Question for ~180ers: Prep Materials vs Prep Tests? Forum

[Finatra]

I have a question for people who've score(d) in the high 170s-180.

Is there any benefit to using prep materials like the PowerScore Bibles etc. in addition to taking prep tests if you're already scoring in the 170s?

I'm asking because I haven't read any materials like that, and I haven't been able to break the 180 barrier yet. I've only taken 5 prep tests so far (which I guess might be too few to measure my progress) and I'm scoring the 170s, but it doesn't feel like I'm getting better.

Is there information in these prep books that can help me get to the next level?

[Jon McCarty]

I would recommend that your prep from here on out be extremely focused. If you're already in the 170's then there may be a few things that you need help on, but there isn't much. Prep materials can definitely help you, but your approach should be different than most. Most people will read prep books cover to cover, you'll want to target the areas that you're weak in. This means that you need to know what areas that are giving you trouble.

Which sections are you missing questions on and how many within each section?
Which types of questions within each section are you missing?
Did you miss any questions within the first 12 on Logical Reasoning (this may indicate that those types of questions are problematic for you since they're typical easy questions)?
How high in the 170's are you scoring?

If you could post which PTs you took and which questions from those PTs that you missed then I can give you a better idea of what your next steps should be.

[Irish11]

I haven't taken the test yet but am also PTing in the 170s and did so before reading any material. However, I really think natural ability only goes so far. My worst section was LR, specifically assumption questions and weaken questions. I got the PS bible from the library and since I started working through it my LR has significantly improved, and I only miss questions that have a rating of "hardest," as opposed to before when I was missing ones rated medium or easy.

When I first started PTing, I felt like that would be enough. But my scores, though within a small range, seemed arbitrary. After I started using the books, drilling, and blind reviewing, they seem less so. It's easier to understand what I missed and to catch distractor answer choices before they become missed questions, and my scores have improved.

In short - isolate your weakness, work on that by whatever means you need to. Review. Don't just blindly work through the tests. It'll help.

[Finatra]

I would recommend that your prep from here on out be extremely focused. If you're already in the 170's then there may be a few things that you need help on, but there isn't much. Prep materials can definitely help you, but your approach should be different than most. Most people will read prep books cover to cover, you'll want to target the areas that you're weak in. This means that you need to know what areas that are giving you trouble.

Which sections are you missing questions on and how many within each section?
Which types of questions within each section are you missing?
Did you miss any questions within the first 12 on Logical Reasoning (this may indicate that those types of questions are problematic for you since they're typical easy questions)?
How high in the 170's are you scoring?

If you could post which PTs you took and which questions from those PTs that you missed then I can give you a better idea of what your next steps should be.

Thanks,

I'm mostly missing questions in LR and RC. I'm better at RC, but my RC errors don't have any pattern to them.
In LR I miss mostly Flaw and Weaken questions.
The questions I miss are usually towards the end.

PT44: 174 - S1:19, S2:20,24, S4:16,20,22
PT47: 172 - S1:19,21,22, S2:5,11,24, S3:23, S4:22
PT48: 174 - S2:24, S3:6,8, S4:25,26
PT51: 177 - S2:7, S3:9,14,20,21
PT19: 178 - S2:22, S3:17, S4:12,22

*These are untimed.

[Jon McCarty]

You'll need to do one timed before you really know what your score is. For many people timing is half the battle. I will check out these questions and get back to you but I won't be able to give you a good study plan until you send the results of a timed test.

[BP Robert]

As you might have guessed, the best way to go is a blending of the two: some prep testing and some prep materials. Find patterns of what types of questions you're most frequently missing (many students struggle with Main Point q's on RC, for example, or Parallel q's on LR) and then take the time to review the prep material on those types. Once you've fine tuned those couple questions, you should put more emphasis on practice tests to build consistency.

Also -- not to be overly fastidious -- but you said you don't feel like you're getting any better? Your score progression indicates that you are.

I also completely agree that you'll need to take a timed test before doing much self-evaluating. You may have no problem with time, but many high scorers do, so it's an important factor to consider.

Best luck.

[Finatra]

Yeah,

I figured starting my practice under untimed conditions would give me an idea of how my fundamentals measure up, but I suppose a timed environment could show my weaknesses more clearly.

Thanks for the advice guys, I'll start working under actual test conditions and see what happens.

[Jon McCarty]

Thanks,

I'm mostly missing questions in LR and RC. I'm better at RC, but my RC errors don't have any pattern to them.
In LR I miss mostly Flaw and Weaken questions.
The questions I miss are usually towards the end.

PT44: 174 - S1:19, S2:20,24, S4:16,20,22
PT47: 172 - S1:19,21,22, S2:5,11,24, S3:23, S4:22
PT48: 174 - S2:24, S3:6,8, S4:25,26
PT51: 177 - S2:7, S3:9,14,20,21
PT19: 178 - S2:22, S3:17, S4:12,22

*These are untimed.

Just a preliminary look here at your untimed tests tells me a few things. Since you're losing questions towards the end of your section you may be losing focus as you approach the finish line. Make sure that you finish each section strong with full focus. LR is definitely the section to get improvement in for you, the vast majority of the questions you missed came from LR. I would definitely invest in some study materials specifically designed for the LR section.

Areas of weakness on LR:

Flaw (a lot of the ones you missed played like weaken though)
Weaken
Must be True
Necessary Assumption

I would definitely start with weaken and remember that the "flaw" questions that state "overlooks the possibility that..." will play like weaken questions so treat them as such.

Feel free to PM me once you take a timed test if you want to review it!

[Finatra]

Thanks,

I'm mostly missing questions in LR and RC. I'm better at RC, but my RC errors don't have any pattern to them.
In LR I miss mostly Flaw and Weaken questions.
The questions I miss are usually towards the end.

PT44: 174 - S1:19, S2:20,24, S4:16,20,22
PT47: 172 - S1:19,21,22, S2:5,11,24, S3:23, S4:22
PT48: 174 - S2:24, S3:6,8, S4:25,26
PT51: 177 - S2:7, S3:9,14,20,21
PT19: 178 - S2:22, S3:17, S4:12,22

*These are untimed.

Just a preliminary look here at your untimed tests tells me a few things. Since you're losing questions towards the end of your section you may be losing focus as you approach the finish line. Make sure that you finish each section strong with full focus. LR is definitely the section to get improvement in for you, the vast majority of the questions you missed came from LR. I would definitely invest in some study materials specifically designed for the LR section.

Areas of weakness on LR:

Flaw (a lot of the ones you missed played like weaken though)
Weaken
Must be True
Necessary Assumption

I would definitely start with weaken and remember that the "flaw" questions that state "overlooks the possibility that..." will play like weaken questions so treat them as such.

Feel free to PM me once you take a timed test if you want to review it!

Thanks for the analysis Jon; will do.