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90 days to GMAT

Find out how Beat The GMAT members tackled GMAT test prep with positive results. Get tips on GMAT test prep materials, online courses, study tips, and more.
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90 days to GMAT

by shyamalama » Sun Jan 24, 2010 8:30 am
I have just started preparing for GMAT for yet another time. Last time I scored 650. I know I can score better, and so here is the next attempt. I am targeting 720 +. I strongly feel that my approach to quant as well as verbal is not quite correct. I need to work more on strategies.
Want to know what kind of preparation should i do now? What all material should I refer now? After previous attempt, I am quite familiar with question types, basic concepts etc, and now i need help with - what can take me from 650 to 730?
In my previous attempt I have
1) learned Manhattan SC guide
2) Practiced from OG11 and 12
3) solved Kaplan work book
4) Solved many sectional tests
5) solved some bits of 100 series

What should be my study plan now?
I am planning to take gmat again around mid March. So have got 90 full days to prepare.
Last edited by shyamalama on Sun Jan 24, 2010 8:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
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by komal » Sun Jan 24, 2010 8:52 am
hello shyamalama,

Here's an excerpt by someone who scored 790 by following this prep strategy :

My General View on Prep:

I liken prepping for these tests to an athlete preparing for the season. Rather than sort of work each muscle each day, they specifically target one muscle at a time, spending one day doing bicep only workouts, another doing chest workouts, etc. In the same way, I believe that you should target each specific aspect of the test, concentrating on it and really getting in the mode for it, then moving onto the next type of question. However, when you move on, still do 10 questions a day for each previous section you've done. So, for example, if you start off with quant, then two weeks later you focus on SC while doing 10 quant questions a day. Then, when you move on to CR, you do 10 quant questions and 10 SC questions a day, while still keeping your main focus on CR. Note that using this method, you will be spending progressively more time as you get closer to the test, which is probably a good idea anyways.

I think that your knowledge of each subject will become much more solid in this way than it will in the wishy washy way of just doing a little bit of everything all the time. Then, once you start getting closer to the test (i.e. perhaps two weeks before), and after you've targeted each specific section and feel you're sufficiently prepared, then just work on all of them together, the same way an athlete starts doing more general stuff rather than working out once he/she gets closer to game day.

How to Decide Which Aspects to Target First and For How Long:

I believe that, in general, 2 weeks on a specific subject will give you an absolutely solid grasp on it. However, if there are some sections that you feel need more work than others (i.e. if you're strong in CR but weak in SC), then you could spend only one week on the one you're strong at and 3 weeks on your weakness. In my opinion, it is best to put quant first for the very reason that Quant is the easiest to keep fresh by doing a few problems a day, so if you put it in the beginning then you still probably won't forget most of it by the time the test comes around.

As far as what to put second, I believe that it is best to put your biggest weakness in verbal second. Why? Because the topics you put near the beginning will be the ones you get the most practice on, since you'll spend 2 weeks targeting them and then will also do 10 questions a day in these topics from then on.

In other words, here's the prep plan:
I would recommend to most people:
Quant (2 weeks)
Biggest Verbal Weakness (2-3 weeks)
2nd Biggest Verbal Weakness (2 weeks)
Verbal Strength (1-2 weeks)
All Types of Questions, General Prep, and Practice Tests (2 weeks)

For a total of about 10 weeks.


Hope this helps : )
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by sumanr84 » Mon Jan 25, 2010 11:04 am
shyamalama,

I would recommend you PowerScore CR bible. I guess this is the best book for CRs. If you find yourself struggling with CR or if your CR scores are not consistent, I am sure this book will help.

Also, buy latest Manhattan SC book (12th edition ) just to access MGMAT 6 CAT exams. Quality of Qs are really good though tougher.
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