Farah_1995 wrote:Hello there
well, as I said above I don't have a lot of money
and because of that I'm only allowed to take the test once
can you help me?
the college I'm applying for is a local one and they require 300 minimum
my goal is 600 - 640
I'm intended to take the test early 2019, so I have a really long time to prepare and that's a good thing
where should I start? what books/ essentials should I buy?
what's good for Q and what's good for V?
It's certainly possible to study on your own without spending a lot of money on prep programs.
Here are the things that you absolutely must budget for:
- a copy of the Official Guide (OG). You can buy used ones online, and
it doesn't matter which edition you get. Ignore Amazon reviews. Buy OG 2018, 2017, or whatever you can get cheaply.
- if you buy a used copy, make sure it doesn't have any writing in it.
- the test itself. Don't just set aside $250 to take the GMAT once. Set aside enough money to take it at least twice. Many students don't do as well as they hoped the first time. Take the pressure off by telling yourself you'll take it twice - then if you get the score you want the first time, bonus $250!
Things you need, and that most people purchase, but that have optional workarounds:
- Practice tests (CATs). Most prep companies allow you to take *one* practice test for free, so you could just take one from each company. However, purchasing a bundle from a single company will allow you to run metrics and track patterns in your strengths and weaknesses. Otherwise, you'd have to do this by hand.
- Content explanation. There is a lot of content tested on the GMAT, which is why we publish giant bundles of strategy guides! But - you can certainly assemble (almost all of) this information on your own if you're organized. Use Khan Academy or this forum, and compile your own notes on rules and strategies.
Here are the free resources you should use:
- GMATPrep software from mba.com:
https://www.mba.com/us/the-gmat-exam/pre ... tware.aspx
- this forum
- blogs from prep companies. Manhhattan Prep's is full of useful advice on general strategies and specific problem types:
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog/
Here's your Study Plan:
1. Take a full diagnostic CAT (from a prep company, so you'll get explanations. GMATPrep doesn't provide explanations).
2. Review the test in depth - right and wrong answers - and compile a list of topics that need work.
3. Research each topic (in strategy guides or online free resources), and take notes.
4. Then find problems (ideally 6-10 on each topic) in the OG that correspond specifically to that topic. Search on this forum for problems by topic, or use a tool like Mprep's Navigator:
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/stor ... navigator/
If you don't use Navigator, track your accuracy on OG problems in a spreadsheet.
5. Aim to cover 2-5 quant topics and 2-3 verbal topics per week, alternating btw quant and verbal.
6. Take a practice test every 2 weeks. Review deeply, and record your errors.
7. When you're 2 weeks away from test day, take 1 test a week for the last 2 weeks. Save the GMATPrep tests for last.
Look through this forum for a more detailed study plan, but that's the basics. Good luck!
If you're interested, here are the Mprep resources that might be helpful to you:
Blog:
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog/
Free CAT:
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/stor ... tice-test/
Bundle of CATs w/ analytics:
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/stor ... ice-tests/
Free OG tracker (Navigator):
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/stor ... al-guides/
OG tracker full access:
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/stor ... navigator/
How to track yourerrors:
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... -studying/
Other:
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/store/
