Now it's time to prepare for the GMAT!

mjjking

Hi there,
I've just taken a PowerPrep test, and scored 590 (Q39 V31). I've not studied anything yet if a bit of the Princeton Review's "Cracking the GMAT" book. I want to score 650, and I plan to take the test on approximately Sep. 25th, having three full months for preparing for the test. In case I will fail, I will then have another month to take the GMAT before November 1st critical deadline. Should I be able to achieve my taget score in three months, studying let's say 2 hours a day? IS mine a good plan?
I was thinking about taking a MLICET preparation course, I've heard it's very good, does anyone know it? Any advice about a solid online prep course?
Do you think I could achieve my 650 target? Or it's unrealistic?
Well, thanks for your advices!!

Sincerely,

Roberto Cusato

drhomler · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 2:43 pm Post subject:

Roberto,

590 baseline is a good start. This community is a great place to be for the next few months while you prepare. There is a wealth of resources from practice tests, to tips and strategy, to moral support. I think your 650 target is more than possible. I started in the beginning of May and Im taking my test in 2.5 weeks. My baseline test at mgmat was 620 my last two were 680 and 690(which I hope are indicative of the test) obviously there are no gurantees and your individual performance may vary from test to test, but I think you might find your goal to be modest.

As for online prep I dont know anything about MCILET but MGMAT seems to be a well done program. More than anything I think the key to success is practice, practice, practice. Drill down your problem areas, all the way down to the specifics i.e. how the questions are asked and what type of material is being tested. As you become better at the material concentrate on your timing. The best piece of pratice advice I have recieved is when doing problems out of the Official Guide(OG 11) dont just look at the answers and move on. Go back check the ones you got wrong and work at them until you get them right(so it is burned into you rbrain) than see if you can do it faster.

Good luck

mjjking · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 11:18 pm Post subject: Manhattan GMAT

Hi again,
do you really believe Manhattan GMAT online prep course could help me improving significantly my gmat score?
Also, I've already planned a vacation from August 24th to September 10th.... I realize only now how bad-timed it is! What do you suggest? Cancelling it? And what about if - even though on vacation - I'll be able to study at least 1-2 hours a day for the GMAT?
Please gimme me advices!!

Thanks!

Roberto

aim-wsc · Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 12:04 am Post subject: Re: Manhattan GMAT

8) go solo for two weeks- check your improvements - who knows you wont even require to spend extra $ for 650!!

You've plenty of time. the early you know where you stand, better for making a good study plan.

I think thats a bad timing wrt vacation! Sad

you can PRE-PONE GMAT to August. and enjoy vacation. JUST check where u stand in next 2 weeks

i dont hv enough resources to check your other posts...
BTW ur the one whos gonna US for TOEFL?

mjjking · Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 2:58 pm Post subject:

mmmm.. yes, I am! I have plenty of time you say... I hopr it's true... There's so much work to do! Well, let's hope it goes well! One question... Where can I get good, affordable extra gmat tests?
thanks!

drhomler · Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 5:17 pm Post subject:

Roberto,

Yes I believe the MGMAT course could help you improve especially if you got a 590 without even studying or familiarizing yourself with the way the test works. You should have significant upside in DS questions based on the fact that youve never seen them before. Im guessing based on your Verbal breakdown that you had trouble with certain aspects of English probably the SC, since you are from Italy you are clearly not a native english speaker and therefore you should be able to improve greatly especially in SC. There are plenty of people here who do very well on SC and the verbal section in general who are not native speakers you just have drill and practice. Im pretty sure you can improve. Im all for saving money but in my world and pardon the cliche but time is money. Sure I could study for the next year and not take a course and be frugal but saving $1000 isnt worth losing another second of my life not doing what I want so I will spend and work hard in the hopes that I will get a high score. If I were you I would take the mgmat online course or equivalent. Figure out a diligent study program based on your individual weaknesses and take the test in 8 weeks. If you odnt get your score take it again a month later and then go on vacation.

aim-wsc · Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 6:05 pm Post subject:

mjjking · Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 4:58 am Post subject:

Well, I had taken other 3-4 tests in the past, so I was familiar with the test... Nonetheless, I haven't started studying yet, so every time I ended making pretty the same mistakes... Sad

More than SC questions I have to improve on Critical Reasoning questions... But overall, I can improve a lot on the math side too!! Well, I'll look around a bit, for now I purchased the Delta Course and the GMAT Official Review...
It's strange, when I took the test I felt stronger on the verbal part, but I ended up doing much better on the quantitative one!