GMAT Quantitative: Top 15 Expert Tips to Master the Math Section

Hi Folks, This article is about how to solve the maths section or quantitative reasoning section and score well in the section. In this article, we are going to discuss 15 important expert tips for the GMAT quantitative section and increase your GMAT quant score.

You can find gmat quant study material online as well as offline. You should check for Gmat quant sample questions on its official website. Also, search for GMAT maths questions to prepare the quant section.

Increasing your quantitative score, requires focused strategy, regular practice, and regular assessment. This article helps you to understand GMAT Quant Tips and Tricks, and GMAT Math Tips and Tricks. GMAT Quant Prep Guide or GMAT Math Prep Guide will help you to understand ‘How to study for GMAT Quant’.
Before going through this article, you should self-analyze to know where you are standing right now. To do so, you can rate yourself on the following parameters:

This Story also Contains

1. Understanding the GMAT Quantitative Section:
2. Key Topics to Focus on in GMAT Quantitative Reasoning:
3. Effective GMAT Quant Study Materials:
4. Strategies for Mastering GMAT Math Questions:
5. Practice Makes Perfect: GMAT Maths Sample Questions:
6. Common Mistakes to Avoid in GMAT Quantitative Reasoning:
7. Enhancing Your GMAT Quantitative Skills:
8. Utilizing GMAT Prep Apps and Tools:
9. The Role of GMAT Quantitative Practice Tests:
10. Expert Tips for Improving Your GMAT Quant Score:
11. Understanding GMAT Quantitative Section Scoring:
12. Resources for Advanced GMAT Quantitative Preparation:
13. Real GMAT Quantitative Reasoning Success Stories
14. Tips from GMAT Quant Experts:
15. The Final Countdown: Last-Minute Tips for GMAT Quant Preparation
16. Additional Resources for GMAT Quant Prep:

• Are you able to understand the questions properly?

• Are you doing lengthy calculations?

• Do you know all the concepts of maths?

• Do you know what you need to score well in GMAT Quant?

• Do you know what is required to succeed in quant?

In this article, you will get to know the answers to all your queries.

If you are not so good in maths, then here we are for you to develop skills to solve the questions of GMAT quant. The GMAT quant tests your logical and analytical skills. After reading this article and following the tips mentioned in this article, you will be able to crack GMAT Quant, just as many of us did despite being not so good in maths.

Understanding the GMAT Quantitative Section:

To understand the GMAT quant section, you should know:

• Syllabus of GMAT Quant
• The pattern of the exam
• Types of questions.

So, we will start with the understanding of the GMAT Quantitative section.

1. Overview of the GMAT Quantitative Section:

The Quantitative section of the GMAT exam consists of 21 questions to be completed in 45 minutes. The questions are of problem-solving type. It measures the skills related to reasoning quantitatively, solving quantitative problems, and interpreting graphic data. This section involves problems related to arithmetic, elementary algebra, common geometry concepts etc.
Arithmetic Section: This section consists of problems related to numbers, fractions, percentages ratios etc.
Elementary Algebra: Polynomials, functions, Linear equations, Quadratic equations, Inequalities etc are under elementary algebra.
Geometry: Triangles, Circles, Areas related to circles, Quadrilateral, Polygons etc.
Statistics and Probability: Mean, Mode, Median, Probability, Conditional Probability.

Sample Questions (From the official website of GMAT):

Q1. If a certain wheel turns at a constant rate of x revolutions per minute, how many revolutions will the wheel make in k seconds?
(A) 60kx
(B) kx
(C) x÷k
(D) x÷(60k)
(E) kx÷60

Answer: (E)
Solution:
Number of revolutions in 60 seconds = x
Then the number of revolutions in 1 second = x/60
So, the number of revolutions in k seconds = kx/60

2. Importance of the Quantitative Section in GMAT Scoring:

An MBA program is unapologetically quant-heavy. Many B-schools prefer your quant score because the courses in finance, economics, and even marketing require a foundation in algebra, calculus, and statistics, without which you’re likely to lag behind.

But most of the B-schools see the overall GMAT score. If you're not confident in math, you might find the fast-paced MBA curriculum challenging, as there’s limited time to focus on fundamental math skills. As a result, business schools evaluate your math proficiency to ensure you won’t face difficulties in their program.

