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Math on standardized tests like the GMAT
What is a standardized test?
Standardized tests (Eg, SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, etc.) are aptitude tests to assess students' competence for a particular course of study. The scores on tests standard that is supposed to predict individual success in job or profession after completing the course. For example, research shows that the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a valid indicator of student performance in the MBA program. The studies also support the proposition of the successes of his career post-MBA with GMAT test scores.
Most standardized tests consist of some form of evaluation of two subjects: English and Mathematics. The first part of English, often called verbal ability test, which took the test assesses the ability to read and write grammatically correctEnglish. Several years reading textbooks, writing papers, speaking in front of the class in elementary and secondary schools allows testtakers standardized to score well without much effort.
Math on standardized tests
Standardized test in math, however, is not as natural or easy as the English. The Students often receive less than satisfactory trainingin developing their math skills and the format of the questions did not help either. For example, how many times Theprobability one has to know a number that is strange when a two-digit number chosen at random. Or what is the average speed of Jack in all, when Jack was a way to kind of 40 kilometers per hour, and returned to a speed of 50 mph?
The standardized test may be composed of its own section questions.The format Math math, sometimes called quantitative section, may have questionsof the following types: Problem solving, data sufficiency, comparison data, graphics problems, and Grid-ins. Despite the quantitative problems are countless ways, they test a limited number of concepts. The concepts can be classified into three main sections of Math: Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry.
▪ arithmetic section
Most standardized tests give great importance to the arithmetic concepts such as rate, ratio, mean, and numbers. The arithmetic section often makes the 50% or more of the quantitative section of the test. The number of arithmetic problems on the GMAT or the GRE math is 55% to 60% of the number total number of questions. SAT and ACT test, the arithmetic part of the Math section is 50%.
▪ Algebra section
In terms of number of test questions, algebra is not so important. The areas assessed in the algebra are: Solving simple equations, binomial theorem and quadratic equations, and Advance Algebra with Inequalities. About 15% to 25% of problems are the percentage distribution section Math.The Algebra may vary for different tests.
▪ Geometry section
Test-makers prefer to questions in geometry in different shapes and flavors. The basic concepts tested in this area from: angles and triangles, squares and rectangles, circles, coordinate, Solid and Geometry.Even but the questions require advance knowledge and practice importantconcepts, problems are often easier intuitive and based on fitness. In anygiven of standardized tests in math, about 20% to 40% of all questions are theGeometry section. In the SAT, about 35 questions pf% are the GMAT Geometry.In only 20% of all issues are problems of geometry.
Several Problems
Manufacturers of standardized tests have a taste for eccentric questions.These issues arising from the concepts of more than one item oftenrequire common sense, besides the basic concepts of the section. It is not uncommon tofind a problem in a geometric figure that can be solved in an algebraic expression with a simple sense common. Worldwide ofGMAT and GRE, the category of miscellaneous problems is called the Word of different issues key to doing well in this section is twofold: (1) Know ofArithmetic foundations, algebra and geometry, (2) Applying common sense to translate the information given and the question in the form of mathematical equations.
FORMAT OF MATH PROBLEMS
Math problems on standardized tests are almost always in the form of election issue objectivemultiple. The grid on the SAT exam question anexception. The usual format includes a description of the problem with one ormore useful information. A statement the question is the information given. So the problem is followed by 4 or 5 response options.
Students taking the test are required to use information provided in response to the statement in question. Found the answer therefore is one of many options. There is no single strategy to solve a math multiple choice general problem.Experts recommend one or more of the following methods
▪ plugging numbers: Help to avoid complex algebraic
▪ Back solve: Taking the help of response options to remove bad options
▪ Eye-ball and approach: Useful in simple geometric problems
▪ intelligent guess: The elimination of the answers are unlikely to decrease the options.
The strategies described above work when the examinees are equipped with the basic concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and reverse time effortin and practice examples of real exam questions in the format.
Other forms of math problems (eg, the adequacy of data GMAT, Grid-in on the SAT, GRE and SAT on the graph) are a small percentage of all test questions. Students are advised to develop their own strategy to questions.Once perhaps, knowing the fundamentals and practice of these problems is the key to doing well in this type of problems.
Examples of problems Example:
1. After 20% discount due to the Christmas sale, the price of a book is $ 40. What is the total savings the regular price, Jim, when you purchase two volumes of books in the sale of discount?
A. 100
B. 50
C. 40
D. 20
E. 10
2. In 2000, Mary was twice the age of his sister Sally. In 2008, Mary is 5 yeas older than Sally. What is Mary's age now (Year 2007)?
A. 6
B. 10
C. 17
D. 18
E. 20
3. The numerical value of the ratio of the area and the circumference of a circle is 2. What is the diameter of the circle?
A. 4
B. 8
C. 16
D. 18
E. 32
Replies:
1. D
2. C
3. B
About the Author
Reena, an accomplished writer and GMAT instructor, currently heads Win Education Service India, a company that delivers the WinGMAT , an educational resource on GMAT.
WinGMAT is a leading online tutoring resource providing GMAT math preparation courses for high GMAT scores. WinGMAT provides GMAT course for math problem solving and data sufficiency in a unique video and text format.
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