Study and Strategy questions relating to the GMAT.
ChristineW167
Course Students
 
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Joined: Sat Jun 14, 2014 6:14 pm
 

wrong geometry answer, what's next

by ChristineW167 Mon Dec 08, 2014 2:36 pm

Hi. Somehow I got out of high school without taking geometry. So, learning geometry from the inside out in a couple of weeks is highly unlikely. I'm in week 6 of the program - GMAT Jan 3.
As it will affect my study strategy, if I get a geometry problem wrong on the GMAT, will they simply give me an easier geometry problem or does the computer pull from the entire database and I get whatever topic fits my level at the moment? Fingers crossed for a non-geometry problem.
I know I can get a basic understanding of geometry, but not the harder stuff. Not enough time. Will this kill me?
StaceyKoprince
ManhattanGMAT Staff
 
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Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 9:05 am
Location: Montreal
 

Re: wrong geometry answer, what's next

by StaceyKoprince Thu Dec 11, 2014 9:09 pm

The test isn't topic-specific in that way - if you get something wrong, the next one won't necessarily be of the same topic. In addition, the next one that you get of that topic will not be based on that last one you got wrong (ie, they don't track your ability / difficulty level by topic - they just assess for the whole section).

The (potential) difficulty lies in this: if you miss easier questions, then the test will lower your scoring level and you'll then be offered lower-level questions for areas that you do know. That can make it harder to lift your score.

The good news is that there aren't a ton of geometry questions on the test - typically around 4. If you can generally get the easier to medium-level questions correct, that should be good enough. You can just guess quickly on the harder ones and use that time elsewhere!
Stacey Koprince
Instructor
Director, Content & Curriculum
ManhattanPrep