Update - 24.12.10

With festive season upon us and my full family around, my study schedule is going a bit off! Still I am able to take out time to solve problems I get in my email and also read Manhattan SC 2003 edition whenever I can.

I solved 36 questions in SC and got 21 right. Need to take it further till the time I am able to score all questions right!

I have also taken the 700 Question Pack(with Video explanations for Answers) from BTG(Beat The GMAT).

More update later!


P.S.  - Wishing my readers a very Merry Christmas!

Diagnostic Test Review : Quants

After doing an in-depth review. This is what I came up with -

PS

DS

As you can see above-

• Many questions I just had no clue and hence couldn't even attempt on solving it. A lot of this would be taken care of as I regularly review the Math concepts.
• From Geometry most of them I couldn't solve as I was not aware of the formulas.
• Probability clearly is my weakest area. 
• Out of remaining either I was able to solve it fully or due to my carelessness couldn't get the right answer.

Diagnostic Test Review : Verbal

Which much excitement and curiosity I reviewed the Verbal section of the Diagnostic Test which I did a few days back. Without doubt I am much more confident with Verbal than with Quants and hence wanted to see where I made the mistakes. In Verbal I scored the most in RC(11/17) followed by SC(10/18) and then CR(7/17).

I have started reading the Manhattan SC Guide and when I went thru the SC review I could easily spot the mistakes. So am confident the next time I take the test, I would fare better in SC.

In many forums many people have emphasized and advised for making an error log to see where we went wrong in answering the problems and to review it further. In-fact this is also an integral part of GMAT Prep as much as Studying, doing practice test, reviewing, etc. 

I followed the advise and below is what mine looks like -

Now onto review of Quants, this one will be long...really long!

Results : Diagnostic Test

I have taken the Diagnostic Test from OG-12. Scores have been a disaster to say the least, specially in the Quants section.

Breakup -

Quants(14)
- PS(6)
- DS(8)


Verbal(28)
-RC(11)
-CR(7)

Quants is a major worry for me. I somehow get totally blank and clueless in this section. Also I am having difficulty applying and relating to concepts to the problems.

In Verbal many answers I thought I got it right, actually came out wrong. Also towards the end I was losing steam and just wanted to get over with the test, which I am sure also played a role in the scores. This was also a good reality check to be over-confident.

I am proceeding ahead with the very crucial and important review and analysis for the Diagnostic Test which should help me to sail my course from here on. I have made my own Error Log in Excel which I have been told is a must and integral part of Gmat Prep.

Will share my review and Error Log in the next post!

Any suggestions/advise is very much welcome!

Thanks!

Strategy : Data Sufficiency Videos from Beat The Gmat!

Data Sufficiency problems are an integral part of GMAT and can get real confusing and at times even deceiving!

Beat The GMAT got hold of Brent Hanneson who is a veteran GMAT Instructor to create a series of Videos, 14 to be precise on Data Sufficiency!

All these videos cover a lot of concepts and are super useful!

Check it out!

http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/gmat-data-sufficiency-videos

Update - 06.12.10

Things did today - 

• Day started off well, with more info gathering on various universities! So far I have covered most(of where I am interested) of Asia, Australia and Europe. Had sent a query mail to Monash, Australia 2 weeks back, no reply yet. Also sent a mail to Nanyang, Singapore, a week back, again no reply!  Tomorrow will start on the big list of UK/US B-Schools!

• Went thru Math Review from OG-12. (Page 106-140). Just 8 pages of Word Problems is left for review. Should have finished this too, but schedule went a bit hay-wire! Not good and no excuses, I messed up! Tomorrow first thing will be to review the concepts for Word Problems!

• Need to solve more problems on a daily basis. Been solving just 2-3 which is unacceptable! 

Things to do for tomorrow - 

1. Word Problems review(OG-12, pages 140-148)
2. Info gathering for UK/US B-Schools.
3. Diagnostic test from OG-12.

Try Out Kaplan 20 Minute Workout

Recently I came across Kaplan 20 Minute Workout, where they ask 16 questions in 20 minutes! Its more of game where they also have 3 lifelines(for the lack of a better word and this reminds me Kaun Banega Crorepati which is the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionare!) - Ask an Expert, 50/50 and Free Pass!

I enjoyed it thoroughly even though I couldn't finish the game as I answered 3 incorrect answers in succession! I scored 5/8, it started with CR where I got all the answers right and was followed by SC where except 1 I got all wrong and hence got evicted! :-(

May be I should have used the lifelines or may be not as in actual GMAT there are NO lifelines!


More about this 20 min workout - 

HOW TO PLAY:

The goal is to answer 16 practice questions and watch 4 instructional videos in less than 20 minutes. Reading the answer explanations does not count toward your 20 minutes.

