advice on how to study more from this point?

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clockhand: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 4; Joined: Sun May 10, 2009 9:53 pm

advice on how to study more from this point?

by clockhand » Sun May 10, 2009 10:26 pm

Hello everyone,

I have a question about how I can study to improve on my GMAT. I have studied for relatively short time but fortunately, I got 710. I'm going to take one more time in June but I don't know what will be best way to study from this point.

I didn't know anything about OG and all typical standard materials. I only studied "McGraw-Hill's GMAT, 2009", took two practice tests (powerprep) and then found out about OG a week before my exam. So, I studied only like 50-60 questions of each verbal section.

My plan is to study OG and official verbal workbook fully. And probably re-take powerprep... is there any better way you guys can see? Please please help me!

Thanks so much.

--Clockhand

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Source: Beat The GMAT — GMAT Strategy | Sun May 10, 2009 10:26 pm

VP_Jim: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 1223; Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 3:29 pm; Location: Los Angeles, CA; Thanked: 185 times; Followed by:15 members

by VP_Jim » Mon May 11, 2009 8:28 am

Congratulations on your already impressive score!

Moving forward, studying the OGs is definitely the way to go - what was your score breakdown? From your post, it looks like you think you need to focus more on verbal, so target your weak areas but don't neglect the other sections in the meantime.

In case you didn't already know this, for the OGs, the questions go from the low to highest level of difficulty, so since you already scored above 700, the first questions in each section may not be representative for you of the questions you'll see on the actual exam.

Also, don't stress - now that you've taken an actual test, you know what the testing conditions will be like, and so you're already more prepared than you were before. Try to relax the few days before your next testing date, don't change your routine the day of (for example, if you're normally a late riser, don't try to schedule the exam for 8 in the morning), and know that, whatever happens, you already have a 700+ score under your belt.

Good luck!

Jim S. | GMAT Instructor | Veritas Prep

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clockhand: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 4; Joined: Sun May 10, 2009 9:53 pm

by clockhand » Mon May 11, 2009 3:00 pm

Hi,

Thanks so much for your kind reply. My score breakdown is Q49 and V38. I don't know if I will have enough time to study before my next one but I will definitely try to do every verbal problem in OG and official verbal workbook. I didn't know about the relative difficulty in OG. Thanks for letting me know about that.

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VP_Jim: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 1223; Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 3:29 pm; Location: Los Angeles, CA; Thanked: 185 times; Followed by:15 members

by VP_Jim » Mon May 11, 2009 4:28 pm

Remember - you DO NOT have to do every problem in both books! It's about quality, not quantity - studying a few problems at the appropriate level (medium to hard, in your case) is much better than doing tons of problems with no analysis.

Jim S. | GMAT Instructor | Veritas Prep

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tadel: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 1; Joined: Mon May 11, 2009 7:21 am; GMAT Score:690

by tadel » Tue May 12, 2009 4:45 am

Hi Jim,

I need your advice too please, i have scored 690 in my first real test, and planning to retake it. My score breakdown was Q 43 and V 41. I need to score 780+, and i self-studied the below books:

1. The Official Guide – 11th edition
2. The Verbal official Guide
3. The Quantitative official Guide
4. The Princeton Review
5. Kaplan 800

Do you have any recommendations?

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VP_Jim: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 1223; Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 3:29 pm; Location: Los Angeles, CA; Thanked: 185 times; Followed by:15 members

by VP_Jim » Tue May 12, 2009 5:49 am

Yikes, why do you "need" to score 780+?! That is well over the 99th percentile. I'm not saying that you can't do it, but that is a lofty goal for anyone. The average score at a top school is around 710, so I don't think that anyone "needs" a 780.

As for how to improve, I'll give you the same advice that I give everyone else: study the OG problems until you can explain each and every problem in the book, and why every single answer choice is right or wrong.

Jim S. | GMAT Instructor | Veritas Prep

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hk: MBA Student; Posts: 532; Joined: Wed Jan 28, 2009 1:39 pm; Location: Barcelona; Thanked: 33 times; Followed by:9 members; GMAT Score:640

by hk » Tue May 12, 2009 7:02 am

Dear clockhand,

If you are one of those people who just like to take tests just for pleasure then ignore my post. Otherwise, I am really really curious to know why you need to retake the GMAT??????

At first i thought that you have an unbalanced score and thats why you are planning a retake, but with a 49/38 breakdown, No school in the world can deny you a spot for your GMAT!!!!!!

I am just praying that i score somewhere close to yours!!!

Wanna know what I'm upto? Follow me on twitter: https://twitter.com/harikrish

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VP_Jim: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 1223; Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 3:29 pm; Location: Los Angeles, CA; Thanked: 185 times; Followed by:15 members

by VP_Jim » Tue May 12, 2009 8:46 am

Good point, hk. Usually I wouldn't advise someone who scored in the 700s to retake. However, the above poster mentioned that s/he didn't study much. A 710 without study can often translate into an even higher score with some more effort. So, I think a retake is warranted in this situation.

Jim S. | GMAT Instructor | Veritas Prep

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clockhand: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 4; Joined: Sun May 10, 2009 9:53 pm

by clockhand » Tue May 12, 2009 2:51 pm

Hi hk & VP_Jim,

Thanks for sharing your opinions with me. both of you guys are right. After I did some research about business schools and GMATs, I found out that 710 is very good score, but as VP_Jim noticed that I didn't study that much. wow... I really really don't want to brag but I think I got super lucky.

I am an international student from Asia without any previous experience out of my home country until about 3 years ago when I came here for college. I didn't plan to take GMAT until my senior year in college but I suddenly heard about HBS 2+2. That's why I signed up for it and studied for like 2-3 weeks. I didn't know anything about OG or materials. I got McGraw-Hill's GMAT, 2009 simply because that was first book I saw in the bookstore.. haha.. so i did 6 practice sets there and 2 in powerprep. and then my senior friend told me about OG and i solved first 1/3 of each section... even after my real test, i was seriously deciding between canceling and reporting.. but ya.. haha .. sorry if i sound like i'm bragging... apparently, my english isn't that good yet.

So, VP_Jim, do you recommend me to solve problems towards the end in each section? like problems with number, 100+?

at the beginning of my three weeks of study, i was really bad at CR. i got like 5 or 6 out of 10 wrong. and then, i improved a little bit and found out that im pretty weak at SC. .. so i guess i will focus on those two from now on..

thanks!!