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Last 1 month to GMAT

by synchrodestiny » Sun Jul 27, 2014 4:41 am
Hey Guys

I have my GMAT scheduled for 4 Sept. I am following 60-day Beat the GMAT study schedule and have covered OG Quant completely. In another 10 days, I would have completed the verbal portion too. Given that I will be left with 3 weeks until the test, what are MUST Dos for me.

I am plannng to do 30 SCs, 30 CRs, 10RCs everyday. Please provide me such advices..Sources will be Manhattan SC guides, 1000SC, 1000CRs, etc resources I have with me.

Also, while going through a success story, I stumbled over a 770 GMAT scorer who said "Solve, solve and Resolve:
I did the 400, or so, Math problems in the question bank of the GMAT prep software more than once; All the questions I saw on the test were mostly variations of these problems. "

Is he talking about the GMAT prep / PowerPrep Test? I have asked him separately too but wanted your opinion.

Thanks

Synchro
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by [email protected] » Sun Jul 27, 2014 12:02 pm
Hi Synchro,

It sounds like you're looking for rather specific advice, but you haven't provided many details about YOUR situation. If you can answer a few questions, then I'll be happy to offer some advice:

1) How long have you been studying?
2) How have you been scoring on your practice CATs (include your Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?
3) What materials have you been using to study (Courses, Books, etc.)?
4) What is your score goal?

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by synchrodestiny » Sun Jul 27, 2014 7:50 pm
Thanks Rich.C

Hi Synchro,

It sounds like you're looking for rather specific advice, but you haven't provided many details about YOUR situation. If you can answer a few questions, then I'll be happy to offer some advice:

1) How long have you been studying?
1.5 months at a stretch. Otherwise, off and on, esp last year when I took GRE, although I knoe the pattern is TOTALLY different. A li'l background. I have GRE 326 (168Q 158V), IELTS 8.5, TOEFL 114. So I am a fair test taker. I was waitlisted at Tuck and Kellogg last year, I left a top canadian program to give another try. Tuck gave feedback that it might help taking GMAT although my file did not say that clearly as a point they had noted. I am from a non traditional candidate (design+ innovation), have 9 years of exp, am Indian with a Masters from IIT.

2) How have you been scoring on your practice CATs (include your Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?
Just took one GMATPrep at the starting of 60-day BTG, without preparation, scored 710 (47Q 41V). I need help on this account especially, which tests and what frequency. I am ready for any slog sched now.


3) What materials have you been using to study (Courses, Books, etc.)?
Primarily adhering to 60-day Beat the GMAT, with both Manhattan and Video Material. So, basically:- OG 13, Verbal and Quant Review 2015, Manhattan strategy guides (all 8), BTG Videos. Yet to start : RC Frameworks, 1000SC, 1000CRs (got these from friends who scored 770+)SC is a strength, CR I need to master.

4) What is your score goal?
730, Realistically. I can do better but I dont have time. Can you please guide me to the right material and help me set a tight sched so I can achieve this score? I have 710 equivalent of GRE (if schools consider :)) I need two notches up.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, (Thanks Sir. Appreciated!)

Rich
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by [email protected] » Sun Jul 27, 2014 10:26 pm
Hi Synchro,

With the additional information that you've provided, it seems fairly clear that you're a strong Test Taker. You might even be able to take the GMAT sooner than your planned September Test Date (although you'll want to take a couple of additional FULL-LEGNTH practice CATs to confirm your ability level).

You should plan to do a full question-by-question review of every CAT that you take, so that you can note any "weak" spots (although "weak" is a relative word in this case) and fix any little/silly mistakes. Since you're on a shorter time frame now, you have to make sure that your practice is realistic and as Test-like as you can make it. Plan to take 1 CAT/week and spend the rest of your time on practice questions and review.

Your practice materials are a bit "book-heavy", but if your CAT scores remain in the 700s, then that's okay. Once you've taken your next practice CAT, report back with your scores and we can tweak your plan from there.

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Rich
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by BestGMATEliza » Wed Jul 30, 2014 11:02 pm
Hey Synchro,

Rich makes some great points! To add to that I think in the final month of studying the the two most important thing are:
1) identifying your weaknesses and addressing them
2) Training your brain to function at full capacity for the full 3.5 hours

1) In order to identify your weaknesses you need to take an in depth look at your last few CATs to see which questions you are having the most trouble with. When looking at the questions you got wrong, don't just look at the types: reading comp, problem solving, etc., but look at the topics for example reading comp: inference or problem solving: geometry. If you are getting a lot of a certain type and topic wrong or are getting lower level (i.e. 300-500 level) questions wrong, then you should go back to the books and review those topics.

2) Taking the GMAT is kind of like training for a marathon, for your brain. So, it is important that you not just study in short spurts, but train your brain to work on high capacity for the full 3.5 hours. This means that you need to take a lot of (more than 10) full length practice tests (this means including AWA and IR). This will help you work to your full potential throughout the whole test, so you aren't getting tired and making silly mistakes at the end of the test.

Hope this helps!
Eliza Chute
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