Replace “I’m bad at math” with a diagnosis
Choose one short question from each area: fractions, percentages, equations, and reading a table. Solve them without a time limit and write out your steps. When you get stuck, note the last step you knew how to take. “I don’t know which quantity represents 100%” is a diagnosis; “percentages are hard” is not yet specific enough to choose an exercise.
Separate calculation from setting up an equation. You may know how to solve 3x + 5 = 20 but fail to recognize that relationship in a word problem. Conversely, you may set up the right relationship but make a sign error. These situations call for different practice sessions, even if the final answer is wrong in both cases.
Strengthen the foundations that support later skills
The suggested path starts with operations, signs, fractions, and conversions. It continues with ratios, proportions, and changes, followed by simple equations and data interpretation. This sequence is an organizational tool, not an official curriculum shared by all three tests. Move on when you can explain a method and apply it to a slightly different example.
For a session on proportions, set an observable goal: identify the comparison base in five new problems. Start with two worked examples, continue with a few independent attempts, and finish with written corrections. The number of exercises matters less than your ability to recognize why the same relationship applies in different contexts.
Three exercises to identify what to work on next
These prerequisite exercises help identify where you get stuck; getting them right does not translate into a test score. Try each one before looking at the answer, then say aloud what information led you to choose the operation.
Un groupe compte 48 personnes. Les trois huitièmes viennent à vélo. Combien de personnes viennent à vélo ?
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The solution, step by step
18 people.
The method in action
- One-eighth of 48 is 48 ÷ 8 = 6.
- Three-eighths is 3 × 6 = 18. The fraction applies to the whole group.
Un prix de 80 € augmente de 25 %, puis diminue de 20 %. Quel est le prix final ?
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The solution, step by step
€80.
The method in action
- The increase gives 80 × 1.25 = €100.
- The decrease applies to €100, so 100 × 0.80 = €80. Adding 25% and −20% would incorrectly treat them as changes from the same base.
Trois cahiers identiques et une pochette à 5 € coûtent 20 €. Quel est le prix d’un cahier ?
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The solution, step by step
€5.
The method in action
- Let x be the price of one notebook: 3x + 5 = 20.
- Subtract the €5 pouch, then divide the remaining €15 among the three notebooks.
The pitfall
The pitfall would be studying the same curriculum for every test
ETS describes GRE content areas that include arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. The GMAT distinguishes, among other areas, Quantitative Reasoning and Data Insights; the TAGE MAGE has its own subtests. Shared foundations do not make the content or instructions interchangeable.
After reviewing the prerequisites, use the guide and examples for your chosen test. A calculator permitted in one exam may not be allowed in another, and the response format may also differ. Reviewing a useful concept is worthwhile, but spending a long time on material outside your test’s scope delays learning you directly need.
Add a timer once your approach is sound
Next, try new problems using the instructions for your exam. Note how long they actually take without immediately treating that time as a verdict on your ability. If the same error recurs even without pressure, revisit the concept. If your approach is correct but slow, compare two ways of solving the problem and simplify your written work.
Keep a record of your decisions: the concept you worked on, the error you corrected, and the next exercise to check your progress. This gives you a path that addresses your gaps instead of an endless list of chapters. The calculation and quantitative reasoning guides build on these foundations with each test’s format and requirements.
Key takeaways
- Identify the specific step that is holding you back before choosing a chapter.
- Work on prerequisites without a timer, then apply them in the actual test format.
- Shared foundations do not replace each exam’s specific curriculum.