Day 7: Day off (actually I did some small review reading on Geometry)
Day 8:
Reviewed the algebra section, making more flashcards.
Also practiced on some word problems ... not happy about making careless simple errors ... need to work on staying focussed and reading the questions thoroughly !
Completed the "word problems" section from the following site: http://www.prepfortests.com/gmat/tutorials/wordproblems
Monday 31 December 2007
Saturday 29 December 2007
Day 6: Continue Review of Maths
Today, I focussed on creating more flash cards and ensuring that I understood all the math basics.
I reviewed some of the stuff which I have covered in the PR book, on the following site: http://www.prepfortests.com/
It contains practice questions which are good to go through.
Memorised all the fractions and their decimal and percentage equivalents, for all fractions where the denominator is from 1 through to 10.
Memorised squares and cubes for numbers 1 through to 16.
After a few hours of studying ... went to the gym to freshen up. And come back for part 2 of my studying today. Glad I went to the gym. Need to start maintaining a regular gym schedule ... healthy body ... healthy mind !
Did some more practice questions from http://www.prepfortests.com from on "Exponents, ratios and percents".
Struggled on some of the exponent questions. Need to practice some of the harder exponent questions.
Need to look for common factors to simplify some of the expressions in the earlier steps, and setting up for the subsequent steps to the solution.
Summary of Day 6:
When tackling the tougher questions ... need to look to simplify the question ! Simplify simplify simplify !
Using the maths know-how, apply the various concepts to make the question easier to solve.
I reviewed some of the stuff which I have covered in the PR book, on the following site: http://www.prepfortests.com/
It contains practice questions which are good to go through.
Memorised all the fractions and their decimal and percentage equivalents, for all fractions where the denominator is from 1 through to 10.
Memorised squares and cubes for numbers 1 through to 16.
After a few hours of studying ... went to the gym to freshen up. And come back for part 2 of my studying today. Glad I went to the gym. Need to start maintaining a regular gym schedule ... healthy body ... healthy mind !
Did some more practice questions from http://www.prepfortests.com from on "Exponents, ratios and percents".
Struggled on some of the exponent questions. Need to practice some of the harder exponent questions.
Need to look for common factors to simplify some of the expressions in the earlier steps, and setting up for the subsequent steps to the solution.
Summary of Day 6:
When tackling the tougher questions ... need to look to simplify the question ! Simplify simplify simplify !
Using the maths know-how, apply the various concepts to make the question easier to solve.
Friday 28 December 2007
Day 5: Review Math
Had some work to do today, which I had to complete by the end of the day. Took most of the day completing that piece of work.
Started on my GMAT study later than I had planned to.
Did a review of all the Maths which I have covered over the past few days. Started to make some notes on the flash cards which I bought yesterday.
Summary of Day 5:
Learn the math fundamentals inside out ... really want to master the basics, so it is like second nature to me. So taking more time on completing the Math, before moving onto the Verbal section.
Keen to focus my preparation on quality rather than quantity.
Started on my GMAT study later than I had planned to.
Did a review of all the Maths which I have covered over the past few days. Started to make some notes on the flash cards which I bought yesterday.
Summary of Day 5:
Learn the math fundamentals inside out ... really want to master the basics, so it is like second nature to me. So taking more time on completing the Math, before moving onto the Verbal section.
Keen to focus my preparation on quality rather than quantity.
Thursday 27 December 2007
Day 4: Data Sufficiency
Today I only tackled the Data Sufficiency section.
I also did a lot of looking through the various GMAT online forums and attempted to answer a few of the questions to test the arithmetic, algebra, and geography which I covered in the past few days.
I also bought some flash cards, and started to record all my key notes onto the flash cards.
Didnt get a chance to get started on the Verbal section ... so will start on Verbal section tomorrow.
Summary of Day 4:
- Like the Data Sufficiency strategy which the PR book illustrates. If you dont know how to solve a particular problem, then this strategy enables you to eliminate some of the choices, hence increasing your chances of guessing the right answer (e.g. instead of having a 1 in 5 chance, you can end up with a 1 in 2 chance).
I also did a lot of looking through the various GMAT online forums and attempted to answer a few of the questions to test the arithmetic, algebra, and geography which I covered in the past few days.
I also bought some flash cards, and started to record all my key notes onto the flash cards.
