Just Started. Thinking of taking GMAT in May/June

This topic has expert replies
User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 84
Joined: Sat Feb 20, 2010 5:11 pm
Thanked: 1 times
Hi, everyone.

I started studying about two weeks ago, and I'm thinking about taking the test around May or June. I'd like some further advice because I'm worried about not getting into the GMAT score range (650+) of my targeted school, UCLA.

I went through the Princeton Review "Cracking the GMAT 2010." I can do about 80% of the problems when I don't time it, but when I time it, half of that goes down the drain. I also read through MGMAT's RC and CR books. Same story. I'm now on Kaplan's "Verbal Workbook" and MGMAT's SC book, and have to see how that goes.

I have not taken the first GMATPrep test yet, but I will be taking an online practice test from Kaplan tomorrow.

I went through Grockit's 35 questions in the free trial, and did half quant and half verbal. So far, according to Grockit, quant is 63%, and verbal is 61%. That's probably too low for UCLA, huh...

I majored in electrical engineering with a GPA of 3.14, and just finished a masters in aerospace engineering with a GPA of 3.5. I'm involved with a couple local investment trading groups and a screenwriting group in my community. I have 5+ years of work experience in the aerospace industry, but my career goal is the film industry, which is why UCLA. I believe I can communicate all these in the essay, so the only thing I'm worried about is GMAT. Taking these tests is never my forte.

I don't think I can afford a prep course, so I've been self-studying like a 9-5 for the last two weeks (I got laid-off recently).

If I plan to take the test in May or June, do you take I can achieve my target of at least 650?

Any advice would be great.

Thanks,
Cinji
Source: — GMAT Strategy |

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1560
Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:38 am
Thanked: 137 times
Followed by:5 members

by thephoenix » Sat Feb 20, 2010 8:10 pm
Cinji18 wrote:Hi, everyone.

I started studying about two weeks ago, and I'm thinking about taking the test around May or June. I'd like some further advice because I'm worried about not getting into the GMAT score range (650+) of my targeted school, UCLA.

I went through the Princeton Review "Cracking the GMAT 2010." I can do about 80% of the problems when I don't time it, but when I time it, half of that goes down the drain. I also read through MGMAT's RC and CR books. Same story. I'm now on Kaplan's "Verbal Workbook" and MGMAT's SC book, and have to see how that goes.

I have not taken the first GMATPrep test yet, but I will be taking an online practice test from Kaplan tomorrow.

I went through Grockit's 35 questions in the free trial, and did half quant and half verbal. So far, according to Grockit, quant is 63%, and verbal is 61%. That's probably too low for UCLA, huh...

I majored in electrical engineering with a GPA of 3.14, and just finished a masters in aerospace engineering with a GPA of 3.5. I'm involved with a couple local investment trading groups and a screenwriting group in my community. I have 5+ years of work experience in the aerospace industry, but my career goal is the film industry, which is why UCLA. I believe I can communicate all these in the essay, so the only thing I'm worried about is GMAT. Taking these tests is never my forte.

I don't think I can afford a prep course, so I've been self-studying like a 9-5 for the last two weeks (I got laid-off recently).

If I plan to take the test in May or June, do you take I can achieve my target of at least 650?

Any advice would be great.

Thanks,
Cinji
with right appraoch everything is possible

for maths solve as many problem with time and note down where u took more than 2 min
which kind of problem u are getting wrng all the time
y u gueesed for a particular kind of problem

now practice in each area
and check your improvement
learn some quick way of solving
learn sme easy way of guessing
learn how u can solve a problem from options

with such practice u will find that u are improving
HTH

Legendary Member
Posts: 941
Joined: Sun Dec 27, 2009 12:28 am
Thanked: 20 times
Followed by:1 members

by bhumika.k.shah » Sat Feb 20, 2010 10:05 pm
with quant its the quantity and with verbal its the quality

follow religiously this approach and u will beat the gmat :)

keep posting ur queries and solving questions on btg forums for different sections...

twil help a lot

hope this helps :)

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1022
Joined: Mon Jul 20, 2009 11:49 pm
Location: Gandhinagar
Thanked: 41 times
Followed by:2 members

by shashank.ism » Sat Feb 20, 2010 11:01 pm
Cinji18 wrote:Hi, everyone.

I started studying about two weeks ago, and I'm thinking about taking the test around May or June. I'd like some further advice because I'm worried about not getting into the GMAT score range (650+) of my targeted school, UCLA.

I went through the Princeton Review "Cracking the GMAT 2010." I can do about 80% of the problems when I don't time it, but when I time it, half of that goes down the drain. I also read through MGMAT's RC and CR books. Same story. I'm now on Kaplan's "Verbal Workbook" and MGMAT's SC book, and have to see how that goes.

I have not taken the first GMATPrep test yet, but I will be taking an online practice test from Kaplan tomorrow.

I went through Grockit's 35 questions in the free trial, and did half quant and half verbal. So far, according to Grockit, quant is 63%, and verbal is 61%. That's probably too low for UCLA, huh...

I majored in electrical engineering with a GPA of 3.14, and just finished a masters in aerospace engineering with a GPA of 3.5. I'm involved with a couple local investment trading groups and a screenwriting group in my community. I have 5+ years of work experience in the aerospace industry, but my career goal is the film industry, which is why UCLA. I believe I can communicate all these in the essay, so the only thing I'm worried about is GMAT. Taking these tests is never my forte.

I don't think I can afford a prep course, so I've been self-studying like a 9-5 for the last two weeks (I got laid-off recently).

If I plan to take the test in May or June, do you take I can achieve my target of at least 650?

Any advice would be great.

Thanks,
Cinji
I would say you have planned very well for ur exams and 3-4 months is really a good and enough time to prepare if u r serious enough ..
Just go on solving the quants but always try to make ur own flash cards where u get some new points...That will not only help to check it further but u will actually remember what were the mistakes u have done and would not repeat it again.
I would also suggest go for real environment Computer exams...which will help u to cope up with the real exam scenario...

also try out some grammer books for SC and VB so that even if u do mistake u don't do mistake in basics..u will not be wasting time ur time in such basics if u thoroughly go thru it..
Well lastly I would only say "Nothing is impossible, even impossible says I'm possible"
My Websites:
www.mba.webmaggu.com - India's social Network for MBA Aspirants

www.deal.webmaggu.com -India's online discount, coupon, free stuff informer.

www.dictionary.webmaggu.com - A compact free online dictionary with images.

Nothing is Impossible, even Impossible says I'm possible.

User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 84
Joined: Sat Feb 20, 2010 5:11 pm
Thanked: 1 times

by Cinji18 » Mon Feb 22, 2010 10:00 am
Thanks for all the suggestions and encouragement.

One think that's been bothering me is that I've always been a slow reader. I spend a lot of time just reading and understanding the questions and the answers. That alone takes a lot of time away from finding the correct answers.
Any advice?

Perhaps I should take a speed reading class...

Legendary Member
Posts: 941
Joined: Sun Dec 27, 2009 12:28 am
Thanked: 20 times
Followed by:1 members

by bhumika.k.shah » Mon Feb 22, 2010 10:11 am
U can start timing urself. even if ur reading an article , time urself say like 10 mins 1 para . then go and reducing this time frame once u practice reading like this way.
Cinji18 wrote:Thanks for all the suggestions and encouragement.

One think that's been bothering me is that I've always been a slow reader. I spend a lot of time just reading and understanding the questions and the answers. That alone takes a lot of time away from finding the correct answers.
Any advice?

Perhaps I should take a speed reading class...