GMAT Math

GMAT Math

Whether math is a strength or weakness, it is essential to study for the GMAT math section, which is also called the quantitative section. Although the math tested is considered basic by many, the GMAT presents it in a manner that warrants careful scrutiny.

Those scoring in the highest percentiles may encounter concepts, such as permutation problems, that are not familiar to most people. But for the most part, the GMAT tests high school math. So, what's the big deal then? Well, a few things. First, many people have not used the math tested on the GMAT for many years. It takes time to again become quick and efficient at problem solving, and thats assuming math was a strong point to begin with. This leads us to the second issue: Time is not on your side during the GMAT. You will have two minutes or less to solve problems. This does not leave any time to "figure things out". You must recognize the problem type and know how to solve it quickly to do well on the quant section.

Speaking of problem types, what will you encounter on the GMAT math section? The quant section tests arithmetic, basic algebra, and basic geometry. These math types appear randomly in two question forms, data sufficiency (DS) questions and problem solving questions (PS). The problem solving questions are what they sound like- similar in form to many questions you have encountered in school. However, the GMAT data sufficiency questions are unique to the GMAT, and certainly one of the most challenging aspects of the exam.

Data sufficiency questions are so unique because they do not require you to find the mathematical answer to the question, but rather, require you to determine if an answer can be found given the information at hand. To clarify, a data sufficiency problem poses a question, and gives two pieces of information about the problem. You must decide whether or not you can solve the problem with the two pieces of given information. The saying "work smart, not hard" applies here. The trick with these problems is to do no more than necessary to find the answer.

Again, the key here is to recognize what the question is asking, know the necessary steps to the answer, yet be able to come to the conclusion without taking precious time to solve the problem. Everyone handles these problems differently depending on their math skills. Some people are able to recognize the solutions without taking the time to actually solve the problem; for most, this is not the case. They must, to some degree or other, dig into the problem.

There are many companies that provide GMAT prep courses and books which can be incredibly beneficial. For more information on these study aides, click on the appropriate links. Prep books are the most affordable and accessible out of the study aide options. They contain a wealth of information on GMAT math, including essential math reviews and time saving shortcuts and strategies. Furthermore, they have hundreds of practice problems and access to full length practice tests. Siding a lucky few, it take hours upon hours of repetitive practice to score well on the test. It is essential to develop the sense of timing you will need on the test. You can ill afford to get stuck on individual problems, which brings us to another key GMAT tip. Do not EVER stay on one problem to long, it will severely hurt you due to the way the test is scored. Know when to cut loose and continue.

Gmat math can seem daunting at first, but with the proper study materials and practice, you will see great improvement.

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