THE GMAT

• What is the GMAT and how is it used?

• What does the test involve?

• How can you best prepare?

Part One

What is the GMAT and how is it used?

The basics

• What GMAT means• How the GMAT may be used– by schools• one of several metrics• test of character

– by you• application• CV• learning

Part Two

What does the test involve?

Test overview

• Essay (AWA) ~ 30 minutes• Integrated Reasoning ~ 30 minutes• 8 minute break• Quant ~ 75 minutes• 8 minute break• Verbal ~ 75 minutes

The less important bits 1

• Analytical Writing Assessment– importance– how to ace it• template• keep it simple• be clear & concise

– preparation• planning

– timing• plan, write, review

The less important bits 2

• Integrated Reasoning– importance

1. according to GMAC2. according to schools & tutors

– preparation• question types• synthesising information

– timing– all multiple choice

The less important bits 3

• Do– stay calm ~ you know what to expect– keep it simple (AWA)– do what you can (IR)

• Don’t– take them too seriously– show off (AWA)– worry about getting everything right (IR)

Your mission in the first hour is…

Be fresh and focused for

Quant and Verbal!

Quant overview

• 37 questions– almost exactly 2 mins per question

made up of…

• 22 Problem Solving (normal Maths)• 15 Data Sufficiency– same theory, different format

Verbal overview

• 41 questions– a little less than 2 mins per question

• Sentence Correction– correcting grammar and style

• Critical Reasoning– a question about an argument

• Reading Comprehension– what it sounds like

N.B.

• In both sections, question types are mixed up

• All questions are multiple choice (A-E)

Problem Solving 1

The two big areas of theory are..

Number Propertiesand

Algebra

Problem Solving 2

Other reasonably important areas are..

Fractions & PercentagesPowers & Roots

StatisticsRate & Ratio

Geometry

Problem Solving 3

And finally, don’t worry too much about..

SequencesVenn diagrams

Coordinate geometryFunctionsProbability

CombinatoricsSymbolism

Data Sufficiency 1

• Requires same theory as Problem Solving

• You are asked a question• You are given statements (1) and (2)• You decide whether the statements

give sufficient information to answer the question

There are two types of questions…

Data Sufficiency 2

“What is the value?” questions

ExampleWhat is the value of x + y?(1) x = 3 and y = 5(2) a = 2 and b = 1

We can answer with (1) but not with (2)

Data Sufficiency 3

A similar exampleWhat is the value of x + y?(1) x = 7(2) y = 11

We need both statements together to answer the question; one statement on its own is not enough

Data Sufficiency 4

Yes / No questions

ExampleIs x a prime number?(1) 6 < x < 8(2) x has two factors

Got an answer?

Data Sufficiency 5

Either statement on its own is sufficient to know that the answer is Yes

N.B.

If a statement (or statements) is sufficient to give a definite answer of NO, that’s ok too

Sentence Correction 1

Theory required:

Rules of (old-fashioned, formal, written) English grammar

ANDAn understanding of (good) style in written English

Sentence Correction 2

Format:• You are given a sentence, some or all

of which is underlined• You must replace the underlined

portion with one of five options• Answer choice A is always the same,

i.e. the sentence is correct as it stands

Critical Reasoning 1

Format:• You are given an argument.

Arguments may contain the following:– Premise (fact)– Assumption– Conclusion (opinion)

• You get a question on that argument–multiple choice answers

Critical Reasoning 2

Sample questions:• What would strengthen/weaken the

argument?• On what assumption is the argument

based?• What would help us to better

evaluate the argument?

Reading Comprehension 1

Format:• You are given a passage of ~350

words• Any topic ~ no outside knowledge

needed• You answer 3 (or sometimes 4)

multiple choice questions

Reading Comprehension 2

Sample questions:• What is the primary purpose of this

passage?• The author would most likely agree

with which of the following statements?

• Theory A differs from Theory B on which of the following points?

Part Three

How can you best prepare?

What To Do 1

Quant first steps• Learn the theory• Use a Maths book• Do one topic at a time• Practise processes until they become

automatic

What To Do 2

OG questions• Start with the lower-numbered

questions in each section as they’re easier (supposedly)

• Work out what you don’t know, or can’t do, and then fix it

How To Do It 1

When you sit down to study,HAVE A LEARNING OBJECTIVE

Never an amount of questionsNever a set time

By the end of this session…What do I want to have achieved?

I want to be better at….. what?

How To Do It 2

When going through the OG,DO EACH QUESTION

(AT LEAST)3 TIMES

1. Test conditions2. Long as you like3. Review (later)

How To Do It 3

REVIEW EVERYTHING!

(especially when you’re tired after work ~ save new questions for when you’re fresher)

FIND YOUR WEAKNESSES

Fixing it 1

I didn’t know what to do =(

• Look for clues– Keywords– Answer choices

• Compare similar questions

Fixing it 2

It took too long =(

• Practise processes• Learn to read questions (clues /

similar questions)• Find shortcuts• Just get the answer however you

can!

Fixing it 3

I don’t understand this topic very well =(

• Go back to basics• Work on one topic at a time• Practise until you do understand• Ask for help

Fixing it 4

I made a silly mistake =(

• Work out why– copying error– going too quickly–messy working–misread the question

• Always re-read the question!

Top tips 1

Have a timing strategy

• Time as an investment ~ ROI

• Faster and slower ~ what difference does it make?

Top tips 2

Use the answer choices

• Issues• Similarities and differences• Clues, common elements

Top tips 3

Learn to eliminate wrong answers

Problem Solving skills

• Multiplication and division• Prime factorisation• Identifying number properties• Deriving algebraic equations• Solving algebraic equations• Applying formulae

• Reading the question

Data Sufficiency skills

• Being methodical• Finding a method that works for you

Sentence Correction skills

• Applying rules of grammar• Spotting small differences• Developing an instinct for the sound

of a sentence• Giving reasons why things that sound

wrong are wrong

Critical Reasoning skills

• Simplifying an argument– line of reasoning

• Identifying premises, assumptions, conclusions, inferences etc.

• Knowing what is ‘outside the scope’• Clarifying the two sides of an

argument– double negatives

Reading Comprehension skills

• Speed reading• Summarising• Mind-mapping or other note-taking– descriptive vs argumentative

• Identifying keywords• Recognising synonyms

Resources

• GCSE level Maths book• The Official Guide to GMAT Review• A book on English grammar and style• mba.com free software• Other online resources

e.g. khanacademy.org

More fun ways to prepare

• Sudoku• Spot the difference• Crosswords• Card games• Philosophy• Old newspaper reports• Numbers in everyday life

Deliberate mistake 1

Is x a prime number?(2) x has two factors

Statement (2) is the definition of a prime number, therefore statement (2) is sufficient

BUT…

Deliberate mistake 2

Is x a prime number?(1) 6 < x < 8

x does not have to be an integer, therefore statement (1) is NOT sufficient

Area 51

This is slide #51

What are the properties of 51?

Slide 52

51 = 3 x 17 (it has no other properties, so if 51 appears in a question it’s probably because it divides by 17)

And 52?52 = 2 x 2652 = 4 x 13 (4 suits of 13 cards)etc.