GMAT Strategy

Hi, I am taking the Princeton Review class and have had 5 of the 7 classes. I've taken 3 practice exams, each around 500.

This is not like me as I scored 2270 on SAT and 33 on ACT in high school.

I take my test in 3.5 weeks.

What do you suggest I do to get a 700?

Thanks so much in advance!

Only GMAT Prep tests scores will be close to your actual ones. So try taking that on priority. Check these links. It will be helpful

https://www.beatthegmat.com/590-620-560-t109044.html
https://www.beatthegmat.com/550-to-720-i ... 72949.html
https://www.beatthegmat.com/scored-440-q ... 07588.html
https://www.beatthegmat.com/retaking-gma ... 09154.html
https://www.beatthegmat.com/how-to-prepa ... tml#403863

Seems like you need more time.Re-schedule, what's the hurry?
You tell the gmat when, not the other way around

Your goal will be difficult but not impossible to attain. Focus on topics, not on individual questions. what I mean here is to categorize each question into a question type - ratio, percent change, weaken, specific RC etc and have a consistent way to approach each concept area. Scores go up much more quickly when students are studying parts of a bigger concept than when they study specific questions. Use the online drills to locate areas of weakness and strength and keep working - at least an hour every day but with your goals I woudl recommend at least 2-3 hours every day and a practice test every week.

Best of Luck.

Thanks to all for your helpful comments. As it stands, I just took a practice test and scored 590.... so I am definitely headed in the right direction with the test 12 days away. I think I can get 650, which would be good enough for me.

A big help was getting a new instructor at Princeton Review, and also using Manhattan GMAT books... those books are really helpful!

Well I took the GMAT today, and I got a . . . 700! 48 Math, 38 Verbal. Here's how I did it.

1. I took a Princeton Review class.

Unfortunately, I don't think this was of much value but that has more to do with the specific teacher than the program itself. I have already written to Princeton Review about this.

2. I read the Manhattan GMAT books.

There are 8 books, and I read six in detail, doing all the problems, etc. This was the kicker for me. These books honed in concepts I hadn't understood/been taught with the PR class. These books were especially crucial for me getting the 700.

3. I took the GMAT Prep practice tests.

I took the GMAT Prep tests, both of them, and scored a 660 and then 690. On the 690, I lost on time before answering the last question so that would technically have been a 700 if I answered. It goes to show not to get caught up in Princeton Review practice tests... they are not accurate! Or, I really jumped that much due to Manhattan GMAT. I'm not sure either way.

4. I studied my ass off.

Let me fill you in on my study schedule. During the weekdays (I work fulltime), I studied 3 rounds. What that means is I studied for 40-45 minutes, then took a 10-15 minute break. That constitutes one round. My substitute PR teacher (who was much better than my original teacher) suggested that I practice this way, and he was right! He said the brain remembers the first and last 20 minutes of what you study crystal clear, but the middle gets muddy. So skip the middle! So a round is a total of 1 hour, with 40-45 minutes actually studying. On weekends, I would go 8 rounds or more. Sometimes I'd watch 10 minutes of a movie in between, or read some news. But then I'd get right back to studying. I pounded the info in time and time again.

5. Finally, PR had sent me the 12th edition book with all the GMAT questions... this is priceless practice that you cannot get anywhere else. Buy this book.

Overall, I am super happy and am ready to apply in a couple years to top schools around the country.

You can get a huge jump on your score if you study like I outlined above, do it for at least 1.5 months, and get those Manhattan books!

PS I moved my test back twice, each time paying $50. I was going to take it May 17, then moved it back to the 21st (it was the latest in May they had available, and I didn't want to wait until June b/c of the new Integrated Reasoning... I don't want to be a guinea pig!). Then I moved it back to the 31st when that date became open. That extra 2 weeks means I jumped from 500 to 700 in 5 weeks, and it IS doable.

Thanks to this forum for steering me in the right direction.

But, regardless I am very happy and now am looking forward to some relaxation.

Wow congratulations!! 500 to 700 is super cool! Can you detail your Verbal strategy?

Sure. For verbal, I first bought the Aristotle Sentence Correction book for $15, making flash cards of all the idioms (just writing these down helps you to remember them). Then I did all the Manhattan GMAT verbal books. I also did every possible problem in the GMAT 12th Edition Question book.

I would do rounds of studying, 40 minutes of work followed by 20 minutes of rest, and I would repeat this over and over.

That is it, really. Good luck!