The best way to attack computer adaptive GMAT is to exploit the way it determines score. Since early questions are worth more, spend more time on those questions. Since you can not skip any questions, you'll have to quess intelligently if you get stuck. Having a sytematic approach to each section will ensure that your time as wisely as possible.
You should spend more time on the first 10-15 questions, double checking your answers before you move on. These questions are crucial in determining your ability estimate, so invest the necessary time to answer these questions correctly.
In these questions you are to solve each problem and select the best of the five answer choices given. The mathematics required to answer the questions does not extend beyond that assumed to be common to the mathematics background of all examinees.
The following pages include test-taking strategies, sample questions, and explanations for all the problems. These explanations present possible problem-solving strategies for the problems.
Test-taking Strategies for Problem Solving
Pacing yourself is very important. Consult the on-screen timer periodically. Work as carefully as possible, but do not spend valuable time checking answers or pondering over problems that you find difficult.
Scratch paper is provided. Working a problem out in writing may help you avoid errors in solving the problem. If diagrams or figures are not presented, it may help if you draw your own.
Read each question carefully to determine what information is given and what is being asked. For word problems, take one step at a time, reading each sentence carefully and translating the information into equations or other useful mathematical representations.
Before attempting to answer a question, scan the answer choices; otherwise you may waste time putting answers in a form that is not given (for example, finding the answer in decimal form, such as 0.25, when the choices are given fractional form, such as. .
For questions that require approximations, scan the answer choices to get some idea of the required closeness of approximation, otherwise, you may waste time on long computations where a short mental process would serve as well ( for example, taking 48 percent of a number instead of half the number).
Don’t waste time trying to solve a problem that is too difficult for you. Guess and move on to another question.
Do not waste valuable time solving a problem, you are only to determine whether sufficient information is given to solve the problem. First consider statement (1) and statement (2) separately and determine whether each alone gives sufficient information to solve the problem. Be sure to disregard the information given in statement (1) when you evaluate the information given in statement (2). If either, or both, of the statements give sufficient information to solve the problem, click on the oval corresponding to the description of which statement(s) give sufficient information to solve the problem. If not, consider the information in both statement (1) and (2). Then click on the oval corresponding to the description of whether the statements TO GETHER give sufficient information to solve the problem.
Remember that when you are determining whether there is sufficient information to answer a question of the form, “What is the value of y?” the information given must be sufficient to find one and only one value for y. Being able to determine minimum or maximum values or an answer of the form y = x +2 is not sufficient, because such answer constitute a range of values rather than “the value of y”.
When geometric figures are involved, be very careful not to make unwarranted assumptions based on the figures. Figures are not necessarily drawn to scale; they are generalized figures showing little more than intersecting line segments and the between ness of points, angles, and regions. So, for example, if a figure described as a rectangle looks like a square you may not conclude that it is, in fact, a square just by looking at the figure.
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