Please help....I´m totally overwhelmed

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Please help....I´m totally overwhelmed

by Cabritilla » Fri Aug 26, 2011 5:39 am
Hi everybody,
I´m planning to take the GMAT next year and are now starting to plan my preparations and my studies.
Currently I´m trying to identify the books I will be using for my preparation and I´m totally overwhelmed with all the tons of books out there...it doesn´t help that most of them get good reviews as I can´t read all of them.
Do you have some good recommendations for me or could just tell me what worked best for you?
The more I search for books the more confused I get. :( What should I focus on in the beginning? Would it be wise to first read the general books like Kaplan and the OG and later on switch to the more specific books?

Thanks in advance for your help and have a nice weekend.

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by akhilsuhag » Fri Aug 26, 2011 5:44 am
Hi,

I would say you start by taking a GMATprep practice test and figure out where you stand. Who knows you already are at your required level.
After this you can figure out what section you need to work on and then take it from their. You can go the self study way and for that the MGMAT guides are the best starting point for getting your basics clear. You will also need the OG along with the MGMAT guides.
Their are also some very good online courses (knewton, MasterGMAT etc) which you can look at if you don't want to go the self study route. Knewton actually has a 50 point gurantee.

Basically you will have to figure out what style suits you. But the starting point is a GMATprep tests to see where you stand and where is it that you need to put your effort.

If you want to go the self study way then:

I would say that the MGMAT 8 guides will be a very good purchase. How ever that said some people consider the PowerScore CR Bible a better CR guide (I however believe that both the books are pretty similar).

I would suggest that you start with the MGMAT guides. These guides make you work with the Official Guide in tandem. After each chapter/topic their is a list of OG questions to solve.

How you use the books depends. Some people would take one month for just quant. Then one month for verbal and then do combined preparation from then on. I on the other hand would suggest you switch from verbal to quant and prepare simultaneously. This way you won't get out of touch. What you can do is give 2 weeks to quant and then 2 weeks to verbal. In the 2 weeks that you have for verbal revisit the questions of quant that you got incorrect in the OG and vice versa. This will help you keep in touch with topics, strengthen your weaknesses and also at times one dimensional studying gets a little boring.

After this phase of the study (MGMAT and OG) I would suggest give another practice test to gauge your progress. And accordingly you can move on to kaplan 800 or other advanced material. In the second phase give more practice tests lot more frequently (helps you build stamina).

I think this is how you should start with your prep and later according to your new/second practice test result you can again ask on the forum how to go about your prep.

I hope it helps!!

Cheers
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by akhilsuhag » Fri Aug 26, 2011 5:50 am
It doesn't make sense to first read general strategy books and then go deeper. You have the time so build your skills from the ground up.
Also it will be the first GMATprep that will determine what you really need and the path you should take.

If you post the score with the breakdowns, experts might be able to suggest a more tailored path.
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by prateek_guy2004 » Fri Aug 26, 2011 7:26 am
Hi

It should be quality not quantity specific ...So read books which will empower your basic..give you lot of practice and get you going...

Manhattan are well known series

For quant its better to stick with Kaplan Premier and Kaplan 800.

for Verbal Manhattan SC and CR are the best books.

Also the above books will give you access to 6 full length tests each...So you will have lot to practice.....

and most important book OG 12....After mastering strategies and techniques practice from OG.

Happy studying

Chaw

GMAT/MBA Expert

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by Bara » Sat Aug 27, 2011 7:37 pm
Yes: see where you're at NOW via REAL diagnostic tests (not 3rd party)

Identify your mistakes, why you made them (content, strategy, or mindset) and what you need to do to improve.

If you're trying to figure out next steps (and you have time) take our quiz to see if you should study in a group, with a tutor or self study.

our Sentence Correction book will be available in Barnes and Nobel in several months: it will be one of the best books out there (if not the best) to give you a comprehensive treatment of content and strategy for the SC section.

You have time so keep on keeping on!

Good Luck!
Bara Sapir, MA, CHt, CNLP
Founder/CEO City Test Prep
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