Didnt get a chance to get started on the Verbal section ... so will start on Verbal section tomorrow.
Summary of Day 4:
- Like the Data Sufficiency strategy which the PR book illustrates. If you dont know how to solve a particular problem, then this strategy enables you to eliminate some of the choices, hence increasing your chances of guessing the right answer (e.g. instead of having a 1 in 5 chance, you can end up with a 1 in 2 chance).
Tuesday 25 December 2007
Day 2 & Day 3: Geometry & Day off
Happy Christmas everyone ... and yes ... I am still going to be studying today ! Have family coming over today ... but will try and get 2-3 hours of studying in there somewhere.
Went through a quick review of yesterday's material. In particular the Applied Arithmetic, focussing on Probabilities, and Permutations & Combinations.
Having some trouble with the Permutations & Combinations piece ... will have to focus more on this, and practice practice practice !
Enjoyed working through the Geometry section ... suprisingly enjoyed it ! :-)
Didnt get a chance to get onto the Data Sufficiency Section.
Also didnt get a chance to do any GMAT study on Day 3: 26th Dec.
I think it was wishful thinking to try and do some studying over Christmas and Boxing day with family and friends around !
Summary/Insights from Day2:
- need to memorise all the Geometry formulas, and be confident in knowing when to use each.
- The key to answering the tougher Geometry questions is to break down the question into several steps ... requiring knowledge of the different geometry areas. E.g. maybe required to work out the area of a circle, then the surface area of a cylinder etc to get to the final answer.
- Review the "drawn to scale" diagrams closely to eliminate crazy answers !
- Need to practice more with the Permutations and Combinations !
Look forward:
on Day 4 (27th Dec) Plan to study Data Sufficiency to complete the Math section. Get started on the verbal section, and cover Sentence Correction and Reading Comprehension.
Went through a quick review of yesterday's material. In particular the Applied Arithmetic, focussing on Probabilities, and Permutations & Combinations.
Having some trouble with the Permutations & Combinations piece ... will have to focus more on this, and practice practice practice !
Enjoyed working through the Geometry section ... suprisingly enjoyed it ! :-)
Didnt get a chance to get onto the Data Sufficiency Section.
Also didnt get a chance to do any GMAT study on Day 3: 26th Dec.
I think it was wishful thinking to try and do some studying over Christmas and Boxing day with family and friends around !
Summary/Insights from Day2:
- need to memorise all the Geometry formulas, and be confident in knowing when to use each.
- The key to answering the tougher Geometry questions is to break down the question into several steps ... requiring knowledge of the different geometry areas. E.g. maybe required to work out the area of a circle, then the surface area of a cylinder etc to get to the final answer.
- Review the "drawn to scale" diagrams closely to eliminate crazy answers !
- Need to practice more with the Permutations and Combinations !
Look forward:
on Day 4 (27th Dec) Plan to study Data Sufficiency to complete the Math section. Get started on the verbal section, and cover Sentence Correction and Reading Comprehension.
Monday 24 December 2007
Day 1: Arithmetic, Algebra, Applied Arithmetic
Today .. my first real day of preparations ... The focus for today is on the Maths (pg 58 - 117 of "Cracking the GMAT" book)
The Princeton Review book specifies some test-taking tips, such as:
Summary of Day 1:
- Completed what I set out to do at the start of the day: Arithmetic, Algebra, Applied Arithmetic sections of the Princeton Review "Cracking the GMAT" book.
Insights/thoughts from Day 1:
- I can see how the "plugging-in" method will be helpful ... also helps verify if some of the answers are in fact correct ... I am wary of relying on this too much ... especially under the strict time conditions of the real GMAT exam.
- Need to become better at figuring out what math to use when solving problems. This should come with practice.
- Also need to become better using algebra to solve problems, as opposed to becoming too reliant on the plugging-in method
- Need to focus on the getting through the content in the PR book, and not get distracted by browsing through the GMAT online forums etc, and other books. I will be doing plenty of that later. This week, my objective is to complete the Cracking the GMAT book, and have my first PR CAT practice test.
Today has been a good review of some of the basic fundamental math which I havent touched since school !
Tomorrow, I plan to do a quick review of the main topics covered today, and then jump into Geometry and Data Sufficiency sections of the PR book.
