GMAT Strategy

Hey,

This is my 'third' attempt on studying my GMAT. First time round, 3 months in, I got bored/flushed by bad grades and decided not to sign up for the exam. The second time around (10 months later), I signed up for my exam and decided not to do it because I focused so much on SC and Math that I completely ignored CR and RC, to realize that was my weakest link 3 weeks prior to my exam date.

This is my third time to have a go at nailing the GMAT. GOSH, why do I do this to myself and not just 'take' the exam? It's because I'm not ready to see a pathetic score the first time. Good thing now is that I'm not pressurized to go for B-School this year and so I'm not sweating over my 'application' process.

Here is my thought on handling this GMAT.

Target - 720. Target Schools: Insead, London School of Business, Maybe stanford


Prework -
Look at when deadlines for each school are, spreadsheet it based on schools I want to go to and work backwards


1. Signup for my date exactly 5 months later (depending on school requirements).
2. Take my diagnostic exam 'again'
3. Note my weakest links
4. Start up the engine
5. Set out 2 hours a day on the weekdays
6. Set out 5 hours on the weekends
7. Take an exam every week, monitor my progress
8. If I see myself getting better, then I'm going ahead and saying 'F-it' and take the exam

What is everyone's thoughts on this strategy?
Is this doable?
Is 5 months too far out?

My Veritas teacher said she studied for 6 months, so I think 5 months is fine. When you put it into perspective, most study for 6 months. You figure most study for 3 for the first attempt, don't like their score, and then they study for another 3 months to take it again, so just study for 5 or 6 and get it right the first time. Your strategy seems solid, the only amendment I would make is to not take a CAT weekly. You will run out of them. I would take one at the beginning and then not take one until I had finished going through all of my materials. This way you will take them after you have exhausted all of your materials and the CATs will alert you to the areas that you should focus on. Good luck and keep us updated on your progress.

How many 'real' online exams are there?

I know Manhattan gives 6 exams. I then have another 2 from GMAT prep (which I've already done them; but no harm redoing them). That gives me 8.

5 4's are 20. If I can have 10 exams to work with, won't that be sufficient? That'll give me an exam every 2 weeks to work with.

piyushdabomb wrote:How many 'real' online exams are there?

I know Manhattan gives 6 exams. I then have another 2 from GMAT prep (which I've already done them; but no harm redoing them). That gives me 8.

5 4's are 20. If I can have 10 exams to work with, won't that be sufficient? That'll give me an exam every 2 weeks to work with.

You can take a free one with Manhattan, Kaplan, Veritas, Princeton Review, and McGraw Hill. You can purchase CATs from Manhattan 800score, Arco, and a few others.

I don't recommend Arco or McGraw Hill. I've heard many bad things about these CATs. However, other tests mentioned by osirus are worth practicing