How to analyze your GMAT math errors

Tracking GMAT math errors during practice tests is absolutely critical to your final score in the actual GMAT. There is high probability that the errors you will commit in the final GMAT math test will be the same type and form as your practice errors. Here’s how you beat those GMAT math quirks.

Identify error types

There are three main error types that mistakes are categorized under. You have to know which type of error you habitually get. With this, you will be able to devise a way to avoid doing the same mistakes over and over again.

1. Careless errors

This happens to the best test-takers and it can certainly happen to you. You were familiar with the problem concept, knew how to solve it, and were sure of your answer, but gave the wrong answer anyway. It’s a careless error. The problem with that is that it’s not isolated. If you begin tracking your errors, you will find a pattern and realize how those “isolated” instances are in fact habitual in nature. Your goal will be to minimize, if not totally avoid them.

2. Content errors

When you commit errors because you forgot the math formula for solving the circumference of a circle, this is a content error type. This happens when you forget something which you actually know, or when the problem introduces a concept which you do not know or do not know adequately. Your goal will be to do a math review, familiarize about the concept and possibly provide mnemonics to aid in remembering the concept.

3. Technique errors

Techniques are shortcuts you employ when solving math questions. They are necessary because of time constraints. During practice tests, you discover several approaches to a problem. You choose the one that comes easiest to you and which provides the quickest correct answer. When you analyze your errors and you discover that a particular technique is flawed, correct or discard it as early as possible. Techniques become your default approach to a problem and it becomes a habit. Your goal must be to ensure that your techniques are essentially correct.

Keep an error log

All these error analyses are unfeasible and useless if you do not have an error log. An error log is a tool which will help you to systematically record and analyze the errors that you tend to commit. It will help determine your weaknesses. The most important thing is that the log will help you devise a plan to avoid the same mistakes in the final GMAT math test. It is actually a way to learn from your mistakes. Here is how you go about it.

1. Create an error log file

The error log file can be manually recorded in a notebook or it can be an electronic file. An electronic file will be easier to keep and monitor. The important thing is that your errors are documented for you to pore over later. Use Excel to format the log. You may also download the GMAT Error Log which can be used with the GMAT Practice Grid to analyze errors. The error log will help you keep track of your answers and errors. Input personal notes and comments. The system provides an answer key and a report on your performance.

2. Keep track of the following data

If you decide to do the log manually or through an Excel file, make sure you keep columns for all the data you will need. This will include information about the problem: what page of which review material, the type of the question, the date and time used up in solving it. Also record information about the error: the type of error, the reason for the error (e.g., forgot the formula for circumference of a circle, or got mixed up in the rules.

3. Analyze the data

Evaluate the data: what errors were common, what concepts do you need to learn more of, what habits contributed to frequent errors.

4. Address the problem

Figure out the solution for each recurrent or major error. Write flashcards for your weak areas. Write formulas, best practices, most workable techniques to the particular type of Quant problem you often messed up with. Solve several problems of the same type until you feel confident about your ability. Mind your time because this is as important as arriving at the correct answer.

5. Review your log

Regularly review your log and analyze progress. Are you making less of those errors? If you do, it means that you have addressed problem areas effectively. If not, then go back to steps 3 and 4. Practice more or use another method to solve the problem. GMAT math teaches you that there are many approaches to a problem and it is your task to find the best and quickest way.

Analyzing your GMAT math errors means recognizing your mistakes and finding ways to stop doing them before they become habitual mistakes that will damage your GMAT math score.

How to manage time on GMAT math problems

Solving GMAT math problems correctly is half the challenge. The other half is getting the correct answer in less than 2 minutes for each of the 37 questions. That’s easier said than done. It is easy to get obsessed by questions that you know exactly how to solve. Before you knew it, you’ve spent a good 5 minutes in it, sacrificing a couple of questions already. There are a few things you must remember to avoid getting stumped by time constraints.

Here are some suggestions on how you go about managing your time.

1. Pick up your pace by using shortcuts.

During the practice tests, you have learned about the many ways of solving different types of questions. Apply the quickest method and your tested techniques. If you took less than a minute on a problem, don’t waste too much time reviewing it simply because you have around 2 minutes allotted per question. Move to the next. The minutes and seconds you accumulate from time-saving questions can be spent on higher-difficulty questions.

2. Learn how to use educated guesses.

By the time you take the actual GMAT, you would have taken several hundreds of practice quantitative questions. You know already what questions you are strong at, what types of problems you are at your weakest, and the types of problems that take you too long to answer. If you can’t answer a question in 3.5 minutes, then you probably won’t be able to answer it in 5 or 6. It is best to approximate your answer and take educated guesses. There is no wisdom in subjecting yourself to stress with one question at the expense of other questions which you might perform better at.

