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Looking for some advice...Retaking the GMAT

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Looking for some advice...Retaking the GMAT

by arggh1 » Mon Mar 14, 2011 2:34 pm
Hi All,

I definitely enjoy reading posts in this forum, but this would be my first time posting. I'm really hoping for your help.

In short, I took my GMAT on Feburary 22nd, and I did not beat it by any means. I scored a 420 (23ish on both the Quant and Verbal). My weakness was definitely pacing, I had to rush through the last 5 or 6 questions on both sections. I started studying in September, and I feel like I have a good grasp on all of the concepts. I have the OG's, Kaplan Premier, and a few detailed guides for Number Properties, Combinatrics, Sentence Correction and Critical Reasoning. My goal is to get above a 650, and I was scored 580 or a little higher when I took practice tests. I know I need to become better at actually taking the test. I'm wondering the following:

~When do you think I should schedule my next test? I was planning to re-start studying next week.
~I was going to just focus on doing practice questions and tests. Do you have any study plans that have worked for you?
~What are some areas you would recommend I focus on?

Thanks in advance for your help! I look forward to some suggestions.
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by arora007 » Mon Mar 14, 2011 2:53 pm
Your score is surely achievable with focussed practice and review of concepts & mistakes.

You would need to work on both verbal and quant sections.

First and foremost, have a schedule going on for you. Studying for GMAT needs intensity, studies in fits and starts are of little use. Secondly, you will need to meticulously use an Error Log. https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/gmat-error-log
Also do have a look at the various resources available https://www.beatthegmat.com/resources . One should remember to practice with only GMAT like material, else your efforts could be counter productive.
One more thing I notice is that in practice tests you got 580 or more. I believe that these tests were GMATPrep tests. Typically a student ends up within a +- 30 point range of the GMATPrep score. You should take your exam when you are near your target score.

Do try the "60-Day GMAT Study guide"

Wish u all the very best!
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by vineeshp » Mon Mar 14, 2011 7:39 pm
How long can you prep in a day?
If you can prep for 3 hours on an average every day, then I guess you should schedule the test three months from now.

But do not just go by numbers.
Your first step is to identify your weak areas and get the best books available for those areas.
Try practice questions after you have a good grasp in the area. No point doing practice questions, if you are not learning the concepts behind it.

For Verbal:
MGMAT SC is mandatory. Try Aristotle SC Grail and Practice questions.
For CR, LSAT practice questions are important. For that too, you will benefit from Aristotle prep.

For Math:
Make sure that you have learned all the important concepts.
Then try solving more problems.
This forum has a very good set of practice problems. You can also get BTG practice questions.

Then schedule enough practice tests at an average of one test a week. When you are a month or so away from the real test, start writing the AWA as well during practice. Otherwise your brain will not develop the endurance required for 4 hours of the test. So when you give AWA for the first time in the real test, your brain will get tired and your performance will suffer. Also, practice test results are going to be skewed without AWA.

Personally, I would recommend creating your own study plan after you decide which of the areas need more preparation.

All d best!
Vineesh,
Just telling you what I know and think. I am not the expert. :)
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by gmatmachoman » Mon Mar 14, 2011 10:14 pm
Adding on to Arora & Vineesh adivice,

Enroll in Knewton & Grockit.com(free). This will give the proper direction!!

For SC, OG 12 has almost 160 questions. SO that means it has at max 160 "patterns". Now try to understand /Recognise the pattern.

U shuld ask urself why GMAC has included this question?? There is a purpose.SO they want us to "learn" that concept.

Review each & every question in OG atleast 3 times.

Nothing much can be said about Error Log. Maintain one.

Somewhere I read a post of prepgmat09( Success debrief). Go through it. Its really awesome.

GMAT has limitations. Means, the questions that are framed has to be in "some" standard" format. So once u break that code, u r the winner!!
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by JZippy » Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:52 pm
Agree with gmatmachoman. Enroll in Grockit. Great database of practice questions.

I would strongly suggest you schedule your next test in one to two months, if possible. This may sound rushed, but as previously mentioned in this thread, the GMAT is about intensity. Do not drag it out or you will tire out.

Also, I suggest focusing most of your time on verbal. Once you get the mechanics of it, you can gain speed and improve your score quickly. Studying for the GMAT V can be done anywhere, as long as you maintain a habit of reading challenging passages on a daily basis (The Economist, Financial Times, BBC, etc.)

Best of luck!
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