Your workout ends after 3 incorrect answers. In case you need help, you have several available resources:

ASK AN EXPERT:

Not sure how to solve a problem, ask an expert from Kaplan for a hint.

50/50:

Deciding between two choices? Eliminate possible answer choices by selecting "50/50".

FREE PASS:

Not feeling very lucky? Use your Free Pass to skip the question without penalty.

 You can only use each tool once.

So are you ready to PLAY! 

http://www.kaplanworkout.com/play

Strategy : Prime Factorization

I am a subscriber of GMAT Hacks Question Of The Day where every alternate day of the weekday they email one Quant and one Verbal problem. Its a great way to make sure you are solving problems regularly and as many as possible. Whats also helpful is that they also mention the Answer(opens in a new window) and more importantly the explanation as to why the answer is what it is! You can and I suggest you should subscribe to this!

Today I came across a Quant problem in the subject of Prime Factorization. Though I didnt knew the answer, the explanation provided made sure I will never go wrong with such problems in future. For me it was like letting out a secret!

Since I am benefiting from a lot of blogs, its only fair that I share whatever I can on my blog!

Here it is -

The fastest way to find the number of factors of a large number is to take the exponent of each of the prime factors, raise it by one, and multiply them all together.


Lets take this into context with a problem from GMAT Hacks - 
***********************************************
How many different positive integers are factors of 378 ?
(A) 10
(B) 12
(C) 16
(D) 18
(E) 24

Answer is C.


Explanation - 


Start by finding the prime factorization of 378:
378 = 2(189)
= 2(9)(21)
= 2(3)(3)(3)(7)
= (2^1)(3^3)(7^1) 

In this case, the exponents are 1, 3, and 1. Raise them each by one, and you have 2, 4, and 2. Multiply them all together, and the result is 2(4)(2) = 16, choice (C)
***********************************************


There you go! Isn't it cool and REALLY helpful! 

Update : 1st December 2010

Been a bit busy lately. This is what I have been doing since last 3 days - 

• Got my OG 12, a book which I have been waiting for few days! Yet to start studying thru it! :-(
• Reviewing MATH Concepts from GMAT Prep. Since its been 10 years since I touched Math, just brushing and getting re-acquainted with concepts.
• Once I am done with this, will repeat the Math Review from OG 12, but this time will be making short notes which I can brush up quickly! 
• Probability, Permutations and Combinations is definitely my weakest spot in Quants! Need to study more, practice more problems!
• Have subscribed to few "Quant problem a day/Verbal problem a day" thru sites like "Beat The Gmat" and "GmatHack"! These are fantastic ways to make sure you are solving problems everyday. I recommend subscribing to them regardless of which stage you are in of your Gmat Prep! Also Beat The Gmat has a kick-ass forums where their daily questions are discussed! Very helpful! 
• Jamboree(India) have one new problem everyday on their Facebook group! Again, more problems you solve the better! 
• Researching on Universities is on! Some Uni's answer emails quite promptly, some in 1-2 days. But overall so far every Uni is good with answering our queries! Which is good! 
• Overall I need to speed up my studies! I feel I am lagging a bit! 

Thats all for now!

:-)

Must Read : GMAT Sections Overview

Any test, any exam can be very overwhelming at first, because you don't know what will be thrown at you. When I had decided to pursue GMAT seriously, I had no clue what it was all about, what type of questions will be asked and in what subjects/topics, what do I need to know, what do I need to re-learn, what do I need to learn from scratch. 


So the first thing which I recommend for everyone who are new to GMAT is to carefully and slowly go through the sections overview and understand what exactly you will be tested for and the type of questions you will be asked. 


I can explain it in my own words, but it would be prudent to hear what the makers of GMAT have to say : 


P.S. - All text below is from MBA.com.  

Analytical Writing Assessment Section

The Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) of the GMAT® is designed as a direct measure of your ability to think critically and to communicate your ideas.

The AWA consists of two 30-minute writing tasks—Analysis of an Issue and Analysis of an Argument.

The issues and arguments presented on the test concern topics of general interest related to business or a variety of other subjects. A specific knowledge of the essay topic is not necessary; only your capacity to write analytically is assessed.

Analysis of an Issue

For the Analysis of an Issue section, you will need to analyze the issue presented and explain your point of view on the subject. There is no correct answer. Instead, you should consider various perspectives. Use relevant reasons or examples drawn from your experience, observations, or reading to develop your own position on the issue.

What Is Measured

The Analysis of an Issue tests your ability to explore the complexities of an issue or opinion and, if appropriate, to take a position that is informed by your understanding.