Key Topics to Focus on in GMAT Quantitative Reasoning:

We can divide the syllabus into four main components as discussed below.

1. Arithmetic and Number Properties

Key Concepts:

2. Algebra and Functions:

Key Concepts:

3. Geometry and Measurement:

Key Concepts:

• Understanding the different shapes.
• Properties of Triangles, Circle, Quadrilateral, Polygon etc.
• Angle Properties
• Coordinate Geometry
• Surface area and volumes of different 3D figures.

4. Data Interpretation, Statistics, and Probability

Key Concepts:

• Mean, median, and mode.
• Range and Standard deviation.
• Probability: Practice basic probability concepts, mutually exclusive events, independent events, and conditional probability.
• Data Interpretation: Two-part analysis, Graphic Interpretation, Multi-source reasoning, Integrating reasoning, Table analysis.

Effective GMAT Quant Study Materials:

You can prepare for the GMAT with the help of suggested GMAT books, online tutorials, and practice sets

Best GMAT Quant Study Books

• Use the Official GMAT Guide and other materials published by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC).
• GMAT Official Guide 2023-2024, Focus Edition
• GMAT Focus Edition Unofficial Quantitative Review 2023 by Career Launcher.
• Kaplan Gmat 800.

Online GMAT Math Prep Courses

You can subscribe to some free YouTube channels or you can purchase online courses to boost your preparation for GMAT.
Here are some suggestions:

• Magoosh GMAT Prep
• GMAT Official Prep by GMAC

Strategies for Mastering GMAT Math Questions:

The first step to success is to make strategies. Here are some tips to make strategies for your preparation.

1. Time Management Techniques for GMAT Quant

What if you believe you can solve all the questions but end up answering only 40% to 50% of them, even though you're capable of solving more than 75%?

This situation highlights the crucial role of time management. Some questions are more time-consuming to solve or require more thought before you can answer them. If you spend too much time on a single question, you might miss the opportunity to solve 2 or 3 simpler ones. Therefore, improving your time management skills is essential.

You can enhance your time management by:

• Attempting more practice sets on different portals.
• Planning well during MOCK tests
• Make strategy
• Improve speed using Vedic maths or mental maths
• Allocation of time for each question

2. Approaching Different Types of GMAT Math Questions

In maths, each topic has several variations. If you have practised different types of questions during your preparation, it will certainly be going to help you during the exam.

Approaching different types of problems, you will be able

• To understand the problems
• To use the right approach for a specific question
• To save time and attempt more questions

3. Using the Process of Elimination Effectively

Let us discuss with an example:

“If 0 <r< 1 <s< 2, which of the following must be less than 1?

I. r/s
II. rs
III. s – r

Options:
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) III only
(D) I and II
(E) I and III

If we solve this question properly without elimination, it will take a longer time.
So, try to eliminate the most inappropriate choices.
Since r is less than 1 but s is greater than 1, r/s certainly be less than 1. So, options B and C will be eliminated.
When you’ve eliminated either two or three of the answers after evaluating just one statement, you might guess and move on.
Check the other statements by taking extreme test cases.

II. rs, take the test cases:

Case 1: r = 1/2 and s = 3/2. The product is 3/4, which is less than 1.
Now take the extreme case r = 0.9 and s = 1.9; rs = 1.71 which is greater than 1.
So, this statement is wrong. Eliminate answer (D).

III. s – r,

Take r = 0.1 and s = 1.9; s -r = 1.9 – 0.1 = 1.8 which is not less than 1.
This statement also doesn’t qualify, so eliminate answer (E). The correct answer is (A).

Important points to remember while eliminating the inappropriate choices:

• When you see problem-solving questions that ask what must or could be true, don’t just go for the Yes! Think about how to Get to No.
• If you are actively trying to Get to No but can’t, then the chances are pretty good that this statement actually must be true.
• In your quest to find that No, you may even be able to prove why you can’t get there, as we did above.

Practice Makes Perfect: GMAT Maths Sample Questions:

To get a good competitive score in GMAT quant, you need to practice more and more. Two challenges you can face; where to find the high-quality GMAT math sample questions and how to use them.