3. Establish target milestones for every time mark.

Divide GMAT Quant into 3 parts, each part is assigned a 25-minute mark. Hence, you must have answered question #1 through #12 for the first 25 minute-mark, and #13 through #25 for the 50-minute mark. With 25 minutes remaining and maintaining consistent pace, you will have ample time for the last 12 questions. Seeing the whole test as a 3-part test allows you to check your pace and techniques, and make corrections along the way.

4. Get a clear picture.

Don’t let the test rush your nerves and your mind. Read the questions carefully and attentively. Familiarity with test formats and problem types would have taught you to digest every given data and write them on the scratch paper at the first run of the question. Even without making computations yet, look over the answer choices and think critically about how improbable, how significantly apart the values are, and how exact your computation has to be. For instance, if the choices present answers in the pi (π) format, it suggests that you can solve for the formula (say, a circular area) in terms of pi and you will not need to stress yourself unnecessarily with precise computations.

5. Familiarize with commonly used fractions, percent, square and cube roots, and exponents.

Knowing like second nature how a number in percent converts to fraction without computing manually will definitely save you time.

In GMAT time management, we have emphasized the value of making educated guess in some instances. However, avoid making 2 or more guesses in a row. If you get your guesses wrong, your score will suffer penalties.

How to study for GMAT math problems

The quantitative section is often the waterloo of students taking the GMAT. Don’t let that reputation intimidate you. Many who failed GMAT did so because they did not adequately prepare for GMAT math. It is not enough to practice with tons of arbitrary math questions. Because GMAT math is unlike most exams, it requires that you study and prepare for it correctly. The following guide will help you study for GMAT math.

1. Familiarize with the format and content of the GMAT math.

The GMAT quantitative section has around 24 questions in Problem Solving (PS) and around 13 questions in Data Sufficiency (DS). For both types, you will pick your answer from 5 choices. These will be problems in algebra, geometry, and general arithmetic. The PS questions are quite straightforward, albeit confusingly worded. The DS is uniquely a GMAT feature and it is something you learn about exclusively during the GMAT preparation.

2. Simulate the actual GMAT math.

Simulate the real GMAT math as realistically as possible during practice. In the later part of your review, try sitting through 37 questions in one stretch of 75 minutes. Have access to a computer adaptive test and sit through one at the start of your review. This will give you an idea of how much preparation you need. Try again in the middle of your review period and near the end to measure how you have improved.

3. During practice tests, do not use a calculator.

You will not be allowed to use a calculator during the real test, so practice and develop the habit of solving problems without one.

4. Work against a clock.

A correctly answered question will have no significant contribution to your GMAT math score if it took you 5 minutes to solve. In the real test, you only have 2 minutes maximum to solve a question. Going beyond that is like stealing from the time allotted for other questions. When starting out (say, first month of review), you may allow longer time per question. The focus here is to study content and methods. After that, shorten the time until you approach the 2-minute limit. Continue focus on content and methods but, this time, becoming more time-efficient.

5. Develop shortcuts and calculation techniques.

Avoid meticulous calculations. For example, use π = 22/7 instead of π = 3.1416. It is much friendlier to manual calculation. Be familiar with values of common fractions, percentages, and square roots. If you know that the decimal 0.6666667 equals 2/3, using 2/3 is easier to manipulate in an equation.

6. Practice on a scrap paper.

In the actual test, you will be provided with scrap paper. Develop the habit of writing the steps in solving problems. Other GMAT aspirants are concerned that writing will consume time. On the contrary, writing allows you to comprehend the question more clearly and clarifies all useful data given. You will then have a higher probability of arriving at the correct answer in the first try. Errors are also easier to spot when you will do a review of the answer.

7. Remember that graphs and charts can be visually analyzed.

GMAT math questions using graphs, tables, and charts can usually be analyzed with your ability to interpret them. Save time by being familiar with axes, legends, units representing data, and the structure of different types of graphs (bar, circle, line). The content of this type of problem does not entail complicated math and answers can be derived from studying and interpreting the illustrations.

8. Geometry problems are not always drawn to scale.

As opposed to the graphs and charts, do not assume that geometric shapes are drawn to scale unless the problem specifically states so. Solve problems based on your knowledge on geometric principles.

9. Memorize the 5 answer choices for DS questions.

Treat each of the statements independently. Ask whether the statement is sufficient to solve the question asked in the problem. If you are sure about the sufficiency or insufficiency of at least one sentence, you can eliminate 2 to 3 choices. That narrows down the probable answers to 2 or 3 instead of 5.