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Help took my first diagnostic test and failed miserably

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Help took my first diagnostic test and failed miserably

by isoplus » Wed Feb 03, 2010 7:33 am
Hi guys,

I have six weeks to prep before taking my gmat and I just took the diagnostic test from the official guide for the GMAT. Here are my scores from the diagnostic test:

reading comprehension 12 out of 18
critical thinking 8 out of 16
sentence correction 6 out of 18
completely failed the problem solving and data sufficiency.

According to the interpretative guide for the diagnostic test given in the Official Guide for GMAT, an excellent would have been between 16-17, above average 14-15, and average 9-13. Fore critical thinking excellent 14-17, above average 9-13, and average 6-8. For sentence correction, excellent 16-18, above average 11-15 and average 8-10. 0-7 is below average

Do you think that six weeks is enough time to get myself above average for the ones that I scored average on, and to bring my problem solving and date sufficiency to at least an average score?

Any help, suggestion, tips is greatly appreciated.
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by Osirus@VeritasPrep » Wed Feb 03, 2010 7:35 am
What score do you need?

If you need a 550-600, 6 weeks is enough time. Anything more than that and you need 3 plus months.
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by isoplus » Wed Feb 03, 2010 7:48 am
I am looking to get a 600. I cant get anything less than a 550 to be competitive
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by Osirus@VeritasPrep » Wed Feb 03, 2010 7:54 am
These are the books you need. You need all of the Manhattan GMAT math guides. Manhattan GMAT Sentence Correction, and powerscore critical reasoning bible. The powerscore guide is 300 pages, so if you don't think you will be able to get through all of it, sacrifice going through this book and just read through the Offiicial Guide problems and attempt to learn as much as you can. As you go through each math guide, constantly review old material. If you simply read a chapter and move on you will forget that material. When you go through the sentence correction guide, make flash cards for key concepts. DO NOT waste your time studying the idioms chapter, there is simply not enough time. Good luck.
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by isoplus » Wed Feb 03, 2010 7:56 am
I already have the manhattan sentence correction (bought it on Monday) and will get the math books pronto. I thought just completing college algebra would have helped me in the math section but I guess not. Anyway thanks so much for the tips.. I gues it is safe to assume to concentrate more on math than anything else?
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by Osirus@VeritasPrep » Wed Feb 03, 2010 7:59 am
isoplus wrote:I already have the manhattan sentence correction (bought it on Monday) and will get the math books pronto. I thought just completing college algebra would have helped me in the math section but I guess not. Anyway thanks so much for the tips.. I gues it is safe to assume to concentrate more on math than anything else?
Hmmm, well, that's what I did and it cost me my 700 :( . I honestly don't know how to answer that, because if you know your math skills are weak then it will take the entire 6 weeks to adequately prepare. However, if you know that your verbal score is not where it needs to be, you would need 6 weeks or more to prepare for that as well. Most of the time people focus on improving math, because it is easier to improve than verbal. With only 6 weeks, I would focus on math and sentence correction.
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by isoplus » Wed Feb 03, 2010 8:05 am
Is there a manhattan guide for data sufficiency?
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by isoplus » Wed Feb 03, 2010 8:07 am
I know I can improve the reading and critical in the six weeks... the sentence will be a bit more challenging and the math seems to be the most challenging.
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by Osirus@VeritasPrep » Wed Feb 03, 2010 8:12 am
isoplus wrote:Is there a manhattan guide for data sufficiency?
No, they include a chapter within each guide that focuses on the Data Sufficiency strategies for that math subject type.
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by money9111 » Wed Feb 03, 2010 8:57 am
isoplus I believe that SC is the easiest part on the GMAT to improve your score, because it's memorization of the rules and the rules are finite. It will take time, but it will pay off.

I would also suggest going through the MGMAT number properties guide more than once! I am starting to go through it a second time.
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by isoplus » Wed Feb 03, 2010 10:45 am
Thanks for the tip on SC. What does the numbers properties include on Manhattan gmat? still not sure what that means. Have you tried the manhattan geometry and the manhattan word translation. I'm going to buy those as well just wanted to know if you had those as well
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by money9111 » Wed Feb 03, 2010 11:21 am
isoplus... I have all of the MGMAT study guides because I'm enrolled in the class. I tried to refrain from going ahead in the materials, because I figured they know the order in which people should learn...

The number properties includes things like Divisibility & Primes, Odd & Even numbers, Consecutive Integers, Positives & Negatives, Roots & Exponents, Order of Operations... very basic things, but can become confusing when these problems are put into GMAT lingo.

This guide paired with the OG will give you a great idea of what to expect.
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by Osirus@VeritasPrep » Wed Feb 03, 2010 11:25 am
isoplus wrote:Thanks for the tip on SC. What does the numbers properties include on Manhattan gmat? still not sure what that means. Have you tried the manhattan geometry and the manhattan word translation. I'm going to buy those as well just wanted to know if you had those as well
I'll answer about word translations (I haven't gone through the geometry guide). Word translations is great. It has the simplest and most effective approach to Permutation and Combination problems. Also, it does a great job of teaching statistics and overlapping sets. Its a great book.
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by isoplus » Wed Feb 03, 2010 3:38 pm
osirus0830 and money9111,

thanks so much for your replies. It has me tremendously. Regarding the word translation problems, that is an area that I need help to I'm excited to buy the book and begin learning.

In terms of the number properties, you are correct. On its own, the concepts are not difficult, but you are absolutely correct that it is very confusing when but into GMAT lingo
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by money9111 » Wed Feb 03, 2010 10:43 pm
just become a student of the basics and it will all work out! i'm in the same boat as you but we can tackle this beast together
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