Mistakes in Book:
Functions and Sequences – Problem #38. Correct answer (C) 9/2 not (B) 9/4. The correct solution is written down, but it has the wrong corresponding letter choice.
FDP Book – Answers to Check Your Skills in Chapter 2 Pg. 37 is on page 55, not pg. 57 as listed.
FDP Book – Under Fractions in Equations subheading 3rd paragraph: your is mispelled as oyur pg. 44
I have been working hard at reviewing the material I have studied previously this year. I realized that I did not do enough practice problems when I learned the material to solidify it into my head. I am finally being to see the larger concepts within each section being tested and can pull out what skills/types of problems I need work with. On this sheet, I want to keep a record of what I have gone over, what was most difficult and what I need to continue working on.
Algebra —–
Algebraic and Quadric Equations – BEST
Inequalities and Absolute Values – Testing out Inequalities
Functions, Formulas and Sequences – Sum of sequences
Fractions, Decimals and Percents —-
Fractions and Decimals
Percents
Number Properties —-
Divisibility and Primes
Exponents and Roots
Number Properties
Word Problems ——
Word Problems / Two Variable Word Problems
Rates and Work – BEST
Variables in the Choices Problems
Ratios
Averages, Weighted Averages, Median, and Mode – BEST
Standard Deviation and Normal Distribution
Probability, Combinatorics and Overlapping Sets
Geometry —–
Polygons and Rectangular Solids
Circles and Cylinders
Triangles
Coordinate Geometry
Mixed Geometry
Types of Algebra Problems:
Types of Inequality Problems:
Types of Functions and Sequence Problems:
Types of Ratio Problems:
Unknown multiplier “X” – to solve for an unknown value
Ratio Comparisons (make ratios equal to compare / cross multiply)
Add Ratios together
Limiting Factor
Types of Probability Problems:
X – 1
Probability when flipping a coin / rolling a dice
Problems where order matters vs. doesn’t matter
# of items in a section/group
Independent vs. dependent events
Combinatorics provlems aka _ _ _ _ _ problems
1. Finish Basic Flashcards Set
2. Logic Based Reading Comp
3. Finish Algebra Chapter
4. Review Number Properties and FDP connections book
Took another CAT practice test today. Here are the results and some thoughts on them.
Verbal:
-I better understood how to analyze the questions and “think” through the answer. I eliminated answers, referenced the text back and forth, and was more careful with the wording … which brought up my reading comprehension score.
-I did not guess with the vocabulary but eliminated wrong answers, recognized approx. 25% more vocabulary than previously and recognized relationships between words … but I still need to know more vocabulary.
-Hardest part was reading the science-dense portions and a significant number of vocabulary words I didn’t know
Continue with vocabulary and focus on field-specific content for reading. Worst Type of question: Infer about the Facts.
Quantitative:
-I recognized the questions
-I felt like I was able to solve or attempt solving at least 50% more of the problems than I did previously
-Moving between concepts did not seem to be a problem
-I was able to solve problems at a higher difficulty level then my first time around
-Difficulty w/ recall (i.e. “I’ve seen this before, but don’t remember how to solve for it.)
-I solved the problems I thought I could get through, but most of the medium-difficult problems I skipped entirely (i.e. did not even attempt.)
