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Diag test score - 350 - Have just 72 days remaining! Help!

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Diag test score - 350 - Have just 72 days remaining! Help!

by bengalurean » Fri Sep 05, 2014 6:45 am
Hello,

I took a diag test last Sunday through GMAT prep software, and here are my scores:
Q:22, V:16 and IR:2
Total = 350 !!!
I still had around 45 minutes remaining.

It would be really great if anyone can help me with a good study plan.
Or any help towards making a good study plan will be deeply appreciated.

Regards,
Bengalurean
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by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Fri Sep 05, 2014 7:30 am
Wow, that's a LOT of extra time remaining.
In a perfect world, you want to use every possible second of time to complete each section. To help you achieve that, I suggest that you use the following Milestone Charts to keep you on track:
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This (and more) is covered in our free GMAT time management video at https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gener ... es?id=1244

With regards to a study plan, you might consider signing up for Beat The GMAT's free 60-Day Study Guide (https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/gmat-guide). Over 25,000 Beat The GMAT students have already done so.
Each day, you'll receive an email with a series of learning activities that guide you, step-by-step, from Day 1 to test day. This will ensure that you will cover everything that the GMAT tests.

Here's an outline of all 60 emails: https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/gmat-guide-outline

Cheers,
Brent
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by [email protected] » Fri Sep 05, 2014 10:17 am
Hi bengalurean,

Most Test Takers are unhappy with their first practice CAT scores, so you're not alone. Now that you've experienced a full CAT, we can start to put together a study plan. You've already defined one of your "issues": pacing. With so much extra time left on the clock, you were moving really fast. Can you explain why? If you didn't now how to answer a question, did you just quickly guess and move on?

As you get into your studies, you need to know that most GMAT questions require 3-4 "steps", some note-taking and a bit of work. You're not expected to answer any of these questions "in your head." Sometimes you have to be ready to "play around" with a question to figure out a hidden pattern or the "secret" to answering the question.

Now we need to define your goals:
1) What is your goal score?
2) When are you planning to take the GMAT?
3) What schools are you planning to apply to? And when?
4) How much time do you have available to study?

To help set your expectations, here's what studying for the GMAT entails... Most Test Takers spend 3 months (or more) on their studies. They tend to put in 10-15 hours per week (although some put in more than that). The Test has a lot of "components" but all of them are predictable and standardized, so you CAN train to CRUSH this Test.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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by bengalurean » Mon Sep 08, 2014 9:17 am
Thank You Brent and Rich! I am really happy to see your quick and helpful responses!

@Brent, I have signed up for the 60 day study guide. Since pacing is a real issue here, I am expecting it to improve and my scores as well, when I take the next test.


@Rich: You guessed it correctly. I just quickly guessed the answers and moved on.

With regards to other questions, here are the answers:

1) What is your goal score? - 650.
2) When are you planning to take the GMAT? Nov 16, 2014
3) What schools are you planning to apply to? And when? ESMT, Mannheim Business school, Haas school of business, and Rotman School of Management. Planning to apply for 2015 intake (as early as possible)
4) How much time do you have available to study? ~20 hours per week.

Regards,
Bengalurean
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by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Mon Sep 08, 2014 11:04 am
One last thing:

Early on in your prep, there's a danger in focusing too much on your timing. In my view, this focus has the potential to actually hinder your preparation. I feel so strongly about the whole timing issue that I wrote two articles about it:
- Making Friends with Time on the GMAT - Part I (https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/06/ ... mat-part-i)
- Making Friends with Time on the GMAT - Part II (https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/07/ ... at-part-ii)
Executive Summary: Use a timer, but only to get an idea of what 2 minutes feels like. Later on (once you've covered all of the content), you can start working on your speed.

Executive Summary of the Executive Summary: Content First - Speed Second

I hope that helps.

Cheers,
Brent
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by [email protected] » Mon Sep 08, 2014 6:24 pm
Hi Bengalurean,

I've sent you a private message with some suggestions (based on the additional information that you've provided).

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by bengalurean » Tue Sep 09, 2014 4:18 am
Thank You Brent, I will read the articles. I really appreciate it!

Brent@GMATPrepNow wrote:One last thing:

Early on in your prep, there's a danger in focusing too much on your timing. In my view, this focus has the potential to actually hinder your preparation. I feel so strongly about the whole timing issue that I wrote two articles about it:
- Making Friends with Time on the GMAT - Part I (https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/06/ ... mat-part-i)
- Making Friends with Time on the GMAT - Part II (https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/07/ ... at-part-ii)
Executive Summary: Use a timer, but only to get an idea of what 2 minutes feels like. Later on (once you've covered all of the content), you can start working on your speed.

Executive Summary of the Executive Summary: Content First - Speed Second

I hope that helps.

Cheers,
Brent
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