GMAT Strategy

Hello!

I am just beginning my GMAT journey and am seeking some advice about where to start. I have booked my test for June 27th and am planning to apply to schools primarily in the Chicago area (Booth wouldn't be my first choice, I think it's a bit out of my range) and Canada for fall 2017.

I know that my math skills are weak. I haven't taken a math course since 2004, my 11th grade in high school. So I am looking for resources to re-teach myself those concepts. I have registered for the Veritas On - Demand course, and have ordered the Kaplan 2016 GMAT complete set along with the OG basic guide, and the MGMAT foundational Math text. I live in Canada's high arctic, and so it will take some time before those resources arrive. I have begun reading some of the Veritas e-books that are available via the online course. I was hoping to take a diagnostic test this weekend to establish a baseline idea of my abilities. But, I must admit, the test seems so daunting! I also work full-time and so I'm trying to psyche myself up for the time I'm going to need to devote to this.

Here are some questions I have:

1. I've read some posts that suggested Khan Academy for some mathematics review. What topics should I focus in on? Are there any specifically valuable lessons?
2. When I take the diagnostic test should I use one of the official GMAT tests that come with registering? Or should I use an alternative that might give more detailed information in the report?
3. Can anyone comment on scheduling / time demands regarding working and studying? Is a couple hours two nights to three nights a week, and some more dedicated time on weekends enough? Should I be aiming for at least an hour every day?
4. I've purchased the basic OG guide, should I also invest in the verbal and quant ones as well?

I think that a 660 might be something really fantastic to aim for in terms of a final score. But I don't really know what I'm starting from yet.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

- F

frigidbar wrote:Hello!

I am just beginning my GMAT journey and am seeking some advice about where to start. I have booked my test for June 27th and am planning to apply to schools primarily in the Chicago area (Booth wouldn't be my first choice, I think it's a bit out of my range) and Canada for fall 2017.

I know that my math skills are weak. I haven't taken a math course since 2004, my 11th grade in high school. So I am looking for resources to re-teach myself those concepts. I have registered for the Veritas On - Demand course, and have ordered the Kaplan 2016 GMAT complete set along with the OG basic guide, and the MGMAT foundational Math text. I live in Canada's high arctic, and so it will take some time before those resources arrive. I have begun reading some of the Veritas e-books that are available via the online course. I was hoping to take a diagnostic test this weekend to establish a baseline idea of my abilities. But, I must admit, the test seems so daunting! I also work full-time and so I'm trying to psyche myself up for the time I'm going to need to devote to this.

Here are some questions I have:

1. I've read some posts that suggested Khan Academy for some mathematics review. What topics should I focus in on? Are there any specifically valuable lessons?
2. When I take the diagnostic test should I use one of the official GMAT tests that come with registering? Or should I use an alternative that might give more detailed information in the report?
3. Can anyone comment on scheduling / time demands regarding working and studying? Is a couple hours two nights to three nights a week, and some more dedicated time on weekends enough? Should I be aiming for at least an hour every day?
4. I've purchased the basic OG guide, should I also invest in the verbal and quant ones as well?

I think that a 660 might be something really fantastic to aim for in terms of a final score. But I don't really know what I'm starting from yet.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

- F

It's tough to answer most of these questions before we know what your starting point is. If that first exam is in the 600-range, the recommended study plan will be different from the appropriate plan if you're starting from the 400-range. So check back in after you take that test and give us a full rundown, including the Quant/Verbal split. As for which test to take, there are pros and cons to taking the GMATPrep exam first. The main pro is that this test will give you the most accurate benchmark of where you currently stand. The drawback is that if you were to take this test again in several weeks, there's a chance you'd see some repeat questions, which would undermine the validity of the score the second time around. There's no wrong decision here. Just make sure you do a full adaptive test, whether it's a GMATPrep or a private company's exam, and then give us all the details.

Hi Rich,

Where do you find the 4 GMAC Cats? Are they GMAT Prep that you refer to?

Thank you,
g3lo

Would you say these 4 are enough practice? Or, would you recommend Manhattan or other providers?

g3lo wrote:Would you say these 4 are enough practice? Or, would you recommend Manhattan or other providers?

There's no magic number, but 4 is on the lower end at what most test-takers need. You have plenty of options if you need more exams. Most private companies provide a free exam, many of which you can find links to on this site. You can also reset the free GMATPrep tests from mba.com - the question banks they draw from are large enough that you'll see new questions, but you're likely to see some repeats as well, so be mindful of this. More important than the number of tests you take is the diligence with which you analyze your tests once you've done them. Always make a short list of adjustments you can make and consult this list before the next exam.