GMAT Strategy

Congrats on taking the first step! I love reading that you took a diagnostic without studying. Definitely the best way to start! Way to go!

At this point, you are starting with a solid score (and a known performance/score snapshot). From your percentages, you need less support with Verbal and more with Quant. And it's absolutely possible for you to get at 700,720 or higher.

Your abilities, as demonstrated by taking this diagnostic, can be thought of as actually being within a 60-point spread, 530 - 590. In this 'long short-race' to get up to 700 or 720, you need to make sure you're able to eventually, and consistently, score a 670 (lowest), to 750. You won't want to sit for the real test, until this is true.

In terms of HOW to do this, best methods in study involve a strategic study plan - - which means you understand EXACTLY where you're at, and devise a plan on how to get there, dedicating time and focus to learn, practice (a shit-ton), and take diagnostic tests.

I recommend that your first step, is to go back to the diagnostic you took and learn from it. Engage with every question individually, so you understand where you need to improve: content mastery, test-taking strategy, and/or mindset. And this should be done each time you take a diagnostic...it's NOT just about the score...it's about what you get wrong and how.

Here are evaluation/analysis steps:

• Take time to understand why your answer was not correct, and why the answer that is, is.
  Put questions into categories as to what you got incorrect, ie. Sentence Correction, verb-agreement) AND Identify if there is a pattern to how you answered.
  Do the process for questions you guessed on (how many are those? Do you understand how to do them now? Is it material you need to learn or forgot?)
  Look at the questions you got correct. Confirm you understand why, and that it wasn't just a fluke you got it right.
  If you had any emotional reaction from any of the questions, note that, if you can remember (nervous, worried, anxious, self assured, arrogant, confused, calm, etc.) .
  And overall - - take stock in how it 'felt' taking the test as a whole.

This engagement with the test and who you are on it, now, will give you a comprehensive blueprint of your current base performance, and provide the insight you need to plan next steps.

I look forward to hearing how this goes for you or if you want to engage with the diagnostic this way.

Best,

Bara

Hi PKGguy,

A 560 is a solid initial CAT score (the average score on the Official GMAT hovers around 540-550 most years). Back in May/2016, you mentioned how you were just beginning your studies - did you actually end up studying at all during 2016 or did you push back your study/application plans?

Regardless, you will likely need at least 3 months of consistent, guided study to hit your score goal. Thankfully, you appear to have given yourself plenty of time, which is good. When are you planning to apply to Business School?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Hi PKGguy,

Doing a full review of each CAT that you take is an essential part of the GMAT training process. While the little details really DO matter (you need to try to define WHY you're getting questions wrong), in the early-going you can group your incorrect answers into a handful of categories:

After reviewing each section, how many questions did you get wrong....
1) Because of a silly/little mistake?
2) Because there was some math/verbal that you just could not remember how to do?
3) Because the question was too hard?
4) Because you were low on time and had to guess?

Thankfully, the GMAT is a consistent, predictable Exam, so you CAN train to score at a higher level. One of the keys to doing all of this efficiently is to find the resources that best mesh with your 'personality.'

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

PKGguy,

My pleasure.

Definitely put the quant questions in a kind of matrix and see if your answers fall into these categories:

• 1) knew how to do - got it right
  2) knew how to do - got it wrong (careless mistake or something serious missing/though you knew but you didn't)
  
  3) kinda knew but guessed - got it right
  4) kinda knew but guessed - got it wrong
  
  5) WTF - guessed - got it right
  6) WTF - guessed - got it wrong
  
  7) took too long
  8) went too fast
  9) went just right
  
  10) Was nervous/triggered by question (and how)

There are a lot of resources available. If you were our client, I'd prescribe our math manual, plus an online-math self-study program, along with the guidance of one of our math gurus. That way you get tons of targeted practice guidance. Extremely streamlined. In terms of what you want to target first, you need to think about highest yield topics then work to the less important ones. Based on WHAT you're getting incorrect, and how, would drive how to start studying. Hands down, studying concepts comes first, then practice, then quizzing, then diagnostic exams. Lather, Rinse, Repeat....

Do NOT go directly to practice questions...you need to create a kind of muscle memory before you play the game. It's the same reason people learn and master scales and chords before learning to play and read complicated music.

And keep up the verbal.

Keep us posted, and feel free to reach out to me directly with any questions.