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Need help and courage!

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Need help and courage!

by jo9 » Sun Jan 09, 2011 3:38 pm
Hi guys,

I plan to give GMAT on 23rd Feb. My target score is 650. I'm only using 12th edition OG and Manhattan for my prep.
After 15days prep, I took my first test and scored 400. Please guide me on how I can improve.

Thanks much guys!
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by MattKoch » Sun Jan 09, 2011 4:04 pm
I'd start by of course making sure you know the basics of the test and basic formulas. You have some time but not a lot so I would take a lot of practice questions and identify your big weak spots for example geometry or number properties. Work on what you need the most work on and develop a strict study schedule. Anything is possible you just have to stay disciplined and put first things first. Certainly download the GMAT flash cards available from this site.
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by David@VeritasPrep » Sun Jan 09, 2011 4:12 pm
I agree with Matt, with a 400 you may have some misunderstanding of the particulars of how the test functions and what the different question types are about.

You do not have a lot of time, but at least you are saying 650 and not 750 so it may be possible.

I recommend that you take some time to learn the five question types and how to approach them. What is your methodology when you see a data sufficiency? What are the steps you take when you see a sentence correction?

Once you understand generally what to do focus on your strengths within each area. This may seem a little counter-intuitive but with a goal of 650 you can miss about 1 out of every 3 questions. That means you need to get 2/3 right. Focus on getting proficient in the areas that you can - if you still have a few weaknesses, like say coordinate geometry, these will not kill you on test day and you can skip these problems and devote time to others.

Does this make sense? You cannot become an expert at everything in 6 weeks! But maybe you can at enough things.

Keep in mind this advice is based on your limited time frame and your target score...
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by hja379 » Sun Jan 09, 2011 5:53 pm
Try to finish Manhattan GMAT flash cards. Not sure if your weakness is Quant or Verbal. But I found Aristotle SC Grail a great resource for Sentence Correction.

You can get there... focus first on the concepts.
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by rishi raj » Sun Jan 09, 2011 8:40 pm
@jo9
I think your query is very generic. The people here on the forum are amazing but they will be able to provide more insights only if you take the time to put your question better. Otherwise ,given the limited information you've provided,few would be actually able to diagnose your problem and help you frame a concrete strategy to help you get your desired score. Tell us more about your the way you have studied till now, what was your score when you started your preparation, which topics/areas do you find challenging ? Which areas/topics are you comfortable with ?
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by jo9 » Mon Jan 10, 2011 11:02 am
Thank you all guys for taking the time to give your inputs.

I think I should'nt rush in to give the GMAT. Towards the end of Feb I'm travelling to India and
will be there for about 3 months. Guess I'll give my exam once I'm back and not rush in now.
Here's a little about myself.

Did my bachelors from India(2003) working in the IT field for about 4 yrs, and then got married and
moved to US on H4. Since then I'm home as I do not have legal work permit. Now I'm 30yrs old and
a mom of a busy toddler(makes my GMAT prep even m ore complex). I sometimes wonder if I'm too
old for GMAT. I'm week both in quant n verbal as its been a while since I left college.

Also the universities in my area are Saint louis University and University of Missourie. I'm not aiming for
ivy league colleges, however is it worth doing MBA from either of these universities?? Also guys are
there any MBA programs which waive GMAT , for those with prior work exp??
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by tofuhead » Wed Jan 12, 2011 2:31 pm
From my brief experience...
I studied on my own for a couple months and took a "free" trial Manhattan GMAT on-site class last night. That class opened my eyes to what I've been missing out on in my self-study. It confirmed my feelings that I wasn't studying efficiently or even just picking up the material as well as I could be. I'm not saying you should take a class (everyone's a different learner), but I do suggest taking an on-site/online trial or check out other online events. There are plenty and they do a good job with explaining the aspects of the test and some even provide b school application tips. This is just basic advice and will not lead you to your target score but it should help you get started on putting together a plan.
Plus, they are free so what does it hurt?! :)
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