Retaking GMAT: How to improve Quant in 3 weeks?

[LuisB773]

Hi, I have read the discussions about improving Quant and I really need your help.

My scores:

GMAT PREP:
Feb 20, before studying: 500 (31Q, 28V,) 7 IR
Apr 10, after studying: 690 (44Q, 40V) 8 IR

GMAT OFFICIAL:
Apr 27: 700 (44Q, 41V) 8 IR, 6.0 AWA

44 Q is 58% so after some thinking and talking with some consultants I decided to retake the GMAT, scheduled for July 13th. I am aiming for the Top 3 schools so I need a good quant.

I began restudying the second week of May, focused on Quant, re-read the Quant strategy guides and I took the 6 CATs from MGMAT, ONLY the Quant section and scored between 42-45 raw Quant, never less, never more.

I feel that those are more difficult than the real GMAT, yesterday I bought the Exam Pack 1 and Questions for $70 and today I took my 3rd GMAT PREP:

710 (44Q, 42V) 8 IR.

I am worried and sad, just a 44 Q, the same as my official after studying just Quant, and without studying Verbal I got a better score.

I can see that my problem lies in Problem Solving and Word Problems to be more specific.

I get the basic DRT problems right but with multiple travelers or with VICs I bomb, I generated the assesment reports and I see that I have more issues in Problem Solving: Algebra, Formulas and Word Problems to be more specific. Some DS-Geometry throws me off too.

I have few days to improve my Quant, I will be satisfied with a 47Q.

What do you recommend? Leave the Verbal for these three weeks and focus just on Quant? What approach?:

1)Review all my mistakes from the Tests and OG (finished OG 13). Shall I buy OG 2016 and Verbal/Quant review? I have heard those are more on the easy side
2)Buy the Manhattan Advanced Quant book?
3)Re-read the fundamental guides? I really do not think this could work.
4)Re-schedule my GMAT and pay the fee (don't have enough money)

I have one hour daily from Monday to Friday and on weekends I could do 4 hours each day (difficult but doable). I also have the 4th GMAT Prep test, when should I take it?

I appreciate your help.

[StaceyKoprince]

Wow! Awesome work so far to lift your score to 700.

I'm sorry I'm only getting to your post now; we launched a new curriculum today (for the new OGs that were published a few weeks ago), so it's been crazy here. But let's see what we can do in the next 12 days.

Let's see. For story problems, read these two articles and try out the approach described to see whether you think it might be better for you. If so, practice it every day from now till your test. Start by trying OG problems you've done before (but do them in this new way).
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... them-real/
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... ms-part-1/

I have a question for you. How often do you make careless mistakes? When you're reviewing tests, how often do you look at a question and think, Wait, how did I get THAT wrong?

Also, how often do you miss something because you had to rush to finish? (Something that you likely could've gotten right in normal time - but not extra time.)

If it's happening more than 1 or 2 times in the quant section, then the easiest way for you to lift your score is to work on your careless mistakes. You need to make better decisions about where to spend your time and mental energy. (The vast majority of test takers could lift their quant score 1 to 3 points just by fixing this!)

Here's one piece of the puzzle:
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... -the-gmat/

The other major part is, as I said, making better decisions about what to do and what NOT to do when taking the test:
http://tinyurl.com/executivereasoning
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... -to-do-it/

If you are looking for more practice in an adaptive setting, you could also try GMAT Focus (available at the www.mba.com store). This is a quant-only product, 24 questions given in an adaptive program. So it's the closest thing to real test practice without having to take a full CAT. (It does cost money - check out the mba.com store to see the price.) I would do that before buying the extra quant-only book; you won't get as many questions for the money spent, but you'll be guaranteed to see the kinds of questions you can earn. I also wouldn't start the Advanced Quant book at this late stage of the game.

Note: if you reschedule your GMAT at least 7 days in advance of the test date, then the reschedule fee is only $50, not $250. Just FYI.

Okay, tell me the answers to my questions above. I could also use more detail on your strengths and weaknesses.
use this to analyze your MGMAT CATs (you can do the re-takes of quant that you did in May):
http://tinyurl.com/analyzeyourcats

Using that analysis process, tell us your strengths and weaknesses as well as any ideas you have for what you think you should do. Then come back here and tell us; we'll tell you whether we agree and advise you further. (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!)