Digressing in studies

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vbcannon: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 28; Joined: Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:21 am; Location: Oxford

by vbcannon » Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:05 am

I am digressing in my studies I feel like.

I have been studying for about 2 months for around two hours a day and I just made a 540 on the GMAT Prep practice test. I did all of the problems in OG 11 math word problems. I am halfway done with the Data Sufficiency problems and haven't even been able to start on the rest.
I made my own flash cards
I have read the SC Correction Manhattan book twice.
The Kaplan Book Twice which was a month and a half ago.

Naming off all these things makes me feel dumb for making a 540.

I took off for two days and just got home at 10P.M. and took the test which ended at 1 a.m.

My procedure right now is to learn all of the math questions that I got wrong on the OG11 and on my practice tests, but that is taking FOREVER and it is consuming my time making me not able to focus on verbal.

I made close to a 600 on one of my Kaplan Practice Tests (that was after adding 50 to 70 points discrepency.)

My test is in 2 weeks.

Did I just not give it enough time? How do you suggest I study for the next 2 weeks?

Source: Beat The GMAT — GMAT Strategy | Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:05 am

vbcannon: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 28; Joined: Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:21 am; Location: Oxford

by vbcannon » Tue Feb 03, 2009 8:23 am

please help! :)w

gabriel16: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 55; Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 11:06 am; Thanked: 2 times

by gabriel16 » Tue Feb 03, 2009 8:33 am

It seems like you have hit a wall with your studies. I applaud your perseverance in regards to the GMAT. A good friend of mine once told me, “work smart not hard.” While I do not agree with the portion about not working hard, it does make sense in certain situations. Personally, I think the saying should be slightly changed to, “work smart AND hard.” It seems like you have got the hard work portion down. Now it is time to work smart. I would first consider postponing you upcoming test. If you do not feel like you are prepared then you should wait until you do. Furthermore, as the test day gets closer, and you do not feel as prepared as you would like, I can only assume the pressure has been mounting. If you postpone the test you will be able to study without anxiety about the impending test date.

In regards to preparation, I would consider buying a specific test prep series and sticking to it. I am a fan of the Manhattan series. But you should choose whichever company you are most comfortable with. During your studies make sure you are concentrating on why you are getting the problems wrong (and right), not just the answers. I would also take a practice test every few weeks to get you used to the format of the test.

Best of luck. I have no doubt you are about to turn a corner in your preparation.

vbcannon: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 28; Joined: Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:21 am; Location: Oxford

by vbcannon » Tue Feb 03, 2009 9:03 am

Thanks Gabriel that is very nice of you.

I feel the same way about turning the corner because basically all of this stuff that I have done was a thorough basic study, then I take all of the questions on the quantitative part and I have yet to go back and drill those questions. I missed 19 on the practice test out of the 37. I believe if I can go back and study every question I worked and got right/wrong within the two weeks I will have a better understanding of WHY and should increase my scores because right now its almost like I just did a bunch of busy work and didn't go back and check to see why and why not. Would anyone agree?

By the way, I wrote down every single question that I missed on the quantitative part of all of the practice books and put them in a notebook. I wrote down the questions, the answer, and the explanation. That took a LOOOONNNNGG time and now I will have to go back and do the same for the data sufficiency part. Is this an ok method or am I wasting time?

As you can see I may be WAAYY to thorough

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