First of all, to master the basics of quant, you need only basic questions that are easily available on many online platforms and you just need to search questions on percentages, questions on geometry etc.

• Where to Find High-Quality GMAT Math Sample Questions

After strengthening your basics, you should practice GMAT sample questions. You can find GMAT sample questions on maths on several online platforms, you can purchase books which are suggested earlier.

Also, you can download the GMAT focus edition e-book below.
GMAT Complete Guide for GMAT exam focus edition. It is a free resource available.

• How to Use GMAT Maths Sample Questions for Effective Practice

You can improve your GMAT maths by practising regularly. Also, you can make your practice more effective in the following ways:

• You should master your basics and you must have good knowledge of maths at the secondary school level.
• Use logic while practising, and also try to solve the same problem by option elimination.
• Learn strategies: Try to solve through options, solve by putting values, and estimate the answers without solving.
• Also, make a register to keep a record of mistakes you are making during practice and try to rectify them in the next practice session.
• Look for a simpler approach.
• Be aware of time pressure.
• If a problem takes more time than expected, it indicates that you are taking the wrong approach.
• Be familiar with the diagrams.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in GMAT Quantitative Reasoning:

There are many pitfalls and challenges faced by an aspirant during the exam. They make common mistakes again and again without understanding why these mistakes are happening again and how to overcome these mistakes. We are summarizing them here:

1. Misinterpreting Questions and How to Avoid It

Sometimes the language of the question can confuse you and you wrongly interpret the question. Sometimes you might not understand the pattern of the question.

This should not happen during an exam. We can avoid this situation from happening

• By practising more and more variations on each and every topic.
• By mastering your basics.
• If the question language is lengthy then solve by breaking the problem into smaller parts.

2. Overlooking Basic Math Concepts

Every topic is important for quantitative reasoning. Do not leave any basic math concept untouched. For this you should go through the syllabus of GMAT quantitative reasoning, previously asked questions, and sample questions on GMAT's official website.

To learn the important formulas and theorems or basics, you should make flashcards and use them to revise the concepts whenever you get the time.

3. Avoiding Calculation Errors

Common calculation errors like addition, subtraction, multiplication, division etc are to be avoided during the exam.

You need to work on such common mistakes that can happen. So, taking diagnostic tests is the best way to overcome this problem.
Be relaxed and calm to avoid such mistakes during exams.

Enhancing Your GMAT Quantitative Skills:

Whichever question type you are working on whether it is problem-solving or data sufficiency, it will require

• basic knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, statistics, and geometry.
• logical thinking and critical thinking
• calculations without using a calculator.

To enhance these skills of yours, you need regular practice sets, analyze your mistakes etc.

1. Regular Practice and Mock Tests

Take practice tests regularly to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Focus on areas where you need improvement and use practice problems to reinforce your skills. Also, focus on the areas in which you are taking more time than it has to be.

The practice exam is a diagnostic tool to focus your study time. When you take a practice exam, it is important to keep this in mind:

• Complete the test within time or before the time.
• Do not take any help with the calculations.
• Note down the areas of improvement.
• Rectify the silly mistakes in the successive tests.

2. Analyzing Your Mistakes and Learning from Them

Analyze your mistakes while practising or taking practice sets by reviewing them. Make a record of the mistakes that are repeated.

How to analyze your mistakes in quant:

You need a notebook to write down:

• Source of the question, type of the question, topic of the question.
• Why you missed it?
• Why your answer was wrong?
• Why the right answer was right?
• How to avoid it next time?

To improve the mistakes, spend more time on your mistakes rather than solving new questions.

3. Joining GMAT Quantitative Study Groups

You should join quantitative study groups offline as well as online to share experiences, inspire, and encourage each other.
This practice will help you to understand your mistakes, clear your doubts, and encourage you to compete. It also helps you to learn new tricks to solve GMAT quantitative reasoning questions quickly.
There are too many GMAT online study groups that you can find online. Also, you can start your own GMAT quantitative study group.

Must Read:

Utilizing GMAT Prep Apps and Tools:

1. Recommended GMAT Quantitative Prep Apps

There are 100s of apps available on Play Store for GMAT preparation. I am hereby suggesting you top 5 GMAT prep apps that will certainly help you.

