First of all, for excelling in GRE maths, a very good skill in basic maths is important.

Those who already have this skill, are done with 80% of their job for scoring high in Quant. I am especially talking about people who can solve small problems and calculations without pen or papers. These people should first go through the GRE math review from ETS. This will help them learn and remember nearly all concepts and formulas required for GRE quant. Along with this, I think that covering the following topics will finish their study for GRE quant- Basics of straight line (geometry) and Binomial Probability. Those who are still not good with the basics, should first see the GRE math review. Then, they should cover the topics in the review from their high school books, along with solving few problems from each topic. The target is to make yourself an expert in all these topicsnothing else. So, find your flaws and weaknesses, and overcome them. At the end, you should be able to solve numerous problems at a good pace, and with high level of accuracy. Its like reaching the level of those people who already have very good skills at basic maths. For solving maths, you have to first know the rules, formulas and techniques. So, dont start practicing GRE problems unless you are an expert in all the rules and formulas. Practicing without very good subject-knowledge will never take you far. Now, for practicing, you should start with the official guide of ETS. Then, I have found Nova math bible very useful, so I completed it. Those who are looking for higher-level practice problems, should go for Manhattan. There are two types of Quant comparison questions- one asks for solving a problem, the answer is then compared with some other value or variable. These problems are simple, you just have to solve the math, and you will know your answer. Other type of problems asks for comparison between two mathematical expressions, for which you have to use your basic knowledge of maths. For these problems, first check whether the answer is D. For this, just try to find two contrasting cases, where both A & B, or A & C or B & C can be true. Once you have found any such situation, the answer is D. Otherwise, on your way of checking whether the answer is D, you have already found the correct answer. For Quant comparisons that involve fractions and inequalities, breaking or simplifying them is useful in most cases. Be careful about the following topics- Inequalities, Permutations and Combinations, Probability. You will possibly make more mistakes here.just learn from your mistakes, and learn new techniques. Some may find hard times with geometry, but practice will solve it. For geometry, look at the figure carefully. Find right angles in triangles, which should automatically give you a spark that other two angles sum up to 90. Looking at adjacent angles on a straight line should automatically bring in your mind that one angle is 180 minus the other. Looking at a straight line intersecting two parallel lines should instantaneously bring in your mind all the relations among different angles. Looking at a circle with two radii must bring in your mind that they are equal. Things like an arc is longer than its included chord, sum of two sides of a triangle is greater than the third,

side opposite to greater angle is greater in a triangle should become your commonsense at the end of study and practice. These observations will make geometry problems very easy for you. Its not about how skilled you are at the beginning, its about how skilled you have made yourself at the end of your practice. So, keep analyzing, learn from your mistakes, and dont repeat them. While you are practicing, always keep pen and papers on your side. Its great if you can solve without them, but most problems would require some calculation. So, whenever needed, dont hesitate to do some calculation. One important thing is, these calculations are not your exam-scripts. So, you dont need to write everything, or maintain a good handwriting. Just do as much calculation as you need to get your answer. Nothing more, nothing less. You must use minimum time for these calculations. This part of the doc is the most important one. The thing is, while at schools, we always tried to solve problems with formulas. But GRE just asks for the solution, no matter how you solve it. You will find many problems in GRE which are tough to solve by formulas. But if you just think about possible answers to the problem, you may get close to a solution. This imagination technique is more helpful for problems regarding number theory, fractions, inequalities etc. For example, a problem like If 42.85 = 6k+0.17n, where k and n are positive integers, each less than 10, then what is the value of (k+n)? Say, you will have to write your answer in a box. Its tough to find a direct formula to solve this. But, if you start thinking, you will find that 6k is an integer, and it must be less than or equal to 42, as n is positive. Now, 6k=42, gives k=7. If k<7, n must be greater than 10. So, k must be 7. Then, you see that 0.17n=0.85, and n=5. So, (n+k)=12. This kind of imagination and logic is very important for GRE. You will have to solve many problems in this way. So, never think that a problem cant be solved, just because you havent found an appropriate formula for solving it. Imagination helps a lot. There is another thing called plugging-in. May be you have no or little idea of how to solve a problem, but you have options. You can find your answer by putting in all the answer-choices in your question. For example, (x^5-3)(x^2-1)=34. You may write (x^5-3)(x^2-1)-34=0. Now, its tough to factorize the expression in the left side, you will have to use advanced techniques. Rather, you just put the answer choices in (x^5-3)(x^2-1)=34, you will quickly get your answer. Plugging-in is extremely useful for problems you dont find a way out. Even in problems that you can solve mathematically, adopting a plugging-in approach instead can save your time. Remember that time is the most crucial factor in GRE. Another basic thing is elimination. Once you can eliminate few answer choices, your job will become easier. For example, Which of the following leaves a remainder of 5 when divided by 14, and a remainder of 7 when divided by 8? If you start standard procedure like p=14K+5, and p=8n+7, so, 14k+5=8k+7, you will surely get stuck. Rather, look at the options. The answer is such that (answer-5) is divisible by 14, and, (answer-7) is divisible by 8. So, start with the option. Say, the first (option-5) is not divisible by 14. So, you eliminate it at first glance. Now, say, the second (option-5) is divisible by 14. Now, you look for whether (option-7) is divisible by 8 or not. Say, its not. So, you eliminate choice 2 as well. In this process, you will get your answer easily and quickly. GRE doesnt ask you to use formulas or follow standard procedure of solving. It just asks for the answer. So, you must try to solve however you can- thats the bottom line. Use your imagination with numbers,

figures etc to get close to the answer. You will see you are solving problems that were otherwise impossible to solve. One essential strategy in the exam hall is skipping questions that you dont get an idea about how to solve at the first reading of the question. You should always read twice, and, more carefully, if you dont get the question initially. Still, if you dont find any way or clue on how to solve it, you must skip it right then. In this way, get to the end of the section. You will see that you have solved most questions of the section. Now, return to the questions that were skipped. Choose the easier ones, or the ones that you have at least some clue about. Solve them, or give the most preferable answer choice if you are still not sure. Then move to the most difficult ones. In this way, answer all the questions. Dont leave any question unanswered. The most important thing is, you will have to think very fast, and yet, accurately. This is the best way to beat the time, which is essential.