Chapter 4

Planning Your Approach

You know you need to study for the GMAT, but you may not know where to start. A good way to begin is with the preassessment in Chapter 5. The 15 quantitative, 10 verbal, and 4 integrated reasoning questions comprise about a third of the number of questions you answer on the actual test. This mini test doesn’t include an analytical writing assessment (to help you respond well to the essay prompt, read the chapters in Part 4), nor does it cover all of the concepts tested on the GMAT. But you can rely on it to alert you to overall areas of focus.

Using the Preassessment: The How-To

Start with Chapter 5. After you finish the questions in Chapter 5, check your answers in Chapter 6. We include a quick scoring key at the end of that chapter. Discover which questions you missed. Then read the explanations for those questions and any others that you find challenging. The end of each explanation directs you to the chapter or chapters where you can find the information relevant to understanding that question type.

Evaluating Section 1: Quantitative

Section 1 in Chapter 5 contains quantitative questions. The GMAT presents two quantitative question formats: those you’re likely familiar with and those you may not have seen before.

In addition to standard math questions that give you a problem to solve, the GMAT also asks you to determine whether bits of provided information supply enough data to solve a problem.

These data sufficiency questions are unique to the GMAT, and questions 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, and 13 in Section 1 provide examples. If you have trouble answering these questions or need precise instructions on how to approach the data sufficiency question type, follow the steps to solving data sufficiency questions in Chapter 20. In addition to suggesting helpful tips to avoid common traps associated with these questions, this chapter provides a step-by-step approach to efficiently solving this question type.

The GMAT quantitative section tests number properties and other prealgebra concepts, algebra, a little plane geometry, coordinate geometry, and probability and statistics. We give you a taste of each of these areas in the assessment. Review Chapter 15 if you miss questions 1, 2, 8, 9, or 14. Chapter 16 provides the concepts necessary to solve questions 6, 12, 13, and 15. Chapter 17 covers questions 7 and 11, Chapter 18 covers question 5, and Chapter 19 covers questions 3, 4, and 10.

Evaluating Section 2: Verbal

Section 2 in Chapter 5 covers the questions that test your reading, writing, and verbal reasoning abilities. The GMAT verbal section contains three general types of questions:

Sentence correction
Reading comprehension
Critical reasoning

Questions 2, 4, and 5 in Section 2 use sentence correction to test your knowledge of grammar and usage. See Chapter 7 to find out more about the concepts tested with sentence-correction questions. Chapter 8 provides the background for answering questions 8, 9, and 10, associated with a reading passage. Questions 1, 3, 6, and 7 in Section 2 are critical reasoning questions. Read Chapter 9 to discover how to approach this potentially unfamiliar question type that tests your ability to form and analyze logical arguments.

Evaluation Section 3: Integrated reasoning

The GMAT’s interactive integrated reasoning section tests reasoning ability in a variety of circumstances using multiple tools. Each integrated reasoning question has at least two parts. You must answer each part correctly to get credit for the question. The GMAT offers no partial credit for integrated reasoning questions.

Even though the quantitative section prohibits calculator use, you have access to a simple calculator embedded in the test software during the integrated reasoning section. The assessment presents an example of each of the four integrated reasoning question types. Question 1 is of the multisource reasoning variety, question 2 requires graphics interpretation, question 3 presents a two-part analysis, and question 4 is a table analysis. For tips for success on all integrated reasoning types, read Chapter 22. If you need help reading graphs for these questions, refer to Chapter 23.

Devising a Plan of Attack

After you examine your performance on the preassessment, you’re ready to form a GMAT study plan. The best way to avoid freaking out on exam day is to be fully prepared. So, make sure you have a strategy. About two to three months before your test day, map out a regular study schedule that includes these steps:

Based on your preassessment scores, read the chapters in this book that correspond to those areas where you need the most improvement.

If your verbal score is lower than your math, focus on improving your reading and grammar skills in Part 3. If your math score is closer to your total number of fingers and toes than to the measure of your height in inches, open up the math review in Part 5.
After you’ve read through the appropriate chapters, practice by taking and scoring the full-length practice test in Part 7.
Based on your practice results, answer more question types in your areas of weakness.

Use the questions provided in the remaining seven practice tests offered in this book and online. Try to spend several hours each week involved in practice. After you score your efforts, examine the questions you answered incorrectly to determine your error. Then check the answer explanations for more insight.
Follow the same approach to studying your areas of strength.

If you’ve spent the previous month focusing on the math in Part 5, focus on the verbal approach offered in Part 3. If you’ve concentrated on the verbal questions, set your sights on the math chapters.
When you’ve mastered the verbal and math questions, work on the AWA approach offered in Part 4 and the suggestions for integrated reasoning practice in Part 6.
Test your skills on actual GMAT questions and get used to the online test format.

Supplement your practice with the most current official GMAT materials: The Official Guide for GMAT Review, The Official Guide for GMAT Quantitative Review, and The Official Guide for GMAT Verbal Review. Download the free GMAT Official Starter Kit from www.mba.com. After you work through the initial practice questions in the program, reserve a three-hour block of time to take full-length GMAT practice exam 1. Review concepts and strategies in this book. Then take the other full-length practice exam 2 in the starter kit. You can also purchase additional online practice tests from the official website.

But what if you don’t have months to prepare? What if you need a GMAT score in six weeks or fewer? Table 4-1 references suggested resources to use based on your schedule.

TABLE 4-1 Following a GMAT Preparation Schedule

Resource	Preparation Time
	More than 3 months	2 to 3 months	Less than 2 months
GMAT For Dummies 2021 Chapter 5 preassessment	X	X	X
GMAT For Dummies 2021 Chapter 24 timed practice test	X	X
Focused study in GMAT For Dummies 2021 Parts 3–7 based on evaluation of pretest results	X	X	X
Extensive practice question quizzes in the online material accompanying GMAT For Dummies 2021	X	X
Practice questions from current edition of GMAT Official Guide	X	X
Practice questions from current editions of GMAT Official Guide Quantitative and GMAT Official Guide Verbal	X
Practice questions from GMAT Official Advanced Questions	X
Full-length adaptive practice tests 1 and 2 available free from `www.mba.com`	X	X	X
Full-length adaptive practice tests 3 and 4 available for purchase from `www.mba.com`	X

Regardless of how much study time you have, stick to your practice schedule. Create space in your calendar four or more times a week for at least 30 minutes to an hour of GMAT practice. Regular practice will reinforce the concepts you learn in GMAT For Dummies 2021 and familiarize you with GMAT questions to help increase your test-taking efficiency.

Take the GMAT as soon as you’re ready. You’ll lose momentum and intensity if you prepare for more than three or four months prior to your test date.