Random notes for GMAT (Problem solving & Data sufficiency)

As mentioned previously, it is important to study the official GMAC guides for studying for GMAT. Here are some random notes that I made for myself to study for the GMAT:-

• Understand the following: Integers, Prime numbers, Fractions, Decimals, Percentages, GCD, LCD, Mixed numbers, Real numbers, Absolute value, Ratio, Proportion, Powers, Roots, Mean, Median, Mode, Range, Standard Deviation, Set, Elements, Union (a U b), Intersection (a A b), Factorial, Discrete Probability, Geometry basics, Algebra equations, Coordinates, Venn diagrams, tables.
• Know about profits & loss, revenue, simple & compound interest
• Always make sure that you have understood the question properly- very important!
• Always check and cross check your answers.
• Make sure that you have understood the question properly. Sometimes what they are asking is very tricky or sometimes worded badly or ambiguously!
• Make sure that you are answering in the same units as the question
• You have 2 minutes per question. For some questions, you shall need more than 2 minutes and for some questions, you may need just 10 seconds - they average out. Be swift, but do not panic. You get the timing right with practice.
• For the computer based test, the questions get tougher of you answer them right and they get easier if you answer them wrong. Also, you get more points for answering a difficult question as compared to an easy question!

Data sufficiency tips:-

• You don't have to solve every problem. You have to bring them to a situation where you can either (a) compare - which is greater? (b) Cancel out "y", while retaining "x" to find x. (c) simplify by simple tricks instead of taking the long route and messing up your head. The questions are actually meant to be solvable (or not - for the not questions).
• Sometimes, you have to work the questions, not the answers in data sufficiency to solve the problem.
• It is important to know what you know, but also very important to know what you do not know! This, you shall know only when you do practice tests. When I first walked out of the GMAT test center, I was upset. I thought that I had received less marks than what I had deserved! It was only after doing the practice tests that I realised what my common mistakes were and where I was going wrong, not only with my Math, but also with the English section!

More soon...