30 days left - indecision

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30 days left - indecision

by mayonnai5e » Sun Sep 16, 2007 3:47 pm
What do you guys feel is the best strategy for the next 30 days of my prep? I'll describe my progress so far and what I feel are my weak points:

- started a few months ago studying very leisurely (just the basics)
- did poorly on CATS (550, 560) - timing was a huge problem
- did PR math workbook, took GMATPrep 1 and scored 650 with a big increase in math (34 to 45)
- started really studying harder with Veritas online course, went through about half the lessons and stopped those to focus on OG11
- changed studying from doing lots of practice to doing sets of problems and going over every solution --> hit rates were in the high 80s for V and high 90s for Q
- took 2 more CATs (570,540), realized timing would forever hold me back if i didn't overcome it
- spent a week doing old paper GMAT tests timed (680, 660)
- took another CAT 660 (Q42, V40)
- started doing all practice sets in OG11 timed
- realized probability, combinations and permutations were big gaps in math --> did Veritas lesson on these
- still working on OG11 (finished CR section - 89% avg hit rate)

I've been very indecisive about the next few weeks and haven't decided on my plan. Here are my thoughts:

1) I think my V is about as good as it can get in CR and SC....RC could use a little more work, but I think I can get a 40-45V
2) I think my math is weak still even though I've been scoring in the 40s fairly consistently lately --> I made at least 4 silly mistakes out of the 9 problems I missed on the last CAT
3) I need to keep working on my timing

So I'd like to ask the usual suspects (Stacy, Eric, aim-wsc and others) for their opinions on the best use of my time based on what I've described above. I've been thinking about covering all these books that I have left to cover (kaplan 800, OG V, OG Q, MGMAT SC), but I'm not sure if that's the best use of my time. I have access to the MGMAT CATs, but I don't think I'll have enough time to do them all. Eric and aim have mentioned doing more official practice problems and doing CATs. I have two main ideas right now:

1) Finish OG11, complete MGMAT SC, complete Kaplan 800, do hard problems from OG V and Q, do 1 CAT each week (2 MGMAT and GMATPrep 2)

2) Finish OG11, do all the MGMAT CATs for practice with hard Q questions (2 per week), spend any extra time working OG V and Q review (focusing on hardest problems first)

I'm leaning towards option 2 since it will allow me to practice with the hardest problems and work under timed conditions.

Thoughts?
Last edited by mayonnai5e on Sun Sep 16, 2007 11:52 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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by beatthegmat » Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:11 pm
What a thorough self assessment--you're really a great example for other self studiers.

I think that you answered your own question. Option 2 seems best in terms of your needs. I like how you are approaching your materials by focusing on the hardest questions, as well as working timing (a self-identified weakness).

Remember though: quality, not quantity. Don't feel like you need to plough through a ton of questions just for the sake of doing a lot of questions. Be methodical and analyze your strengths/weaknesses along the way.

Good luck!
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by mayonnai5e » Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:19 pm
beatthegmat wrote:What a thorough self assessment--you're really a great example for other self studiers.

I think that you answered your own question. Option 2 seems best in terms of your needs. I like how you are approaching your materials by focusing on the hardest questions, as well as working timing (a self-identified weakness).

Remember though: quality, not quantity. Don't feel like you need to plough through a ton of questions just for the sake of doing a lot of questions. Be methodical and analyze your strengths/weaknesses along the way.

Good luck!
How did I know you would be the first to respond Eric? Thanks for your input and compliments. Quality is way more important I think. I've been going through every solution on every problem I do in the OG11 and sometimes I think, "man! I got this problem right, why should I read the official explanation??" But I find a lot of mini - lessons in the solutions and validation of my thinking (and sometimes invalidation of my thinking as well).
Don't feel like you need to plough through a ton of questions just for the sake of doing a lot of questions.


Very good advice. I have so many books that I've purchased and intended to complete that it feels like I'm obligated to do them, but I must resist!

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by beatthegmat » Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:26 pm
Definitely find a way to resist! It sounds like you have more material than you need...
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by Stacey Koprince » Fri Sep 21, 2007 2:32 pm
Yes - Quality Over Quantity should be our mantra around here... :)

One test = 78 questions. It can take a week to review every question thoroughly (and, yes, you should review even those questions that you got right - did you do them in the most efficient AND the most effective way possible? do you understand where the traps are? are there shortcuts you missed? did you recognize what you should do with the problem, rather than having to figure it out from scratch? how would you recognize a similar problem in future? etc. etc.).
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by mayonnai5e » Fri Sep 21, 2007 2:51 pm
Stacey Koprince wrote:Yes - Quality Over Quantity should be our mantra around here... :)

One test = 78 questions. It can take a week to review every question thoroughly (and, yes, you should review even those questions that you got right - did you do them in the most efficient AND the most effective way possible? do you understand where the traps are? are there shortcuts you missed? did you recognize what you should do with the problem, rather than having to figure it out from scratch? how would you recognize a similar problem in future? etc. etc.).
Yup this is exactly what I've been doing in the OG book. I haven't really reviewed all my CATs because I've taken a lot, some of which were taken so long ago that I don't think the results are even indicative anymore. Thanks for the reply!