The Princeton Review book specifies some test-taking tips, such as:
- POE (Process of Elimination) - allows you to eliminate answer choices even when you dont know how to do a problem.
- "Joe Bloggs" answers - these are the answers which would appeal to the "average Joe Bloggs" test taker. Joe is attracted to easy solutions that he can arrive at in 1 step and answers that repeat numbers from the problem.
- For easy (1 step) questions, the Joe Bloggs answer will almost always be correct.
- For medium (2 step) questions, the Joe Bloggs answer will be right 50% of the time.
- For hard (3 step) questions, the Joe Bloggs answer will always be wrong.
Summary of Day 1:
- Completed what I set out to do at the start of the day: Arithmetic, Algebra, Applied Arithmetic sections of the Princeton Review "Cracking the GMAT" book.
Insights/thoughts from Day 1:
- I can see how the "plugging-in" method will be helpful ... also helps verify if some of the answers are in fact correct ... I am wary of relying on this too much ... especially under the strict time conditions of the real GMAT exam.
- Need to become better at figuring out what math to use when solving problems. This should come with practice.
- Also need to become better using algebra to solve problems, as opposed to becoming too reliant on the plugging-in method
- Need to focus on the getting through the content in the PR book, and not get distracted by browsing through the GMAT online forums etc, and other books. I will be doing plenty of that later. This week, my objective is to complete the Cracking the GMAT book, and have my first PR CAT practice test.
Today has been a good review of some of the basic fundamental math which I havent touched since school !
Tomorrow, I plan to do a quick review of the main topics covered today, and then jump into Geometry and Data Sufficiency sections of the PR book.
Sunday 23 December 2007
GMAT Study Kick Off !
Hoorah ! I have secured funding from my company to embark on an executive MBA programme ! I will be applying to some of Europe's top business schools. Now onto the next challenge ... putting together a first class EMBA application ! .... and the first major step of the application process ... the GMAT.
After doing some pre-work ... reading up on the GMAT and leveraging from others' learning experiences (by researching on the internet and visiting various forums) ... I decided to also contribute and put together a blog of my experiences and journey towards the GMAT (which I intend to take in late Feb/early March - depending on how my preparations are going !)
I have also purchased the following books:
The objective for this week (Week 1) is to complete the "Cracking the GMAT - 2005 Edition" book, and take the Princeton Review GMAT Practice test on Sat 29th Dec, with a review session planned for Sun 30th Dec, where I intend to go through (in detail) my answers to the test questions, focussing in particular on the ones which were incorrectly answered.
I also would like to take this opportunity to say thanks to Eric ... founder of beatthegmat.com ! A great forum and place to share experiences and lessons learned ! I am sure I will be using this forum a lot throughout the next 8 weeks or so of GMAT preparation.
One challenge I see over the upcoming 8 weeks is balancing study with work. I will be returning back to work on 2nd Jan. I suppose this is good practice for the Exec MBA programme where I will be mixing studies with a full-time hectic work schedule !
After doing some pre-work ... reading up on the GMAT and leveraging from others' learning experiences (by researching on the internet and visiting various forums) ... I decided to also contribute and put together a blog of my experiences and journey towards the GMAT (which I intend to take in late Feb/early March - depending on how my preparations are going !)
I have also purchased the following books:
- The official guide for GMAT review (11th Edition)
- The official guide for GMAT Quantitative Review
- The official guide for GMAT Verbal Review
- Cracking the GMAT 2005 Edition (by the Princeton Review)
- GMAT 800 (by Kaplan)
The objective for this week (Week 1) is to complete the "Cracking the GMAT - 2005 Edition" book, and take the Princeton Review GMAT Practice test on Sat 29th Dec, with a review session planned for Sun 30th Dec, where I intend to go through (in detail) my answers to the test questions, focussing in particular on the ones which were incorrectly answered.
I also would like to take this opportunity to say thanks to Eric ... founder of beatthegmat.com ! A great forum and place to share experiences and lessons learned ! I am sure I will be using this forum a lot throughout the next 8 weeks or so of GMAT preparation.
One challenge I see over the upcoming 8 weeks is balancing study with work. I will be returning back to work on 2nd Jan. I suppose this is good practice for the Exec MBA programme where I will be mixing studies with a full-time hectic work schedule !
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