• Sample Question

Analysis of an Argument

For the Analysis of an Argument section, you will need to analyze the reasoning behind a given argument and write a critique of that argument. You are not being asked to present your own views on the subject.

Consider the following when developing your essay:

• What questionable assumptions underlie the thinking behind the argument?
• What alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion?
• What sort of evidence could help strengthen or refute the argument?

What Is Measured

The Analysis of an Argument section tests your ability to formulate an appropriate and constructive critique of a specific conclusion based on a specific line of thinking.

• Sample Question

Quantitative Section

The Quantitative section of the GMATmeasures the ability to reason quantitatively, solve quantitative problems, and interpret graphic data.

Problem-Solving and Data-Sufficiency questions are intermingled throughout the section. Both types of questions require knowledge of:

• arithmetic,
• elementary algebra, and
• commonly known concepts of geometry.

Problem-Solving Questions

Problem-Solving questions are designed to test:

• basic mathematical skills,
• understanding of elementary mathematical concepts, and
• the ability to reason quantitatively and solve quantitative problems.

Sample Question

Data-Sufficiency Questions

Data-Sufficiency questions are designed to measure your ability to:

• analyze a quantitative problem,
• recognize which information is relevant, and
• determine at what point there is sufficient information to solve a problem.

Data-Sufficiency questions are accompanied by some initial information and two statements, labeled (1) and (2). You must decide whether the statements given offer enough data to enable you to answer the question. You must choose one of the following answers:

• Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) is not sufficient.
• Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) is not sufficient.
• BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient.
• EACH statement ALONE is sufficient.
• Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient.

Sample Question

Verbal Section

Three types of multiple-choice questions are used in the Verbal section of the GMAT® exam—Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, and Sentence Correction.

The Verbal section of the GMAT exam measures your ability to:

• read and comprehend written material,
• reason and evaluate arguments, and
• correct written material to conform to standard written English.

Reading Comprehension Questions

Reading Comprehension passages are up to 350 words long. Topics contain material from the social sciences, physical or biological sciences, and business-related areas (marketing, economics, human resource management, etc.).

Because the Reading Comprehension section of the GMAT exam includes passages from several different content areas, you may be generally familiar with some of the material; however, no specific knowledge of the material is required.  All questions are to be answered on the basis of what is stated or implied in the reading material.

Reading Comprehension passages are accompanied by interpretive, applied, and inferential questions.

What Is Measured

Reading Comprehension questions measure your ability to understand, analyze, and apply information and concepts presented in written form. 

This section evaluates the following abilities:

• Understanding words and statements in reading passages:  Questions of this type test your understanding of and ability to comprehend terms used in the passage and your understanding of the English language.
• Understanding the logical relationships between significant points and concepts in the reading passages:  Questions of this type ask you to determine the strong and weak points of an argument or to evaluate the importance of arguments and ideas in a passage.
• Drawing inferences from facts and statements in the reading passages:  Questions of this type ask you to consider factual statements or information and, on the basis of that information, reach a general conclusion.
• Understanding and following the development of quantitative concepts as they are presented in verbal material:  Questions of this type involve the interpretation of numerical data or the use of simple arithmetic to reach conclusions about material in a passage.

Sample Question

Critical Reasoning Questions

Critical Reasoning questions are designed to test the reasoning skills involved in making arguments, evaluating arguments, and formulating or evaluating a plan of action.  Questions are based on materials from a variety of sources.  No familiarity with the specific subject matter is needed.

What Is Measured

This section measures your ability to reason effectively in three areas:

• Argument construction:  Questions of this type may ask you to recognize the basic structure of an argument, properly drawn conclusions, underlying assumptions, well-supported explanatory hypotheses, or parallels between structurally similar arguments.
• Argument evaluation:  Questions of this type may ask you to analyze a given argument, recognize factors that would strengthen or weaken an argument, reasoning errors committed in making an argument, or aspects of the methods by which an argument proceeds.
• Formulating and evaluating a plan of action:  Questions of this type may ask you to recognize the relative appropriateness, effectiveness, or efficiency of different plans of action; factors that would strengthen or weaken a proposed plan of action; or assumptions underlying a proposed plan of action.

Sample Question

Sentence Correction Questions

Sentence Correction questions ask you which of the five choices best expresses an idea or relationship. The questions will require you to be familiar with the stylistic conventions and grammatical rules of standard written English. You must also demonstrate your ability to improve incorrect or ineffective expressions.

