheory,

 

If you've only been studying for 3 weeks, you really haven't put that much time into the study process. Some Test Takers spend upwards of 3+ months on their GRE prep, so it's possible that you just haven't done enough work yet. That having been said, there's also a variety of ways to study for the GRE - and if you find that a particular resource doesn't seem to help you (or it's not a good match for your personality), then you might want to switch to a different resources. 

 

What are your overall score goals?

When are you planning to apply to Grad School?

 

GRE Masters aren't born, they're made,

Rich

[correlatesoftheory]

Hi correlatesoftheory,

 

If you've only been studying for 3 weeks, you really haven't put that much time into the study process. Some Test Takers spend upwards of 3+ months on their GRE prep, so it's possible that you just haven't done enough work yet. That having been said, there's also a variety of ways to study for the GRE - and if you find that a particular resource doesn't seem to help you (or it's not a good match for your personality), then you might want to switch to a different resources. 

 

What are your overall score goals?

When are you planning to apply to Grad School?

 

GRE Masters aren't born, they're made,

Rich

Score goals: 165 for verbal, which I'm confident I can achieve, and 160s for Quant, which I'm not as confident about. I'm applying this fall. Also, I'm aiming for a 5 on AWA. 

[grad29]

160Q is pretty realistic. Just keep working on it. Keep doing practice questions. Then, realize where you made mistakes on the questions you get wrong and improve. If you do enough questions like this, your score will keep rising. Scoring a 150Q isn't that hard, so don't be too worried. A 160Q takes a bit of working at though. I'm at around a 155Q-158Q after about a month of studying, but that has included studying for the other 2 sections as well. 

[mockturtle]

It may help at first to do a slew of practice problems, un-timed, while looking through Magoosh's math cheat sheet or something similar. Just search around until you identify the concepts/formulas/etc you're supposed to be applying to each question, and take absolutely however long you need to solve them. I honestly think that figuring out what a question is "really asking" might be the most important skill for a test-taker to have, and it should be pretty much intuitive by test day.

 

It might feel cheap, and it obviously won't recreate the reality of the test, but it seems like what you need most is to work on the foundation of your math technique, and adding a time constraint on top of that is probably just going to get in the way, right now. Once you've covered this, then you can start doing timed problems under the actual test conditions.

 

Seconding firewitch, I also found Number2.com helpful. I thought their practice problems were pretty difficult, but their little crash courses were spot on, and their breakdown of the quant section helped me to better focus my efforts. Kaplan's daily practice problems also helped me identify holes in my knowledge.

 

I received a 167Q, if that legitimizes my advice in any way.

[GREMasterEMPOWERRichC]

Hi correlatesoftheory,

 

Was that Kaplan MST the only Test that you've taken? And did you take the ENTIRE Test (including the Essays)?

 

I'd like to see how you score on one of the Official MSTs (you can download 2 for free from www.gre.org), but you have to take the ENTIRE Test, so that we can see how you handle the endurance 'challenges.' With that score set of score results, we can get a better sense of your true ability level. 

 

With your score goals, you're talking about a 24+ Scaled Score improvement, which is not likely to happen just by doing lots of practice questions. You're going to need a guided, structured study plan with an emphasis on the most important content and tactics.

 

GRE Masters aren't born, they're made,

Rich

[correlatesoftheory]

160Q is pretty realistic. Just keep working on it. Keep doing practice questions. Then, realize where you made mistakes on the questions you get wrong and improve. If you do enough questions like this, your score will keep rising. Scoring a 150Q isn't that hard, so don't be too worried. A 160Q takes a bit of working at though. I'm at around a 155Q-158Q after about a month of studying, but that has included studying for the other 2 sections as well. 

Yes at first I started studying for both, but when I realized my verbal is quite good, I haven't been studying for it as much. So now I have about a month and a half to just drill for quantitative. 

[Mystic_Fog]

I'm in the same boat as you. I started with a 146 Q and 154 V from Powerprep as a baseline and after about 2-3 weeks of intense studying and getting through 1/3 of Magoosh's math videos  (I'm almost done with algebra) and a handful of verbal videos, my latest V is 159 and my Q is 144 based from my kaplan practice test. YIKES. I think a big part of it is just that after re-learning math, you start to over-think it. I've decided to focus more energy on doing problems then watching videos, because it's more engaging. I've also order the Manhattan 5 ib book, as I've heard good things about it. I think the key is to focus on strategy and doing enough practice problems to become comfortable and reinforce/extend your knowledge.

[GREMasterEMPOWERRichC]

Hi Mystic_Fog,

 

While I agree that working through a certain number of practice questions is an essential part of the process, you have to be mindful of the format and style of the material that you work through. The GRE is not a pencil-and-paper Test, but if you train in that 'format', then you aren't really preparing in the most realistic and test-like way possible. No book can truly prepare you for the full GRE 'event', so you might want to invest in some computer-based resources that mirror what you'll face on Test Day.

