New Article: What the GMAT Really Tests

[StaceyKoprince]

Hi, everyone

I don't typically do this, but I'm posting an article here that I recommend you read. I write at least one new article for our blog every week, but I've only posted an article on the forums once before - so that's how important I think this is.

I think everyone should read this, regardless of goal score or what problems you're having in your study. Here's the article:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... lly-tests/

Happy studying!
:) Stacey

[sakshijain]

Thanks Stacey! Very helpful.

Can you please illustrate on the grammar of this sentence. Specifically how the use of possessive is correct here:

A great decision-maker has both expertise and experience: she’s thought about how to make various kinds of decisions, and she’s actually practiced and refined these decision-making processes. While the clock is ticking, she doesn’t hesitate to make a decision and move forward, knowing that she’s going to be leaving some opportunities behind.

[StaceyKoprince]

Note to others: the sentence he quotes is from my article, which is why I'm answering. Please don't post questions about actual grammar here!

Those sentences do not use possessive pronouns. Those contractions are hiding verbs.

She's thought = she has thought
the pronoun is a subject pronoun and the verb is has thought

She's actually practiced = she has actually practiced
same thing

Finally, even if I had used a possessive to refer to the noun "decision maker," that would have been perfectly correct. Many people misinterpret the rule to think any possessive pronoun should refer to a possessive noun. That is NOT the rule.

Any pronoun form (subjective, objective, possessive) can refer to a noun in noun form.

Mary took her car to the store. Mary is a noun. Her is a possessive pronoun.

The only restriction is when the "noun" itself is in possessive-noun form, because such a noun is actually functioning as an adjective, not a noun.

Mary's car
In this phrase, Mary's is NOT a noun. It's a possessive noun functioning as an adjective. When this is the case, you need to use a possessive pronoun to refer to the possessive noun.

Mary's car is in her garage.
Mary's is a possessive noun; her is a possessive pronoun. Both are functioning as adjectives in the sentence.

Mary's car was in the garage, but she took it to the store.
This is wrong! She is a subject pronoun but Mary's is a possessive noun. Mary's is functioning as an adjective, but she is functioning as a noun.

If the word you're trying to reference (the antecedent) is a noun, then ANY pronoun form is allowed, functioning as a noun or an adjective.

If the word you're trying to reference (the antecedent) is a noun being used as an adjective (a possessive noun), then only a pronoun functioning as an adjective (a possessive pronoun) is allowed.

[Kiran_gmat]

Hi Stacey,

I am sorry to hijack your thread, but I am in desperate need for some guidance. I have been reading countless articles of yours and wanted to contact you to resolve the paradox I am in.

I just gave my GMAT exam today and scored 640: Q - 49 and V - 28, which is far lower that what I have scored in MGMAT mocks. (700 - 780). Although, I agree that my MGMAT scores were a bit inflated because, I had solved some of the tougher CR Questions earlier, I usually fared well on SC and RC Questions. However, the verbal section in the exam was a complete nightmare. I can attribute my failure to two reasons

1. May be it is because I got used to the habit of - encountering "known" questions in the mocks. In the real exam, I was constantly trying to figure out if a particular question was completed before. If no, there was a slight drop in confidence. This might be one reason.

2. I had serious timing issues - I had to guess up to 8 questions as I reached the end of the exam. I followed the 1 minute approach perfectly during the mocks, yet I was simply caught off guard during the exam.

I never imagined that "knowing" some questions before hand during the mocks could lead to such serious issues.

Can you please help me out with my current state?. My confidence has taken a hit. I intend to take GMAT again in 1 month, but this time with a fool proof framework - one that can fetch me guaranteed results. I am willing to put in the extra hours and keen to learn new stuff.

Your suggestions will be really helpful !

[StaceyKoprince]

You're in the right folder in general, but I have to ask you to post a regular post in this folder rather than use this thread. I can't put an individual case in a thread that's designed for an announcement to everyone!

You can copy and paste your post into a regular "new topic" thread. I'm going to want more info from you in order to answer - include an analysis of your last couple of MGMAT exams using this article:

http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... ice-tests/
(Note: do share an analysis with us, not just the raw data. Part of getting better is developing your ability to analyze your results - figure out what they mean and what you think you should do about them!)

Also include your goal score. And don't forget to tell me how you think your scores were inflated.