What Is Measured

This section tests two broad aspects of language proficiency:

• Correct expression:  A correct sentence is grammatically and structurally sound. It conforms to all the rules of standard written English, e.g., noun-verb agreement, pronoun consistency, pronoun case, and verb tense sequence. A correct sentence will not have dangling, misplaced, or improperly formed modifiers, unidiomatic or inconsistent expressions, or faults in parallel construction.
• Effective expression:  An effective sentence expresses an idea or relationship clearly and concisely, as well as grammatically. This does not mean that the choice with the fewest and simplest words is necessarily the best answer. It means that there are no superfluous words or needlessly complicated expressions in the best choice. In addition, an effective sentence uses proper diction—the standard dictionary meanings of words and the appropriateness of words in context. In evaluating the diction of a sentence, you must be able to recognize whether the words are well chosen, accurate, and suitable for the context.

Sample Question

Must read :GMAT Information Bulletin, GMAT Test Structure and Widely used Abbreviations

The very first thing everyone should do once they have decided to take GMAT is to go thru the official GMAT Information Bulletin and to get an idea of the Test Structure! If you are not aware of this, you wont know what kind of questions/topics form the GMAT, you wont be able to plan your preparation, you wont be able to follow so many helpful blogs!

Visit the official MBA site for the GMAT Information Bulletin

Visit the official MBA site for the exact GMAT Test Structure!


Abbreviations/Test structure at a glance - 

Though I went thru the Test Structure, I was totally clueless on the abbreviations which were widely used when referring to a particular section. So for your benefit and mine, memorize the follow as you will be needing this for sure!

AWA - Analytical Writing Assessment(60 mins)

QS - Quantitative Section(37 questions, 75 mins)

• DS - Data Sufficiency
• PS - Problem Solving

VS -Verbal Section(41 questions, 75 mins)

• RC - Reading Comprehension
• CR - Critical Reasoning
• SC - Sentence Correction

Thoughts on taking the first ever full length GMAT Practice test!

So 2 days back I took the plunge to assess myself by taking a full practice test from GMATPrep with Zero Preparation. Though my score(500,Q - 17, V - 27) is nothing much to write about, I learned a lot by taking the test!

So lets begin -

1. The last time I sat for a test so long was at-least a decade back! Even then it was not on a computer and was for 2-3 hrs only! So sitting for 3.5 hrs just doing the test can get taxing. Even though the breaks and the tutorial was not timed(in the practice test) I took it as seriously as if I was doing a real test! And it was not easy to sit and focus for 3.5 hrs! So take as many full tests as you can before your final GMAT!
2. Its not easy to maintain the tempo for full 3.5 hours! Test began with AWA which I really enjoyed and gave my all to it! 1 hour flew by in no time! Quants started to take me down as with each new question my confidence was going down. Its been a decade if not more since I touched Math and it clearly showed its power! Towards the end of the Quant I was feeling very restless and a bit exhausted.
3. Verbal gave me a rush of energy as I was really enjoying the questions! But Reading Comprehensions(RC) passages were long, complicated and very boring! The energy was taking a nose dive! Last 45-60 mins of the test was really very very taxing! I wanted to give my best, attempt the questions with full dedication, giving my all, but it was not easy! I felt like a mountaineer scaling the last 10% of the climb!
4. Even though Verbal section is easy for me as compared to Quants, but even in Verbal all the answers are very close to each other and its very very easy to get in the trap and loose the judgement as to which answer will suit the best and is hopefully correct! However good may be in Quants or Verbal or both, don't feel overconfident!
5. Study and prepare seriously, as hard as possible and as much as possible. PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!
6. Be prepared, where ever you are taking the test make sure the environment is to your liking and comfortable. Keep pen-paper ready, keep water nearby, you can also keep a snack which you can gobble real quick. You don't want to waste precious time in getting adjusted once the test has begun. Make it as close to real as possible! Every second counts! 

First Length Practice Test, Road ahead!

Ok, so right off the bat I was advised to take the practice test, I downloaded the GMAT Prep from MBA.com and all I managed was 500(Q - 17, V - 27)!

Quants is definitely my main worry and so is Verbal. Though I was actually expecting somewhere around 300! But seeing the scores on many forums, 500 is very low!

So now its time to get a study plan structured! I have two options -

1. Self-study(Forums, Blogs, Books, etc)
2. Join an Institute


I am more inclined towards the self-study option.. My biggest reason to not join a institute if I can, is because  -

1. They charge quite a lot, from around Rs. 20000 - Rs. 30000($440 - $700). For half the price I can get almost all the required recommended books.
2. I am not really sure as to how good their instructors will be or how will their course be structured.
3. Lets face it, its very commercialized, they really don't care how much score we get. I may be wrong.

I visited Kaplan(Mumbai) but was not at all impressed by what I saw and from the interaction with the counselor. Same for Jamboree. Will be visiting Princeton Review next week and see how it goes. 

Next post will be my observation and experience of my first full length practice test!