 

GRE Masters aren't born, they're made,

Rich

[random_grad]

Lots of great advice above !

If I may include my 50 cents:

Initially my quant score was around 150 but I ended up with 170 at the test after 1.5 month prep.

First, I familiarized myself with different types of questions that can arise. Not just the different sections but that sometimes the same type of problem can appear in dofferent sections. McGraw and Hill book identifies those well. You need to master these standard questions to do them fast.

Second, I identified areas where I lacked formulas and learned them. Here I used the standard learning techniques I use for any type of memorization so pick whichever works for you. And of course applied formulas to lots of exercises. It is important to outline every step, not take shortcuts during the phase when you initially learn the material. That s how you learn math . Once internalized, you will be able to take shortcuts to solve things faster. I do not agree with the advice above that GRE is not a paper test. It s whatever you find easier. Personally, writing almost all questions and drawing figures was essential on test day.

Third, since I had time, I identified the remaining areas of weakness and forced myself to get them through analysis, formulas and exercises. It may be hard but let me tell you that some of these things were brand new to me or had always posed problem. I thought I d better skip them but in the end turns GRE just adds formulas, not conceptual difficulty to what you might have learned in high school. No integrals, after all.

Overall the GRE tests attention to detail. Many times the error is that you solved the equation but the question asked for 5x not just your x. Yet one of the answers is x and you eagerly pick that. That s why it s important to write things in detail and write 5x and circle it at the top if you set up an equation for x.

Edited July 25, 2015 by random_grad

[Mystic_Fog]

Hi Mystic_Fog,

 

While I agree that working through a certain number of practice questions is an essential part of the process, you have to be mindful of the format and style of the material that you work through. The GRE is not a pencil-and-paper Test, but if you train in that 'format', then you aren't really preparing in the most realistic and test-like way possible. No book can truly prepare you for the full GRE 'event', so you might want to invest in some computer-based resources that mirror what you'll face on Test Day.

 

GRE Masters aren't born, they're made,

Rich

Perhaps I should have clarified. I am focusing more on doing the problems using the Magoosh software, which is computer based. I only ordered the Manhattan book as an additional resource, as I've heard the questions are similar to what you get on the GRE, and as I want to be able to have additional problems to do. My main issue is the conceptual knowledge of math, so I figured a book can't hurt if it might provide additional background knowledge.

[Brent@GreenlightGRE]

There are a lot of great websites out there to learn mathematical concepts, HOWEVER none of them address GRE-specific concepts and strategies (quantitative comparison strategies for one). Also, users are often exposed to concepts that are not tested on the GRE, and this can waste what remaining time you have. 

If possible, I suggest sticking with resources that a specifically towards the GRE.

 

Cheers,

Brent - Greenlight Test Prep 

[HYHY02]

I actually started studying for the GRE back in March, but I'm currently trying to finish up my masters as well (GRE was not required for my current program but is for PhD programs I'd like to apply to), so things got a bit sidetracked. I ended up doing a bit of vocab throughout that time, but never touched the math until early June (with me finally booking a mid Sept write date around the same time).

 

In regards to the math, I've been using both Magoosh and Manhattan prep (the entire book series). I kind of followed my own schedule, and although probably not the best method, I would plough through specific sectional Magoosh videos, then follow that up with the related Manhattan prep book.

 

What I quickly realized when going through both materials is that Manhattan prep was much better for going over the basics, and reinforcing them with many practice problems/drills. Magoosh on the other hand I felt didn't provide as solid of a foundation, mainly due to not providing many practice problems while learning each section, due to the main practice coming in the form of quizes at the end of each section. However, Magoosh I found was providing more difficult questions. So what did I do? I switched my study habits, where I would go through the Manhattan books first, along with the questions, and then after that was done, go through Magoosh as a review of the material again, as well as to learn more difficult questions that weren't addressed in the Manhattan books.

 

So just based on my experience, I would say if you're struggling with more of the foundational material, Manhattan prep may be a good resource to look into due to their simple explanations of the basics while providing numerous questions throughout to drill them in. Just my 2 cents, and I haven't even written the GRE yet, so who knows, maybe I'm not one to talk about what strategies work...

Edited July 26, 2015 by HYHY02

[GREMasterEMPOWERRichC]

Hi HYHY02,

 

Have you taken any MST Tests yet? If so, then how did you score? 

 

When it comes to preparing for the GRE, there are LOTS of resources to choose from, so if you find that some resources to help you to hit your score goals, then there are other options. Most GRE Companies offer free resources (practice problems, Trial Accounts, videos, etc.) so that you can 'test out' a product before you buy it. We have a variety of free resources at our website (www.empowergre.com). I suggest that all GRE Test Takers take full advantage of the free resources out there, then choose the product(s) that best match their personality, timeline and budget.

 

GRE Masters aren't born, they're made,

Rich