“I looove your rates process. I think I finally understand it!” — Camila M
The way you write your guides are brilliant! Your approach made things seem much clearer. Keep the good stuff coming! –Duc Anh T, 2017
You’re a smart person. The rest of it’s working. Why are Rates posing such a problem?
Believe it or not, you’re not alone.
There’s actually a pretty simple explanation for this problem. Work and Rates questions aren’t really “math questions” in the same way as the rest of the GMAT. They require a bit more practical, real-world type of problem solving.
There’s a reason for that, too: most GMAT books teach a lot of complicated, over-technical variations of Rates questions and then ask you to learn specific cases in which to apply specific equations.
By focusing on the practical aspects of Rates questions, we’ll be able to better understand how one simple framework can essentially answer every single Work or Rates question.
With just a little bit of guidance in how to apply math to real-world situation, you’ll be able to break down any GMAT Work or Rates question and figure out how its moving parts fit together.
Throughout the text, you’ll see as many relevant variations on Work and Rates questions as possible, but remember that it’s hard to be absolutely exhaustive.
At 50+ pages, this guide definitely covers quite a few variants you’re likely to encounter.
No one said it was going to be easy–it’s just not as bad as you might think!
How to Beat GMAT Work and Rate Problems will teach you how to tackle every conceivable variation of Rates questions in a way that ramps up difficulty until the fattest, most evil Rates questions finally seem achievable.
Even if you think Rates questions aren’t that big a deal, you might just find a few ways to clean up your thinking–and that’s never a Bad Thing on the GMAT.
Do you find math really boring and stuff? Do your eyes just glaze over when you’re reading equations? Are math people boring and funny-smelling?
Yeah, it’s a problem.
Rather than shove all this boring stuff down your gullet with a ton of technical language and a different equation for any number of abstract circumstances, the How to Beat GMAT Work and Rate Problems is written to be read quickly.
Want to revisit it? Just read it again. There’ll be something for the GMAT beginner as well as the 680-scorer who just needs a bump over the 700-mark.
Sometimes it’s just not enough to see the questions worked.
That’s why, as a gift for purchasers of the YGC GMAT Rates Guide, I’ve put together a mini video course with worked explanations of eight different ultra-difficult GMAT Rates questions.
Each of the eight videos comes with a set of notes regarding that particular problem. Read the notes to understand the talking points in the video–and also have a hard copy of the problem in front of you.
What’s the best way not to see more GMAT Rates questions? Get the ones you do see correct.
I cannot recommend Rowan highly enough… with his help I was able to go from 640 on my first attempt to 720. He has a firm handle on the content of the test and, maybe more importantly, is able to articulate the problem-solving skills required to tackle GMAT questions. —Fraser B
So good news–got a 720. Still in shock to be honest. Didn’t think it was possible given my last score. Thanks again for all your help. –David F
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