1. Manhattan Prep App
2. GMAT Club
3. Mangoosh GMAT Prep
4. GMAT Prep by Kaplan
5. Veritas Prep GMAT

2. How to Leverage GMAT Math Tools for Better Performance

There are several ways in which the GMAT prep app can you to prepare GMAT quantitative reasoning section. You can make perfect use of them for your preparation.

• These apps are excellent resources for quant questions and you can search the questions topic-wise.
• Practice questions with the timer provided by GMAT apps.
• Free questions and error logs are available.
• These apps assist you with expert replies.
• Solutions are provided with explanations, strategies, tips, and tricks.
• You can download free resources in the form of e-books.

The Role of GMAT Quantitative Practice Tests:

The practice exam is a diagnostic tool to focus your study time. When you take a practice exam, it is important to keep this in mind:

• You need to complete the practice test within the time limit.
• Don’t use a calculator while taking tests.
• You need to summarize the areas in which you are weak and the areas in which you are taking more time.
• Summarize the silly mistakes, you are making during the tests.
• Try to rectify the mistakes done previously while taking the next tests.

1. Importance of Full-Length GMAT Quantitative Practice Tests

The GMAT exam is a timed test, so it's crucial to manage your time effectively to maximize the number of questions you can answer within the allotted period.

Full-length practice tests can help you:

• To understand the format and structure of the exam better and
• To develop time management skills.
• To understand the format types of questions and difficulty levels you can expect on the actual exam
• Adjust your preparation strategy accordingly.

Other benefits of taking practice tests are:

• You can identify your strengths and weaknesses.
• It helps you to build confidence.
• It helps to reduce text anxiety.

2. Interpreting Practice Test Results to Improve Scores

After completing each practice test, it is important to evaluate and understand your results. You can do it by monitoring your performance across the different sections and comparing it with your past test results. This helps you to find out the areas in which you need improvement as well as those where you face challenges.
With this insight, you can revise your study strategy and concentrate your efforts more effectively. Furthermore, the results can guide you in prioritizing the topics that require additional review and practice.

Expert Tips for Improving Your GMAT Quant Score:

To score well in GMAT, you always need some expert advice from time to time. Some of them are discussed here:

1. Effective Study Plans and Schedules

• Prepare a structured daily study schedule that includes regular practice sessions, review your test results, and make a note of common mistakes you are making and plan to rectify them.
• Set small goals to achieve with a deadline and monitor them.
• Make a proper timetable.
• Make flashcards to remember key points.

2. Balancing Quantitative and Verbal Preparation

To succeed in the GMAT exam, you will score well in the GMAT Quantitative section as well as in the GMAT Verbal section. You need to spend time on both depending upon your capabilities.

How to make a balance between the two?

Do not do: Work hard for one section and do the opposite for the second section.

Make a Strategic Balance between both. You should decide how to allot your time happens at both the macro and micro levels.

At the macro level, you need to make a solid estimate as to how much time you will need over the course of your entire GMAT preparation. If you are not good at maths, you will need a lot more Quant time than Verbal time. If you are weak in English, you will need more time to practice verbal.

By taking a diagnostic test, you will be able to decide which section needs a larger investment. If you give yourself eight total weeks to study, perhaps you should spend the first two to four weeks entirely on that more important section. Let yourself focus entirely on the basics that you need to brush up on.

At the micro level, divide your day into two sections or you can allot alternate days to both sections.

Even if you still find that one section needs much more work than the other, make sure you never leave one question type alone for very long.

With just a little bit of additional planning, you can put yourself in a much better position to excel in every part of the GMAT, not just the section you've studied recently.

3. Leveraging Analytical Skills for Better Performance

Analytical skills help to establish and structure relationships between information given by identifying substantial connections or trends. It involves

• Critical thinking
• Organizing data
• Analyzing data and diagnosing it
• Evaluating and decision-making
• Problem-solving

Analytical skills are important as it will save your time, increase your accuracy, and help you to improve your GMAT score.

