{"id":15735,"date":"2018-05-16T15:22:59","date_gmt":"2018-05-16T15:22:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/?p=15735"},"modified":"2019-08-30T17:35:55","modified_gmt":"2019-08-30T17:35:55","slug":"maximize-learning-official-gmat-problems-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/blog\/maximize-learning-official-gmat-problems-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Maximize Your Learning from Official GMAT Problems (Part 2)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Manhattan<\/p>\n

Welcome to the second part of our series on learning the most that we can from official GMAT problems. Last time<\/a>, we talked about how to use solutions as a series of hints from your own \u201cprivate tutor.\u201d This time, we\u2019re going to talk about what to do when this process doesn\u2019t actually help you to generate ideas about how to solve the problem.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s where we left off:<\/span><\/p>\n

What if the solution gives me no ideas?<\/b><\/h4>\n

This definitely happens\u2014and it\u2019s a really good clue of a different kind. If I\u2019m reviewing a solution and <\/span>never<\/span><\/i> having an aha! moment, then there\u2019s a good chance that this is the kind of question that I\u2019m just not prepared to understand and be able to answer correctly (at least, not at the moment).<\/span><\/p>\n

These kinds of official GMAT problems will fall into one of two categories:<\/span><\/p>\n

(1) A problem that I\u2019m not ready to learn now, but I think I have a decent chance to be able to learn this later in my studies<\/span><\/p>\n

(2) A problem that I\u2019m probably never going to know how to do well, even by the time I get to the real test<\/span><\/p>\n

Not ready now\u2026but maybe later?<\/b><\/h4>\n

In the first case, I want to come back to that problem later in my studies. When? And how will I remember?<\/span><\/p>\n

As you\u2019re studying, keep some kind of a study calendar. This will help you make (and keep!) study appointments with yourself and it will help you organize what you\u2019re going to do on any given day or in any given week.<\/span><\/p>\n

When you run across something that you want to try again later, consider what additional skills you might need to be able to do that kind of problem. Sometimes, you can be pretty specific: The problem tests a math concept that I haven\u2019t fully covered yet, so I\u2019m going to come back to this in a week after I\u2019ve covered that material. In that case, go add the problem to your study calendar a week from today.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other times, it will be more nebulous. You might think: This one\u2019s too hard for me right now, but maybe after I\u2019ve gone through all of my study material once, I\u2019ll be ready to try something like this again. In that case, put it on your calendar for 4 weeks out or 6 weeks out or whenever you think you\u2019ll have completed your initial pass through your study materials. At that time, you can evaluate whether this problem really is category 1 (I can learn to do this now) or category 2 (nope, I should just let this one go).<\/span><\/p>\n

When you return to the problem, one of two things will happen: Either you will be prepared to learn from this thing now, or you won\u2019t. If the latter is the case, consider whether the problem should move over into the second category: I\u2019m not going to do this on the real test.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not ready now\u2026and maybe never?<\/b><\/h4>\n

How do you know when you should let something go and not even try to study it in the future? Here are some good clues:<\/span><\/p>\n