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Study Plan Question

by mawaru » Sun Feb 24, 2013 9:44 am
I took my first MG CAT exam in December and scored a 530. After identifying the topics I needed the most work on, I determined that I need a refresher on the basics. Therefore I read the MG Foundations Verbal and Math books.

My question is I crafted a study plan which involves reading each MG Book (0-9) end to end. The Foundations books would get me to "base camp." Then each MG guide would help me "climb the mountain." MG Guide 0 describes crafting a study plan to my study habits. I study best by reading a book cover to cover, which unfortunately is more time-consuming.

Am I crazy? Am I approaching this all wrong?

Thanks!
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by ceilidh.erickson » Sun Feb 24, 2013 11:56 am
Unless your timeline is condensed (e.g. you have to take the GMAT in a month), covering every single topic beginning-to-end is recommended.

However, there's one very important thing missing from your study plan: the Official Guide! Reading strategy guides will tell you how to approach GMAT questions, but the only way to test whether you're absorbing that learning is to practice with real OG questions. If you haven't already, buy a copy of OG 13th edition (older editions are fine if you have them, but if you don't have one yet, might as well buy the new one).

Make sure that you're practicing OG questions topic-by-topic. For example, after you read the chapter on Ratios in the MGMAT Fractions, Decimals, & Percents Guide, flip to the back of the book where it lists all of the OG problems by topic. Then do a handful of ratio problems in both PS and DS. For each topic, you want to reinforce that learning by practicing on OG problems that directly relate to the topic, rather than reading the books cover-to-cover and practicing OG problems at random.

It's also critically important that you track your work - what you've gotten right & wrong, and how long you've spent on it. That way you'll know what topics to go back and review.

Good luck!
Ceilidh Erickson
EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education
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by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Sun Feb 24, 2013 4:50 pm
I agree with ceilidh,

One topic at a time is the way to go, as is keeping an Error Log (aka Improvement Chart) while completing questions from the Official Guide (OG).
If you're interested, you can find a free downloadable Improvement Chart here: https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/gmat-error-log. This will help you identify and strengthen your weak areas.

You might also consider signing up for BTG's free 60-Day Study Guide: https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/gmat-guide. Each day you will receive an email with a series of learning activities that will guide you, step-by-step, from Day 1 to test day (an outline of all 60 emails is here: https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/gmat-guide-outline).

This will ensure that you will cover everything that the GMAT tests.

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
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by mawaru » Sat Mar 02, 2013 11:38 am
Hi Ceilidh/Brent,

Thank you very much for the confirmation and tips! I'll make sure to d/l the Improvement Chart and I'm also looking at the OG Archer to track my practice sessions.

-Roland
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