-I still got a number of problems incorrect
Timing was consistent for both sections; I had time to review answers at the end. For MOST answers I did not change (especially for verbal)
Easy Points I missed: Number Properties
Hard Areas to improve: Coordinates, Word Problems, and Data Analysis
Areas when I have time: FDP (FDP Connections) & Algebra (Inequalities and Absolute Values)
-feel like I have no section completely down
-I have left questions unaddressed
-I don’t have a system for routine review in place, so I see a topic once and then never again until a really hard problem comes up by which time I’ve forgotten the skills:/
-Just doing the section problem set is not enough practice. I need to regularly review chapters and re-do practice problems as quick check for mastery
-I need to do practice problems at the beginning of a section that reviews what I’ve learned from the previous day (even if it is just one or two problems)
-have a list of questions to ask Carl
-do drill sets and work through problems as best as I can; reviewing concepts I don’t get right – labeling problems in GREEN need to re-work, purple when I’ve mastered them
GRE Plan:
1. By End of Summer Break: Mastery of Barron’s Wordlists and GRE Geometry and Word Problems
August:
1. Take Practice Test
2. Review weakest areas in math (reviewing textbook and doing practice problems)
3. GRE Vocabulary Flashcards (10/day to finish by the end of September)
5. Complete Data Interpretation and Text Completion/Equivalent Book
September:
1. Work on essays writing and Reading Comprehension
2. Time all practice problems and sessions
3. Go through the official GRE study book
4. Mock Tests on the weekend
October:
-Mock Tests on weekend
– Complete practice problems during week and review weak areas based on test results
Just wanted to share: after struggling through Geometry (really, it has not been pretty) I have had a GREAT two days studying Circles and Cylinders. I got through 34 problems and understood all but two of them. I feel like I’ve had a taste of what mastery and clear understanding of concepts on the GRE tastes like. I want more. It feels like a firework bursting from the sky.
I have not updated my GRE in a long time. Since coming home from Turkey, I have tried to diligently study each day. I am a little behind, on vocabulary, but it continues to go well and I will be finishing with the Barron’s book in several weeks, then moving on to the Manhattan vocabulary cards.
Props:
1. I have been devoted 2 hours daily to study.
2. I have changed my method for problem-solving.
3. I have started tackling Geometry (EEK!)
Problems:
1. STILL not sure I devote the right amount of time to the right things.
2. I am still having trouble with some concepts and continue to get around 60% of the practice problems.
I think my biggest problem is being able to connect concepts to problems in order to solve them. I KNOW the information, but I don’t know how to apply the information to solve the problems.
Vocab Goal: To finish the Barron’s 1100 Words You Need To Know by the time we leave MN.
Math goal: To finish and have mastery of the Geometry concepts and problems.
End of summer goal: to finish the Manhattan Prep Books for Math; be ready to take another practice test, evaluate weak areas, and plan out how to study from here on out.
I am really scared I won’t be prepared for the GRE and that will be reflected in my score. I feel overwhelmed by the amount of information you need to know for the test and can’t help but feel underprepared. I wish I had more resources available to study from as some of the material I just can’t see to get. It makes me feel stupid and it also scares me. I have to stop being scared emotionally and start thinking critically so I can do what I need to to overcome the areas I am weak in. I feel like I have studied the material and understood it, but that it will be very difficult to jump topics and solve problems within the given time frame. The best thing i can do is understand and practice concepts and then practice, practice, practice things under real testing conditions.
Realization: It does not serve me well to do practice GRE problems until I have all of the GRE concepts down SOLID. I feel like I “wasted” time doing GRE problem sets before I could really understand the concepts behind what I was doing … it just made the process more confusing.
To Do List:
To lie up all of the loose ends in math I have started I need to …
Fractions, Decimals and Percents:
Review chapters in the book / Write down GRE notes
Review book problems
Do the practice problems in the 5LB Book
Algebra:
Review basic function concepts
Algebra problem set
Inequalities and Absolute Value problem sets
Functions, Formulas and sequences problem set
Number Properties:
Do the Number Properties Problem Set in the 5LB
Review concepts and problems for the number line and consecutive integers
Review for mastery the problem sets for roots and exponents
I feel like a baby, cautiously jumping back into my GRE studying. The amount of material and questions asked can make me frustrated and overwhelmed. Yet, by being inconsistent in my studying, I end up getting nowhere because I don’t reinforce the material I have already learned and therefore promptly forget it. I am excited for graduate school. My GRE score is a crucial part of my application. I need to get a good score … so I am not going to allow my fears to step in the way of me not studying. There’s no avoiding this.
So, here we go!
This week …
Vocabulary:
Master all of the Week 20-26 flashcards in the Quizlet set that I made.
Do Weeks 27-29 for vocabulary.
Math:
Do 10 problems a day from number properties and exponents/roots problems
Finish the problem sets in the GRE Number Properties Book
1-3 Chapters of the Algebra Book
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