If you want a more accurate measure of difficulty, consult the online guides to guides. These are specifically created resources because the need for them is so blatant. In each you will find every single question in organizing one of five levels of difficulty. I do the same in each of my problem sets, as well. When I work with students one-on-one, I often start them at the lowest level, only moving when they reach a certain level of competence and comfort.
Whichever method you use, ensuring that you work on problems that are most useful for you. Since the GMAT is an adaptive test, you will not see very difficult questions, unless you do well on moderately difficult. Despite this, I know too many students who spend all their time looking for the toughest questions they can find, spend hours learning the most obscure topics, when they have benefited even more by focusing on other basic skills.
Whichever method you use, ensuring that you work on problems that are most useful for you. Since the GMAT is an adaptive test, you will not see very difficult questions, unless you do well on moderately difficult. Despite this, I know too many students who spend all their time looking for the toughest questions they can find, spend hours learning the most obscure topics, when they have benefited even more by focusing on other basic skills.
You do not need to master every level before moving to the next. This is not college algebra; you need to drill all topics 100 times before you are ready for the next concept. Instead, shoot for about 70% at each level. In other words: when you can make seven out of 10 questions correctly, confidently, and within a reasonable time, you're ready to move to the next level.
If you increase the difficulty level earlier than that, you're wasting your time.
You may notice the similarity between it and my advice last week regarding the likelihood of the GMAT. In general, students spend too much of their study efforts on the "sexy" topics: the difficult questions, difficult concepts, the kinds of things they think they need to get a 700. Many of these people never build their basic skills to the point where their advanced skills matter a bit. As I said before, this is a terrible waste of effort.
If you increase the difficulty level earlier than that, you're wasting your time.
You may notice the similarity between it and my advice last week regarding the likelihood of the GMAT. In general, students spend too much of their study efforts on the "sexy" topics: the difficult questions, difficult concepts, the kinds of things they think they need to get a 700. Many of these people never build their basic skills to the point where their advanced skills matter a bit. As I said before, this is a terrible waste of effort.
Knowing this, you can take advantage of your study time to get the best possible score. It may not be fashionable, but be sure to learn the basics and intermediate level (especially algebra!) Inside and outside before moving on to difficult things. If this is obvious: a great! In this case, you are already a step ahead of competition.