Understanding GMAT Quantitative Section Scoring:

• How GMAT Quantitative Scores Are Calculated

Quantitative Reasoning:

• Format: Consists of 21 multiple-choice Problem-Solving questions, to be completed in 45 minutes.
• What it Measures: Algebraic and arithmetic foundational knowledge and how this knowledge is applied to solve problems.
• Score Range: Quantitative Reasoning scores range from 60 – 90.
• How it Scored: The Quantitative Reasoning score is based on three factors:
  1) the number of questions answered
  2) whether the answers are correct or incorrect, and
  3) the difficulty and other parameters of the questions answered.

• How to Improve Your GMAT Quant Score Strategically

If you are preparing for GMAT and getting less than 30 – 35 marks then you need to practice more and more and try to reach 40 – 45 marks.

If you are determined to prepare for the GMAT quant section, using the best materials and following a strategic plan of study, you will certainly earn an impressive GMAT quant score. In this article, we are going to discuss 6-step strategies to a 50 – 51 score.

1. Work on Basics will help you to understand the concepts thoroughly.
2. Learn to Use Numbers Effectively.
3. Do not jump directly to the solutions.
4. Identify simpler solutions and use logic over math.
5. Don’t rely only on official guides although it is important.
6. Never rigid on techniques. You can put values to identify the answer.

It might be a good idea to take the full-length test. GMAT scores are changing every year. So, the GMAT score chart will help you to understand the pattern of percentile on the GMAT quant section.

Resources for Advanced GMAT Quantitative Preparation:

Advanced GMAT Quantitative Study Materials

• Use the Official GMAT Guide and other materials published by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC).
• Practice with real GMAT questions to become familiar with the test’s format and difficulty.
• GMAT Official Guide 2023-2024, Focus Edition
• GMAT Focus Edition Unofficial Quantitative Review 2023 by Career Launcher.
• Kaplan Gmat 800.

Real GMAT Quantitative Reasoning Success Stories

• Case Studies of High Scorers in GMAT Quantitative

Maria’s perfect Q90 score

“I make up the notes on number properties, write summaries, write formulas. I do practice questions, see solutions, and analyze my mistakes. During the exam, I didn’t spend much time on each question. Specifically first question took more time and saved some time to look back to the questions that I have attempted”.

Dhruv’s Journey to perfect Q90 score

‘’During 1st day I was able to score just 50%, then increase it to 70%, then to 75%, then to 90%, and again to 75%, and then again more than 90% for two successive tests. It took around 6 days of mock tests to get consistency. I did marathon sessions of 4-5 hours to improve my score and accuracy as my goal was to achieve accuracy.’’

Tips from GMAT Quant Experts:

GMAT quant is not just a math test. It is a logical and reasoning game as explained by some experts. Here I am going to discuss some expert tips for GMAT quant.

Tip 1: GMAT questions are easier than they appear. Learn to apply the concepts and GMAT formulas in that way.
Tip 2: Build a string GMAT quant foundation first. Take a gradual and linear approach to build the concepts.
Tip 3: Avoid careless mistakes
Tip 4: Create notes and flashcards
Tip 5: Be an active participant in your learning.
Tip 6: Do not guess on GMAT quant to keep up.
Tip 7: Use one resource for GMAT quant.

The Final Countdown: Last-Minute Tips for GMAT Quant Preparation

Confidence and a positive attitude will improve your performance. Stay motivated, manage stress, and be focused and optimistic.

Final Review Strategies for GMAT Quantitative Section

You should do:

• Make sure that you have revised all the topics a day before the exam.
• Review keynotes.
• When a question pops up on the screen, read it and read it again.
• If you can’t think of an efficient way to solve the question, quickly guess and move on.
• Use the time you save to be ridiculously accurate on the other questions.

Stress Management Techniques Before the Exam

Last-minute stress does not benefit you in any sense. Be confident and focused during the exam.

You should not do before the exam:

• Think about the result.
• Take stress.

You should do:

• Leave study at least 1 hr of the exam.
• Drink water.
• Do meditation.
• Check your belongings required for the exam.
• Do not spend too much time on one question.

Additional Resources for GMAT Quant Prep:

Online Forums and Discussion Groups

There are several communities and forums for GMAT preparation for free. You can follow any of them to boost your preparation.
few of them are listed here:

• GMAT Club
• Manhattan Prep
• e-GMAT - Free Adaptive Mock Test